NORWICH – When vocalist and performer Jessica Sheldon was named the winner of the 2010 Central New York Radio Group Ultimate Idol Competition in August, she took home more than just the $2,500 grand prize – she also earned herself some recording time at the Afton-based Impact Music Studio.

Now – approximately two months and four recording sessions later – the longtime Norwich resident will have a chance to see if her hard work has paid off, as her first-ever single, “Element of Love,” hits the airwaves beginning at 9 a.m. today on Oneonta’s WSRK-FM, 103.9.

Produced by Impact Music Studio owner C.J. Searles, the song found Sheldon collaborating with songwriters Steve Dillon and Geoff Doyle, who’ve helped previous Idol winners in the past with the songwriting process.

“I had never written music or a song before and I feel like this has really gotten the ball rolling,” said the vocalist of the experience. “I’m excited to write more in the future.”

While Sheldon admitted she was a bit intimidated by the prospect at first, she said she was surprised in the end at how easy it really was.

Communicating by e-mail, Sheldon and Dillon tossed ideas for “Element of Love” back and forth until they’d come up with something the singer felt was – stylistically speaking – what she was looking for. Once she was certain they were on the same page, the pair met with Doyle to record a rough acoustic version of the song.