JessB
Finding community wherever her journey takes her, JessB’s long-awaited debut album, FEELS LIKE HOME embodies the essence of home not being defined as a place, but instead, being where the heart is. Identifying as a cancer sign to her core, the Kenyan-New Zealand artist's heart has lied with her community since her breakout 2017 debut single ‘Soul Free’, followed by acclaimed projects Bloom, New Views, and 3 Nights in Amsterdam mixtape. The homebody of the zodiac, cancer signs are typically known to be sensitive, nurturing, and security-seeking souls — but with sharp claws that reveal themselves in JessB’s snappy, quick-witted rhymes.
On her debut album, JessB explores the different pockets of her identity as a child of the diaspora. This is depicted over a journey of tracks created with a diverse palette of producers including New Zealand legend, Dera Meelan (Church & AP, Deadforest) in JessB’s hometown of Aotearoa, working with MOW Music in the electronic capital of Amsterdam, to the Afrobeats and dancehall roots of her African heritage with One El Beatz, IAMMX0, Tuzi and Turkish Dcypha to the queer black nightlife soundscapes, Jess being the co-founder of Tamaki Makaurau QTPOC club night event FILTH.
Born and raised in New Zealand to a Kenyan father and Pakeha mother, JessB is part of the new generation of African Kiwi hip-hop artists bringing their culture to the forefront of the mainstream, having shared stages with the likes of Kehlani and Stormzy, delivering renowned performances at SXSW, Listen Out and Laneway, as well as working as a part of the African New Zealand rap supergroup BLKCITY.
Across the 12 track album — which feature guest appearances from Kranium, Sister Nancy, Sampa The Great and Gold Fang — JessB taps into not only the intimate and personal essence of the physical definition of ‘home’, but also the mental and emotional embodiment of the refuge and sanctuary that is finding herself as a person.
“It wasn't ever about what the music sounded like - it wasn't like I was naming it that because of the music,” JessB explains of the background behind the album title and themes. “FEELS LIKE HOME can mean so many different things. I think it's about feeling at home with where you're at, where you've come from, and where you're going. So it's kind of like a past, present, future thing - where it's constantly moving and changing.”
She continues, “What was home to me five years ago when I started making music, and what I did, and how I presented, doesn’t necessarily feel like home anymore. It’s about what FEELS LIKE HOME means in terms of my career as a musician, and finding my sound, and then also FEELS LIKE HOME in terms of growing as a person and finding my people. I'm a cancer, too, so home is really important to me literally as well. Family is extremely important to me, and the idea of having a literal home to come home to that is safe for family and friends, and to share space and love with.”
To start the album Jess recruits the iconic voice of trailblazing dancehall queen Sister Nancy, who Jess originally met when the legendary Jamaican artist toured New Zealand back in 2018, before linking up again during her travels in London and Sydney. Sister Nancy’s inimitable tone sets a fiercely unapologetic foundation to introduce ‘Power’, which also features Zambia-born, Australia-based rapper Sampa The Great. Produced by Aotearoa avant-garde hip-hop artist WHO SHOT SCOTT, thumping bass lines and knocking percussion carry the tracks assertive, bossed up tone for the power trio of JessB, Sister Nancy, and Sampa to spit over with pride.
‘Moment’, showcases JessB’s evolution and multidimensionality as much more than just a rapper, swapping between sultry raps and warm vocal melodies on the lusty MOW MUSIC produced Afro-pop kick ons love story featuring New York based dancehall artist Kranium.
Third single ‘Hold Me Down’ is an infatuating summer sweetener, driven by the blissful, breezy downtempo bounce of Aotearoa producer Dera Meelan.
On ‘Ring Ring’, which features Sydney Dancehall artist Gold Fang, Jess makes a call for a flirtatious dancefloor romance over bouncy dancehall rhythms and buzzing dial-up samples from MOW MUSIC.
Over a twinkling guitar melody, final track ‘Long Time Coming’ closes the album full circle, with reflective rhymes musing on the artist's evolution as both an artist and a human being coming into her own.
