Come Find Me
I have been following Jess B for a little while now. She first popped up on my radar over an instagram reel of her and fellow powerhouse DJ Half Queen’s Tamaki Makaurau QTPOC club night event, FILTH. I was immediately hooked on how much she filled the space with just a microphone. This, I thought, is someone I need to see live immediately. It took me a little while but I finally experienced JessB as Subsonic festival last December and it was exactly as incredible as I thought. The energy, the fun being had on stage, the cute vulnerability of JessB in between songs and open chats with her DJ contrasted with the power that comes out of her lyrics and performance gives the crowd a really nuanced character within the first few tracks. New single ‘Come Find Me’ shows the same duality between introspection and living loud. Being excited by and supported by your friends, the importance of community in scaffolding your own identity, and the joy in the ebbs and flows of fun and seriousness. Listening is great, but I also urge you to catch a show. JessB is large and only getting larger, get onto it.
Outside of your art form, where do you find inspiration?
I find most of my inspiration living life! All of the people, places, and experiences I encounter add to my journey and teach me something that I can then build on creatively.
Where do you think you get your personal power from?
Friends, family, community. Feeling seen and understood by the people around me empowers me to continue to be myself, and expand on what that means
What is your favourite space?
My favourite is anywhere I’m with my people! I could be with my friends just about anywhere and still make a good time of it.
How much of a role do other musicians play in your work?
Nothing is created in a vacuum. Everything I have learnt in my career has come from other amazing musicians who have shown or inspired me to become the artist I am today. Collaboration and staying inspired is also the key to continued growth and passion for what we do!
Is there a specific sonic theme, genre or instrument that you draw pure joy from?
Dancehall will always be a genre that makes me joyful.
How does visual aesthetic come to play in your work?
I feel like I always have a picture in my mind about how I want things to look, or the world that a song exists inside. The hardest part is getting people to also see that, and work with the resources available to make those visions come to life. The visual aspect of music is something that I think is important as it can help to expand the meaning behind it.
What are the core values behind your art?
Finding self, and self-expression. Acknowledging that as humans we are multi-layered and multi-faceted. There is always room for change and growth within that. Something that was me 5 years ago can be something that I do not relate to today at all. Art doesn’t always need to be deep and ground breaking to be important- there are times for unpacking emotions and experiences and times for having fun and not taking things too seriously!
Who is on your dream collaboration list?
Missy Elliot, Kaytranada, Doechii , Kehlani
If you could grant a wish for someone, who and what would it be?
FREE PALESTINE
What are you holding whilst posing for an oil painting?
I would have to be sitting down because my ass can’t stand still for long.
What do you own that you should throw out, but can’t?
I’m a pretty nostalgic person, I tend to keep way too much from the past that I should probably let go of. Also I have way too many t-shirts like??? I don’t even wear half of them but I always need to keep them *just incase*
People are coming over to dinner, what are you serving?
Jerk Chicken, Mac n Cheese, and Slaw
If you could time travel, who are you visiting?
My grandma, she passed when I was 13 and I would love to spend time with her as an adult.
If you could change the end of any film what would it be and what would you change it to?
Heartbreaking scenes as a kid- I would make sure that Scar didn’t kill Mufasa in The Lion King! And he would live happily ever after with Simba.
Why do you think we are here on planet earth at this time?
To experience what it is to be human. Simply to exist and love and learn and pass it on.
If you could learn one new skill instantly, what would it be?
I would love to be able to absolutely shred on guitar.
Words by Alex Officer / More from JessB here / Stream ‘Come Find Me’ here
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