With their first release ‘Afternoon Escapism’ (2019) reaching 1000 streams on Spotify, Jess Webberly has performed alongside the likes of Slow Crush, Petal and VENUS in the span of a year. Jess is known for their dreamy escapism soundscapes and has cited Men I Trust, Slowdive, Crumb, and Japanese Breakfast as highly influential to their sound. The young musician has released their new ‘With Me’ which shows a more positive outlook and direction that Jess is following in their music.
We find out more about Jess and their music in this exclusive.
Describe your sound for us. What do you want people to feel when they hear your music?
Floaty dream pop with heavy shoegaze undertones. I want people to feel as though they have stepped into a different reality. I want people to be able to get lost within the sounds I create in my music.
Which 3 artists have influenced you the most growing up?
The artists that influenced me growing up and the artists that influence me now are quite different. Growing up I was heavily influenced by bands like Green Day, Paramore & Sum 41. I feel like the music I make now is really not reflective of that so it’s super strange!
How did you discover your particular sound?
I realized the sound I wanted to go for through listening to a lot of shoegaze, bedroom pop, and psychedelic artists/bands. I think I discovered my sound as it is now through playing with different guitar pedals and a practice amp in my bedroom. The key guitar pedal being a loop pedal, building up ambient sounds/loops really informs my song writing.
What are the most important pieces of equipment to you?
My telecaster and my pedals! Particularly my reverb, chorus, and delay pedals.
What outside of music inspires you to create?
I am a very keen graphic designer & illustrator, so if I am not creating music I am creating something visual. I am inspired by all sorts of things like architecture, street art, typography… I pretty much find inspiration anywhere and everywhere.
Do you have a favourite memory of your career so far that you will take with you forever?
I don’t think I can really pinpoint a favourite memory, pretty much any show I have played has become a great memory. Though I had my first radio play recently, and that was a pretty insane feeling.
If you could work with, or perform alongside any artist living or passed, who would it be?
Probably seems random after my other answers but… Joan Jett!
Most artists say that if they weren’t artists they would be mailmen/women… what would you be?
That’s super interesting, I wonder why! Hmm I think I would like to do something within the realms of environmental conservation/renewable energy industry. It’s something I care about and wish I could do more to personally help out with.
What can we expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or gigs in the pipeline that you would like to tell us about?
I will be back in the recording studio in August and am looking to begin recording an EP, so hopefully, there will be more music out before the end of the year! I am also currently working on a zine to accompany my music, I am seeing it as a great chance to tie the sounds of my music and some visuals together. The zines will be hand made and I am planning to sell a limited number of copies online/at shows.
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