Artist Spotlight: Jazzy
As an artist in the modern music industry, being comfortable in one scene or movement often doesn’t suffice. If you want to build an audience and gain control of your artistic narrative, it is essential to spread your musical wings and soar into the open space above your sheltered creative existence. Dublin soul songwriter Jazzy has been doing precisely that.
Jazzy has been keeping busy this year, with her work as the vocalist for vibrant Irish Hip Hop group Powerful Creative Minds amongst her growing catalogue. She has found herself amongst the hottest new voices in contemporary dance music talks to her collaborations with Belters Only, who deliver a highly marketable sound to the masses. Jazzy’s vocals on Make Me Feel Good and Don’t Stop Just Yet augment the party vibe and showcase her diverse artistry.
I spoke to Jazzy to discuss growing up in Dublin, her work with the Belters Only boys, and what’s to come from her.
Who are you listening to?
It’s ever-changing to be honest, but right now I’d say the heavy-rotation list includes Becky Hill, Mahalia, Hot Natured, Years & Years, Jorja Smith, Jax Jones and Disclosure
What influences you to create?
My biggest influence is Lauryn Hill, it was once I started listening to her music that I knew I wanted to sing
Talk me through your work with Powerful Creative Minds?
Me, Ricks and Ciaran have lived two doors away from each other for over 20 years now, and a few years back they invited me to sing in PCM. That was 2017, and we’ve been working together since then. In that time, we’ve brought in Irish producer Adam Smith (bombittybeatz), and we’ve put out 3 singles and 2 EPs in our time together. The boys are such talented writers and definitely have an edge on the Irish hip hop scene.
You’ve developed such an eclectic portfolio already. How important to you is experimenting with your own sound and pushing your own creative limits?
I mean, it’s literally the most important thing to me right now. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing in my studio sessions lately to find that perfect ‘Jazzy’ sound.
How did you find growing up in Dublin?
It was great, but tough at times too. I grew up on a council estate being the youngest of three. It’s a place where everyone knows everyone and looked out for each other. Being one of the only mixed race children in the area was hard sometimes but I took it on the head. Other than that I love where I grew up, Dublin definitely has some of the nicest people out there.
How do you find the Dublin music scene? How does it compare to the UK?
I think the Dublin music scene is really starting to blossom right now, there are so many amazing artists who have the potential to break the UK, people are really starting to take notice now aren’t they. And rightfully so.
Being from outside the city, do you think it’s harder to break into the London industry?
I feel like it’s pretty different, but if your material is solid nothing can stop you. And there’s a lot of talk about the London industry but actually it goes a lot broader than that - a lot of the UK’s scene happens in the smaller cities too. I’ve been seeing some of them doing shows with Belters, and I’m looking forward to doing more later this year too.
What Irish artists have you got your eye on?
There’s a long list, but definitely Shiv, Tomike, Lea Heart, Aby Coulibaly are all amazing artists in Ireland right now.
Your work with Belters Only is really impressive. Talk me through the origins of the relationship and why the collaborative process works so well?
So basically I met the Belters boys through mutual friends, they heard me singing through social media and thought it would be good to do a session. I think the collab went so well because we were all on the same vibe from the start.
What is it about collaboration that you thrive on?
I think it’s amazing what can happen when you put the right combination of vocalists/producers in a session. And it’s another set of opinions and inspirations - everyone brings something different so it keeps it fresh.
Who would you love to collaborate with in the future?
The dream collab list is Rudimental, Route94, MK, Jax Jones
You’ve achieved great success in the last year or so, how do you plan on taking your artistry and your acclaim to the next level?
The next step for me is to release my first single, and to introduce people to me, my music, and what I’m about! I have a lot in the works right now and I can’t wait to get releasing my own music. My first single is coming very soon actually…
What other musical projects are you working on at the moment?
There’s a few exciting things in the works, but I can’t say much just yet frustratingly. You’ll have to check back in a few weeks!
If you were introducing yourself to a new listener, what track would you play them?
I guess it’d have to be MMFG! That track has gone platinum in the UK & Ireland recently, and it’s just this week been announced as one of the Top 10 best selling songs of the year so far. That’s such a huge achievement for me and the boys, we’re insanely proud of its success, but it’s just the start for us really too!
What else is to come from you?
Like I say, new music soon! I feel like I’m saying ‘soon’ a lot but I’m just really excited about everything I have to come, I can’t wait to step it up. And I want to start doing more behind the decks too.