- Words Notion Staff
- Photographer Sofia Farnesi
- Photo assistant Jamie Sinclair
- Stylist Roma Mitchell
- MUA Jess Summer
Artist and DJ Jess Young is back to discuss her latest single “Butterflies”, tapping into her musicality, and what’s next.
For Jess Young, the writing process starts with developing the melody before naturally progressing into the lyrics. A talented singer-songwriter and producer on the rise, the creative is compiling her own formula for songwriting and recently shared her sophomore track “Butterflies”.
With a strong passion for music, the artist spent her younger years doing karaoke and school concerts. Fast-forward to now, Jess is a talented producer, DJ and songwriter and is ready to embark on her solo music career. Applauded for her celestial production skills, the artist is all about making beats that stand out. Immersing herself in the forever evolving sphere of the music industry, Jess uses an array of music outlets such as Bandcamp, YouTube and Spotify to perfect her DJ mixes.
Constructing her music from past traumas, the artist uses these as a catalyst to shape her compelling storytelling skills. Learning to grow from her previous experiences, in many ways music has served as therapy for the creative. Alongside developing her music career, Jess also founded the Instagram page and community Boys in Polish, which celebrates and promotes the inclusivity of men in the female-dominant field of nail beauty.
This year Jess is all about trusting the process, going at her own pace, and having confidence in her musicality. Following her Notion exclusive mix, we spoke to the artist about how her music career began, founding Boys in Polish and the evolution of her musical inspirations.
Congratulations on your recent release, “Butterflies”. You said in an Instagram post that your inspiration for this song came from a situation that turned from exhilarating to painful which made writing the song difficult at times. Can you tell us a bit about that?
Thank you so much. I wrote this song back in 2018 when I was young, naive and falling in love for the first time, and I think we can all agree that isn’t a nice part of growing up. It’s a dance between the euphoria of falling in love and the uncertainty and vulnerability that comes with it.
I say naive because at the time I had no clue about self-love or solitude. The painful part was realising that the people you hold on to are completely capable of disappointing you. I realised that being able to pick myself up from this, and build a home in my heart, rather than seek refuge in someone else, was going to be my superpower. You know when you go through something really crazy and traumatic to the point where you say to yourself ‘I can’t believe this is happening to me’. Those moments are massive catalysts for transformation.
How did you overcome this barrier to get to the point you’re at now? Did music help?
Music helped massively. It was my therapy and a way for me to get this muck out of my heart. That period of time for me was a spiritual experience and I’m grateful for it. It felt good to write about the experiences I was trying to make sense of, as it was also the beginning of my journey into writing my own material. Looking back in hindsight and comparing my more recent works, it’s immensely grounding to see how much I’ve transformed my music; my lyrics have become more visceral, I’ve tapped into different genres and my chord progressions make more sense. I’m also producing my own music now and that has opened a whole other world for me.
The track speaks on difficulty in love, which is bound to resonate with young people going through a similar experience. Is it the case that you write your songs with the listener in mind, or is writing a more personal experience for you?
This one was very much written from a personal experience, but it also happens to resonate and move people in different ways, which I love. Nowadays, when I write, I continue to do so from my own experiences, but lyrically I want the message to be shared amongst others so I bear that in mind. The main thing that captures me when I listen to music isn’t the lyrics actually, but the melody. Once I have a strong melody and chord progression locked in, the words come more creatively and naturally.
You played your first live show late last year at Sebright Arms. How did that moment feel for you? And are you planning to play live again?
I was so nervous because the last time I properly performed in front of a crowd was at a school concert. I have to thank my wonderful community ESEA Music who made the experience feel much more like home for me, and also for giving me the opportunity to play. They really have become a family to me, I have met so many people through it, who have nurtured and supported my musicianship further. It was such an incredible experience and I am excited to have started this journey of playing live shows.
There’s also definitely more to come. I want to work towards playing solo. I enjoy having a band and coming up with different arrangements but I also want to have the courage to get up there on my own. A couple of my female musician friends have done so recently and it was so empowering to watch them in their element.
Back in September, you made a mix for us that included a whole host of different music styles and genres, including house, electronic hip-hop and old-school nostalgia. How do you go about finding new music to share and use in your sets?
Bandcamp is great. My YouTube algorithm is starting to work nicely for me recently too. As well as getting track IDs when I am out, listening to mixes online, or going B2B with friends in the studio. Sometimes there will be some solid tunes that pop up on Spotify playlists or radio.
