FEATURE: Spotlight: Jessica Wilde — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Jessica Wilde

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IN this outing of Spotlight…

I want to focus on a remarkable young artist who has released singles for an upcoming conceptual album. Jessica Wilde is a London-based songwriter who, for the past few years, has built a following and established herself as an original and important talent. I am going to sort of go chronologically when it comes to interviews with her. I want to start by going back to 2019 and VENTS MAGAZINE. The stunning single, Out of my Ooo, as the focal point of the interview:

“Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Out of my Ooo”?

‘‘Out of my Ooo’ is one of my favourites songs from my current project and now it’s finally out in the world.. and the response has been awesome! Just to clarify, in case you’re wondering what an ‘Ooo’ is, only women have one.’

What was it like to work with Kizzo and how did that relationship develop?

‘Working with Kizzo was incredible, He pushed my vocals to a whole new level. He’d never heard me sing before I came into that studio session in LA, with my quirky clothes and South London accent. I went up to the mic, in the booth, I felt the pressure! but as soon as I sang, he was like ‘Ah K ah k!! I f**k wi that!!’… and then we wrote another 4 songs that week before I came back to the UK.’

How much did he get to influence your writing?

‘Kizzo is amazing at melodies. He’s an accomplished jazz pianist and all round musician as well as producer. So, working with him was daunting at first. I’d always started with lyrics previously, but Kizzo starts with melodies so I felt like I was writing backwards, but I grew to appreciate the process as a strong melody is very powerful. It hooks you in and stays in your head.’

What role does London play in your music?

‘London is such a multicultural city, it’s like a cooking pot of different sounds and influences from all over the world. I always love to combine different styles in my music, so this has definitely had a big part to play…

When you can Combine those different styles you get something unique and original as you make it your own…

Also, the area I grew up in lots of crazy stuff use to go down, those times have had a big inspiration on my writing for sure. It was a wild time and I learnt so much from those experiences and it’s helped shape the person and the artist I am today’”.

If one listens to the singles Wilde has released to date, they hang together as her work…yet they have their own skin and story. One of my favourite songs is BODY. It is a song that I heard a few weeks back and have had in my mind ever since. CLASH spotlighted the song back in April. It is sign and proof of an artist growing and building off of her earlier promise:

“Jessica Wilde speaks her truth.

The soulful UK riser uses music to connect with her feelings, to remove herself from the outside world and explore her inner depths.

A flurry of singles put her on the R&B map, with new release 'BODY' oozing confidence.

A song about self-love and self-empowerment, it finds Jessica shrugging off the attention of teasing men who only want something physical.

Aiming to locate something deeper on her own terms, 'BODY' is a seductive jewel from the R&B voice.

Jessica Wilde purrs: “If all you want is my body, then imma find somebody, who wants no body but me...”

If you have not heard Jessica Wilde yet, I would advise you check out all of her singles. I feel BODY is one of her very best. I predict that she will continue to grow stronger and more astonishing. Her music is the kind that gets into the imagination.

I want to source an interview that concentrated on the third single from Wilde’s upcoming album: Cruel. WORDPLAY also asked about the importance of London to Jessica Wilde. They also ask about her battle with addiction:

“The 3rd single taken from Jessica Wilde’s debut album, out later this year, ‘Cruel’ signals Wilde delving back into her first love, a toxic relationship that inspired a harnessing of her bisexual identity but also led her to addiction - a subject she’s tackling on her debut album.

On ‘Cruel’ Wilde collaborated with producer Jay Nebula and Grammy award winning producer Kiris Houston who have worked heavily with the likes of The Disciples and Little Mix. ‘Cruel’ has a nice lazy summer haze 90’s classic hip hop beat and r’n’b vibe where Jessica is at her most cutesy, sultry but equally dangerous as her lyrics offer a little sting in the tail as she questions, “Why you gotta be so cruel?” As she caresses every word and makes her ex-lover only dream about what could have been.

Jessica sat down with Wordplay Magazine to chat about her upcoming album and battle with addiction and overcoming it.

Taking it back to the beginning, what sparked your love for music?

Listening to Nina Simone and Billie Holiday blare out my front room speakers, watching my mum perform Jazz gigs, she was wild! My dad performing his one man shows about his crazy adventures round South America, sitting in my brother’s room listening to him and his friends DJ drum and bass and do MC battles. I was surrounded by music and art since I can remember. My first Cd was The Fugees, ’Killing me softly’ still gives me tingles when I listen to it now, ugh Lauryn Hill’s voice. Dizzee Rascal and Ms Dynamite made me wanna rap, Teedra Moses Complex Simplicity was the album of my teens.

Your project is dropping later this year. There’s a lot of deep messages in there, including the recent single Wasted, Fuck You I’m Sober Now. What made you decide to get so personal with it?

