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Ruth, Roving reporter

FReeZA Presents: Jess Harlen

[Listen to "I Go" by Jess Harlem - lyrics at the bottom of this article]

Out of New Zealand comes the charismatic and beautiful soul singer Jess Harlen. She has won a string of awards for her music, including Best Unsigned Artist at the Urban Music Awards in 2007 for her first EP Street Level Soul (2006). Her vocals have also featured on the Muph & Plutonic album And Then Tomorrow Came (2008). In 2010 Jess Harlen released her highly anticipated debut album Neon Heartache. We caught up with Jess to talk about making good music for the soul.

Hi Jess, please tell us a bit about yourself.

I'm 26, I was born in New Zealand but grew up in Brisbane, and I now live in Melbourne. I play guitar, sing and write soul music. Oh yeah, I'm Jess Harlen! Boom!

How would you describe your music? Who are your musical influences?

My music is an accidental mash-up of urban roots, reggae, blues and heartache and kind of just turns out to be soul. Otis Redding and Tracy Chapman were pretty big inspirations and influences when I was getting into music. I keep them close to my heart, in a little pocket with avocado and rye bread.

How did you first come to make music? How old were you and what sorts of things did you play?

I was about 12 and my dad gave me a guitar for my birthday because I was bashing around on this little old thing and then I just jumped on board and started playing along with all my uncles and family.

Playing the guitar in my family is kinda boring. It's like, "of course you play the guitar, as if you don't play the guitar". So I started off playing old time country songs and the blues and all those sad songs Maoris love to sing and sway to. Then I sussed out Tracy Chapman's songs quick smart, when I broke the tape and the car tape player. I may be still in trouble for that.

How do you think your music has evolved from when you first started to where you are now?

Well I used to write three-chord songs. Now they have four chords. No, no - it's definitely taken a few turns. Soon after I had a guitar I started writing acoustic music. Then my teen years led me into the thick of hip hop and my love for that influenced the way I write rhythmically. The sound of my album now has a huge amount to do with the ideas and creative genius of super producer Plutonic Lab.

In 2010 you were a mentor in the FReeZA Central Mentoring Program. What sort of things did you help your mentee with? What was your overall experience in the mentor program?

Mainly we planned a lot, which took me ages to figure out how to do when I started out in the music industry. Planning, planning, planning. But I had to go overseas on tour with Blue King Brown and I was also touring the launch of my album in Australia so we didn't get to do as much as I would have liked to. I think we've developed a pretty rad friendship though and it won't stop here.

Tell us about the making of Neon Heartache. How long did it take to record, who did you work with, and what kind of music is on it?

I wrote most of the songs over a few years, however when we got into the studio it took us under a year to put it all together. I worked with Plutonic Lab who produced, recorded and mixed the record (he's sneaky like that) and some good friends of ours came in. Chris Toro, Sam Cope, Partrick Kilby, Ngaiire, Nadee, Elisha, Emily Mould...

Had you toured previously? What was the experience like?

I've toured nationally and internationally extensively with Blue King Brown as a backing vocalist. I'm currently on a ferry from Denmark to Sweden! I've toured solo acoustic and also briefly with Plutonic.

Touring is hard work. It's cool because you get to see a bunch of different cities and country towns, hang with locals who take a liking to you rather than a bottle to you, but travelling takes up most of the time. It means you're in a car, plane, boat, van, bus, anything that moves most of the time! Or you're waiting.

Performing on tour takes up the least amount of time! That's why you have to be in this for the love. Nothing else will keep you here (haha). You also miss all the people you're away from at home. Skype is like my best friend right now.

What can we expect from you in the future?

An album next year, produced by Plutonic again. I like him - he's a good egg.

Check out Jess Harlen on MySpace at www.myspace.com/jessharlen (new window). For more information about the FReeZA program, check out www.freeza.vic.gov.au (new window), and for more articles about Arts & music, check out our Articles archive.

 

Lyrics: "I Go" by Jess Harlen

Here it comes again I've seen it before
Yes I'm pretty sure that I've been there before
Yes I went to the end and then I came out again
And now you won't know me like you've known me before

So I go
I go
I go
I go

I sit and wonder what it's all about
A timeless doubt
I sit and wonder what it's all about
And a jetlagged mind brings a timeless doubt

I go....

Through darkness and bleakness
Through tunnels and weakness I go
From darkness into light
Through shadows of the night I go

I go....

Through galaxies and trees I go
Through galaxies and trees I go
Through galaxies and trees I go

I go

You won't see me feel me love me need me I go
From darkness into light through shadows in the night I go
You wont' see me feel me love me need me I go
From darkness into light through shadows in the night I go

I go....

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