Song Premiere: Tessa Rose Jackson: “Stepping Stone”

When she was younger, Tessa Rose Jackson spent several years at the BRIT School in London, where artists like Adele and Kate Nash once roamed the halls. That was years ago, but the 20 year-old Dutch songwriter is still a student of sorts, taking notes from pop artists like Feist and indie-folksters like Edward Sharpe. She combines those influences on “Stepping Stone,” a summery swirl of cooing vocals, glockenspiel and synth pads.

“‘Stepping Stone’ is about growing up, one step at a time,” she says of the song, which doubles as the leadoff track from her new album, (Songs From) The Sandbox. The album is already a hit in the Netherlands, where Jackson has been selling out shows and performing on late-night TV shows. Growing up, indeed.