Jill Desiree

The idea for this rendition of “All in Love Is Fair” started when I was listening to “I Forgive You” by Rachelle Ferrell, one of my musical heroes. I was deeply moved by the groove and the melancholic, piano-driven atmosphere of the track, and it inspired me to capture a similar emotional space in a reinterpretation of Stevie Wonder’s “All in Love Is Fair.” When I brought the idea to producer David Olivas, he began experimenting at the piano, reharmonizing the original changes and shaping a new harmonic landscape for the song. Once the arrangement took form, I approached the vocals with the dramatic, expressive style of 90s ballads inspired by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey—blending soft, intimate whispers with soaring dynamics to bring out the emotional depth of Stevie’s lyrics. When David and I felt the track needed another dimension, we brought in strings arranged by the brilliant Katisse Buckingham. We then recorded the piece live with the incredible pianist Quinn Johnson, and the beautiful string performances of Allysa Park and Timothy Loo. The result became a heartfelt blend of reverence and reinvention—our way of honoring a timeless song while letting it breathe in a new emotional world.