Having spent the last few years releasing a flurry of bright and shimmering alt-pop delights, London-based artist Jewelia now returns with her latest uplifting belter 'Is This World Mine'.
Channelling a broad and captivating aesthetic throughout, 'Is This World Mine' makes for a bold and vibrant listen. Filled with rich textures, atmospheric production, and her own spiritual voice at the helm, it feels like she is truly coming into her own on this rapturous new cut.
So with the new single doing the rounds, we sat her down to find out more about her background and what has been inspiring her most over the years.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I started with playing the keyboard. I don’t have any other musicians in my family, but when I was six, I saw someone play the piano on TV and told my parents I wanted to learn how to play. They bought me a keyboard and eventually I was also taken to piano lessons.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I was somewhat of an emo kid as a teenager, at least in my music tastes. I loved My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy and the likes. Then I started listening to Muse, which I was obsessed with for a long time. Nowadays I listen to a lot of indie/alternative pop.
What was the first album you remember owning?
It was 'American Idiot' by Green Day.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
I did a cover on my YouTube channel of Sufjan Stevens’ ‘Mystery of Love’. It’s one of my most popular videos and I absolutely love that song! So you can see why I sometimes wish I had written it myself.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Not really. I write best when I am alone though. I need peace and quiet to be able to get into my own inner world.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Sufjan Stevens recently, also Phoebe Bridgers and Alice Phoebe Lou. And a bit of Skott and Winona Oak. I’ve also recently discovered the music of Weyes Blood.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
My childhood dream was to one day open for Muse. I don’t think the music I’m making nowadays would be suitable though. Another dream one would be Lana Del Rey.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I love creating music. As I work on my songs from the very beginning to the end, the best part for me is when the song is finished and I get to listen back to it. It’s that feeling of “Look, this is what I made. This didn’t exist the day before.” I also love playing live gigs even though I am always extremely nervous before playing.
And what is the most frustrating part?
These days it’s a lot less about the music and more about promotion, networking, knowing the right people etc. I find myself spending more time sending emails and running my social media than working on the actual music. This can be very frustrating, especially for someone who is an introvert or is not very interested in the business side of music.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
I think the most eye-opening advice was that I should spend more, or at least as much money and time on promotion than on the creation of the music/content. It made me realise that I have been putting a lot of music out there with wasted potential, and that I needed to pay more attention to getting my music in front of people. It’s a hard balance to navigate and I am still trying to figure out the best ways to do this. I think it’s important to understand that in music there is not one clear path, and it’s all a big learning process!
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Jewelia's new single 'Is This World Mine' is available to stream now. Check out the new video for it in the player below.