Press release –
Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade take the iconic 1979 KISS hit “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” and reinvent it with a Laurel Canyon–inspired roots twist. Stripping away the disco and arena-rock sheen, they infuse the song with warmth, folk-rock energy, and early Fleetwood Mac vibes, transforming a classic stadium anthem into an intimate, roots-driven experience. The original song was written by KISS frontman Paul Stanley, along with hit songwriter Desmond Child and producer Vini Poncia.
“Our manager is a huge KISS fan — he’s seen them live more than a dozen times and owns just about everything imaginable, from records and posters to books, beer glasses, comics, and even a KISS lunch box,” shares Rhaye. “For his birthday, we thought it would be fun to learn one of their songs and surprise him.”
The band chose “I Was Made for Lovin’ You,” but instead of performing it the way KISS does, they reimagined it through a folk-leaning lens. “We now play the song at our live shows,” Rhaye continues, “usually introducing it with nothing more than, ‘Here’s a song — you’ll know it.’ Watching the audience slowly realize it’s a KISS song and seeing their faces light up never gets old — it’s always so much fun.”
The video for “I Was Made for Lovin’ You” was filmed and directed with their longtime collaborator, Jordan Mattie. Shot in an unfinished loft, the goal was to keep things simple. “The band stood close together around a single microphone,” shares Rhaye, “and we just played the song, letting it happen naturally.” The stripped-back setting fits the folk-inspired version they created, keeping the focus on connection, harmony, and the joy of making music together.
“I Was Made for Lovin’ You” is the second track and second single from the forthcoming EP Foolish Heart. “We had a lot of fun reimagining this KISS classic, layering multiple backing vocals with Bill and Sandy to create the lush, harmony-rich sound we were after.”
The new single follows ‘My Heart Belongs to You,’ the lead single from their upcoming EP. That song echoes the spirit of 1950s country music with a modern heart. It was inspired by a sweet love letter Rhaye received as a teenage girl from a boy who poured his heart out. The track transforms a long-lost note into a toe-tapping tale of young love, heartbreak, and lingering yearning that lands with a smile.
The EP was recorded in the same spirit as the group’s 2023 album Sunshine Baby. Bed tracks were captured at the historic Capitol Theatre in Oxford, Nova Scotia, with overdubs completed at Blackberry Studio in New Brunswick and Farmhouse Studio in Nova Scotia.
What’s The Story About Foolish Heart EP by Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade?
Foolish Heart is a five-song EP from Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade that leans into love, reflection, and quiet vulnerability. Produced by longtime collaborator Dale Murray and recorded across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Nashville, the songs move easily between country-folk warmth, confessional moments, and cinematic swells — including a Laurel Canyon–inspired reimagining of KISS’s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.”
While each song on Foolish Heart stands on its own sonically, they are bound together by a shared emotional thread. These are love songs, but not only the romantic kind—some are tender, some restless, others quietly questioning.
Jessica Rhaye is a Canadian independent singer-songwriter, performer, and visual graphic design artist with a 25-year career rooted in folk and Americana. Known for her warm, expressive voice and thoughtful songwriting, Rhaye moves effortlessly between intimate solo performances, her acclaimed folk trio Preeper Rhaye MacKay, and her folk-rock ensemble The Ramshackle Parade.
Her discography includes nine independent releases, showcasing both her versatility and depth as an artist. Recent projects include Wood & Wire (2024) with Preeper Rhaye MacKay, Sunshine Baby (2023), and Just Like a Woman – Songs of Bob Dylan (2019) with The Ramshackle Parade. Earlier solo releases include Song In Me (2016), Far Gone Lullabies (2013), Good Things (2009), Short Stories (2006), and her self-titled debut Jessica Rhaye (2000).
Jessica’s songwriting has been recognized nationally and internationally. Her work has twice been named a finalist in the Canada Music Week National Songwriting Competition and was also a finalist in the folk category of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest. She has received nominations from the Canadian Folk Music Awards, multiple East Coast Music Awards, and Music New Brunswick Awards. Her songs have appeared in the television series Unstable (CMT) and Heartland (CBC), and her albums have garnered praise from outlets including Americana UK, Americana Highways, BBC Radio, FATEA UK, Great Dark Wonder, and SiriusXM’s North Americana.
Over the years, Rhaye has collaborated with a distinguished group of co-writers, including Ron Sexsmith, the late Ken Tobias, Steve Poltz, Brent Mason, Royal Wood, and Matt Andersen. She has performed on many renowned stages and festivals such as the National Arts Centre, Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Mariposa Folk Festival, Area 506 Festival, Shivering Songs, Canadian Music Café, Hugh’s Room, Hotel Café, and Half Moon Putney.
In addition to her musical career, Jessica is an award-winning visual artist. Her design work—both for her own releases and for other musicians—has earned her the ECMA Graphic Artist of the Year and Music New Brunswick Visual Artist of the Year awards.
Based in her home province of New Brunswick, Canada, Jessica Rhaye continues to write, record, and tour with The Ramshackle Parade and Preeper Rhaye MacKay, whose latest work was praised by Americana UK as “Traditional music at a very high standard.”
“I Was Made For Lovin’ You” Single Credits
WRITTEN BY: Paul Stanley, Vini Poncia, and Desmond Child
PRODUCED BY: Dale Murray with Jessica Rhaye and The Ramshackle Parade
MIXED BY: Dale Murray
MASTERED BY: John McLaggan (Parachute Mastering)
MUSICIANS:
Jessica Rhaye: vocals, acoustic guitar
Bill Preeper: acoustic & electric guitars, mandolin, backing vocals
Sandy MacKay: upright & electric bass, backing vocals
Chris Braydon: electric & baritone electric guitars
Jordi Comstock: drums & percussion
Dale Murray: acoustic & electric guitars
Artwork by Jessica Rhaye