In our last article with you, you mentioned that you like to make mixes that cross over different genres to keep the music exciting and unpredictable. What else do you consider when you’re putting together a mix?
I tend to create my online mixes with a general theme in mind. It starts off with me listening to a new track that I’m obsessed with on repeat, being inspired by a concept or mood, and then creating a playlist following that. Textures are important to me when mixing and making room for elements to breathe. I’ve noticed that this also influences my production style, as I resonate towards big cinematic and atmospheric productions. I love to layer my instruments and vocals.
In our last article with you, you mentioned that you like to make mixes that cross over different genres to keep the music exciting and unpredictable. What else do you consider when you’re putting together a mix?
I tend to create my online mixes with a general theme in mind. It starts off with me listening to a new track that I’m obsessed with on repeat, being inspired by a concept or mood, and then creating a playlist following that. Textures are important to me when mixing and making room for elements to breathe. I’ve noticed that this also influences my production style, as I resonate towards big cinematic and atmospheric productions. I love to layer my instruments and vocals
Could you talk us through how you got into music?
I always loved to sing as a child. I have a film picture of me when I was about seven years old singing Vietnamese karaoke in a Teletubbies t-shirt. I did school concerts and studied music in GCSE. Around that time I also picked up the guitar and learnt basic music production. I really wanted to DJ for my school prom and was very inspired, (still inspired), by Disclosure’s album ‘Settle’, so I decided to take up some DJing courses.
I stopped music for a while as college became intense, but I slowly started tapping back into it. I did my art foundation and started a year at university studying textile design, but I later dropped out because I hated it and also left the nail art salon I was working at (WAH Nails). I was ready to start my freelance career and I thought why not start freelancing while I am young and take advantage of that? I started to take music seriously again and did a refresher DJ course, practised loads in my own time and then during lockdown I did a music production diploma, which has been life-changing.
Who were some of your musical inspirations growing up? And how do they compare to now?
My musical inspirations have definitely changed. When I was younger I had an obsession with Katy Perry’s ‘One of the Boys’ era. It’s funny how nostalgic sounds can circle back around because I love Olivia Rodrigo and she very much gives that old-school Katy Perry vibe. Kanye West is also a fave, particularly his ‘My Dark Twisted Fantasy’ album – I do miss the old Kanye. Also Frank Ocean’s ‘Channel Orange’ and ‘Nostalgia Ultra’. I have these tunes in a playlist called ‘Time Machine’, it has all the old-school songs that make me feel nostalgic.
Some of my favourite artists now are Alina Baraz, H.E.R., Tori Kelly, Lucky Daye, and I am loving Kehlani’s new album ‘Blue Water Road’. I am also a Lana Del Rey fan, but I like to listen to her when I’m alone.
You’re a creative individual – from founding Boys in Polish to your new release and everything in between. Is making something that comes naturally to you?
I’ve always been a very emotional person and as a kid, I had no outlet for that. Now I can appreciate how life does eventually start to make more sense and my outlets keep me sane in different ways. Doing nails is painting and having conversations, which I find relaxing once my clients become regulars. It’s therapeutic for me most of the time. Music is a way for me to vent and also make sense of life through sound.
Boys In Polish is a platform I started that aims to make manicures more inclusive and confront toxic masculinity. It is deeply personal to me as the journeys it has taken me on has helped me to learn and unlearn things in terms of masculinity and how I relate to men.
And how do those creative outlets cross over?
Everything is connected and it’s beautiful to see that in fruition. I have met musicians through painting nails and had musicians/people in music who have come to get their nails painted. I have met so many amazing people through doing what I love, and I feel fortunate to be able to say that.
In our previous talk, you mentioned sometimes feeling less confident playing certain songs – how has your musical journey, and you as an artist, evolved since we last spoke?
Releasing “Butterflies”, (which is my second single), felt so much calmer than my first track “Fathers”. Naturally, I have learnt more, met new people in music, and become more confident in my musicality. Of course, I still have so much more to learn, but one thing I know that works for me is taking my time. As much as people tell me that I need to keep up the momentum, I know what feels right for me and honour that more. I trust myself and the process more effortlessly rather than stress about getting to the next point. It will all happen in good time.
And, of course, we’d love to get the insider scoop. What’s next in store for Jess Young?
Well, we’ll have to wait and see. This year feels like it will be a good one though.
