After captivating global audiences with her emotive vocals across the electronic music landscape, Jess Ball is now fully stepping into her own. The Melbourne-based singer-songwriter returns with 'Please Don’t Hate Me For This', a punchy, emotionally honest pop anthem that captures the tension between love, frustration, and the courage it takes to speak your truth.
Best known for her collaborations with dance music heavyweights like EDX and 1and2 Productions, Jess has quietly built a catalogue of over 100 million streams, and now, as a solo artist, she’s revealing a deeper, more intimate side of her artistry. With sonic influences ranging from Olivia Dean to Cigarettes After Sex, she blends indie-pop melancholy with undeniable hooks, all grounded in raw, relatable storytelling.
So with the new single out now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
-
What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first time I ever played an instrument was in my primary school percussion class. I was assigned to the bass drum and absolutely loved playing it - I think it made me feel important because I was the metronome of the group.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I pretty much just listened to whatever mum and dad did, and I still listen to the same songs today on occasion - they always had the speakers going through the house with either Jack Johnson, Missy Higgins, Ben Lee or Ben Harper playing.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I owned a lot of ‘So Fresh’ CD’s which were a compilation album series. I think the 2005/2006 CD’s were probably the most memorable for me, with songs like ‘Bonanza (belly dancer)’ by Akon and ‘These Boots Were Made For Walking’ by Jessica Simpson.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Say it Ain’t So by Weezer. This will always be a favourite of mine and is my absolute go-to for a cover.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Not particularly, I tend to write when I’m feeling emotional and sort of see it as a therapeutic process. I find that I don’t need a structure with songwriting when I feel a certain way because it just kind of comes out as soon as I start playing anything on the guitar.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
There are so many, but my favourites right now would have to be Broncho, Acopia and Turnstile.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Royel Otis
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
It’s really nice when you hear people singing along to the songs you put out because it shows that they’ve listened to the song more than just once and have actually resonated with it in some way. As I said, I find songwriting to be a good emotional outlet so it is cool to think that my songs can act as an outlet for others too.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I think the frustrating part of being a musician is that it’s a pretty unpredictable lifestyle and there’s no one recipe for success. As someone who likes structure and routine in their day to day, I struggle with its lack thereof in the music industry.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
That it takes 10 years to be an overnight success.
-
Jess Ball's new single 'Please Don't Hate Me For This' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.