Jessica Simpson Says Sobriety Transformed Her Songwriting: “The Fears Just Diminished”

Jessica Simpson is stepping back into the music scene — this time, with total clarity.

In a recent cover story for The Cut with her sister Ashlee, the singer opened up about how sobriety changed her songwriting process. She recalled writing songs in Los Angeles between 2016 and 2017 with some of the biggest hitmakers, but something always felt off.

“I have songs from those times that I never released because they just didn’t feel like me,” Jessica admitted. “Every time I would write, I was a little afraid of myself. It was almost too much, especially because I was drinking at the time.”

The 44-year-old singer, who has been sober since 2017, said giving up alcohol changed everything. “But once I gave up the alcohol, the fears just diminished. They went away,” she shared.

Jessica realized that drinking had been clouding her creativity. “I’d thought the more I drank, the more cool I could be and find cool words that would rhyme, that wouldn’t be so expected. I overthought it when I drank,” she explained.

After she got sober, songwriting became natural again. “I started pulling out my old journals, which eventually became Open Book,” she said, referring to her bestselling memoir. “I now realize the power of words put to music.”

Jessica has been working on new music in Nashville and is set to release her EP, Nashville Canyon Part 1, on March 21. The first single, Use My Heart Against Me, drops on February 21. She told PEOPLE that she woke up with the song’s title in her head. As she shared: “It’s kind of craving someone that you want again and you don’t care if your heart is used against you – if it’s just for one night. Like, give it over, just for the experience again.”

Ashlee, 40, couldn’t be prouder of her sister’s comeback, as she described the upcoming EP as “delicious and yummy and honest.” “I think the most important thing about being ready to strip your layers and be where you’re at and meet yourself musically and as an artist, she’s doing that and I’m very proud of her,” she told PEOPLE in February.