Jess Williamson is a singer songwriter who works in the indie folk genre and at times, crossing over to a folk-inspired indie pop. The songs in her earlier albums were often built around a solo acoustic guitar or banjo, but she has been regularly playing with a full band in recent years, not to mention her occasional use of synths and a horn section, so forth. She has also added a dynamic range to her songs with bold choruses, and up and down dynamics in the music. Her melodies tend to be subtle and she keeps them somewhat guarded instead of letting them completely drive her music. Her lyrics, on the other hand, are fairly earnest and very personal. She is very effective in establishing an intimate atmosphere with her somewhat smoky voice.