The album is dropping in December, this album means a lot to me because it’s about the big shifts I made in my life from drug addiction, depression and toxic relationships to building back my self-love, self-worth and going sober. The most deeply and exposing tunes are yet to come and honestly sometimes I feel absolutely terrified at the thought of sharing them but I performed them live a few times and the connection was crazy, the room fell silent and I had people message me saying how much it moved them, that made me feel like this message is something really worth getting out there, and well, I’m already deep in’it, so there’s no turning back now ha! I said to myself even if this only reaches one person f*ck it it’s worth it.

What struggles have you had to overcome whilst battling addiction?

I attempted to go sober a few times but kept falling back. It was that habitual cycle that was hard to break. I was also attached to the fun times, the freedom or more so the escapism of being high or drunk, it became my identity… I was wild, crazy Jess, so who the f*ck would I be sober?! For a while I felt isolated as I didn’t want to go out with certain friends anymore, I felt a social anxiety. Honestly though, getting over those fears and being sober at party’s has actually helped me gain way more confidence on a different kinda’ level.

Would you say your sound has changed since becoming sober?

My sound has always had soul, jazz and hip hop elements to it but now I’d say my lyrics are a lot more raw, especially as I’ve brought back spoken word and rap into my music. Going sober definitely inspired lyrical content, I mean I’ve written a whole album about the ride, starting with the lead tracks ‘Wasted/ f*ck U I’m sober now’. This project is an authentic delve back into my youth and south London roots. I come from a mixed race background and multi cultural area so I feel my music has always been a melting pot of sounds and influences but with this project I took that even further. My mum played a lot of jazz around the house but also Nirvana, who I looove! and Bowie. You can hear the more indie, punk rock vibes on ‘F*ck U I’m sober’ mixed with Ska guitars, reggae-ton drum beats and Hip hop, It’s a real combo and I love that.

Sticking with the power of music, are there any albums that you’ve currently got on heavy rotation?

At the moment I’m loving Green Tea Peng, Cleo Sol and Sault who also produced Cleo’s album. I feel a realness and authenticity coming through these artists, they’ve got something to say, and I love that! It’s a whole new wave. I also have my own playlist on repeat, well actually it’s my alter ego, pink wig Charlene’s Spotify playlist called ‘P*ssY PWR’, it includes all Charlene’s favourite female artists of the moment. The idea came to start the playlist after hearing a talk about the lack of representation for female artists, which was really eye opening, I had no idea there was such a disparity! Charlene weren’t havin’ none if it!! She’s putting female artists first! Check her out on my insta @iamjessicawilde

What do you like to do when you’re not making music?

I still love to party - sober of course! I love dancing and going to gigs, cooking food and eating it, lol, I’m very talented at the eating part. Good films, me, my mum and uncle have been watching a film every Sunday night during lockdown. I watched Concrete Cowboy the other day and would definitely say it’s worth a watch”.

I will finish off with this article that discussed Down to Earth. The latest cut to be included on her confessional concept album, Wilde has already gained the support of big stations and tastemakers:

“The album has so far gained support from tastemakers such as Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1 and CLASH Magazine.

‘Down to Earth’ comes as the transition song, Wilde’s inner conversation amping herself to be in her new found strength, ready to bring it back down to earth when sh*t hits the fan, stay grounded in her power and authenticity, knowing when she stays true to herself she can handle anything life throws at her.

Produced by Callum George, this vibey track grooves textures of live feeling drums and bass layered with electronic undertones, carried by Wilde’s husky, distinct and sensual vocals.

Wilde’s exciting project and authentic artistry has seen her pick some serious heat across BBC Radio including BBCRadio 1 (Future Artist), ‘Record of the week’ on BBCR1xtra, BBC Radio London (Robert Elms show/Claira Hermet/Lionheart and Salma El-Wardany/Emelia Poamz) BBC6 Music, KISS FM (Rudekid), Hoxton Radio (Kerry Boyne), Reprezent Radio (Amika Eazer/Laughta), Radio 5 (Amsterdam) and many more.

She was chosen for the official UK Spotify Pride Editorial Playlist, did a full interview with The Independent, featured in Clash Magazine, Wonderland, The Daily Star, WordPlay, Cool Hunting, Noctis Mag, SBTV (New Music Friday) and her story caught the attention of rising Podcast ‘Headliner’ and other Podcasts and influencers that focus on marginalized topics such as sexuality and addiction including ‘Mouth Off’, ‘Muso Muso’ and a recent live interview with sober blogger Katie McNicol.

Jessica’s sassy and comedic pink wing wearing alto-ego ‘Charlene’ has also been causing quite a stir on social media with her regular ‘P*ssY PWR’ playlists and IG Live events, featuring guest appearances from some of the best upcoming gals on the scene like Kenya Grace, Janset, Leanne Louise & Zoe Kypri. So much so that top UK music blog Fame Magazine have launched an awesome ethically produced ‘P*ssy PWR’ merch range”.

I will end it there. I am looking forward to Jessica Wilde’s album coming out. As we look ahead to 2022, I feel that she will keep evolving as an artist. On the basis of what she has produced so far, the future is going to very bright and prosperous. If you need a great new artist to follow, then I can point you…