After the release of her synth pop single ‘You Before Me’ in December 2020 JESA boldly steps into a new genre while tackling the stigma of mental health with her alter-ego blues/soul track ‘Black Swan’. ‘Black Swan’s first iteration was in 2017; a time when JESA was studying poets like Rupi Kaur, W.H. Auden and Emily Dickinson and obsessively listening to Nai Palm, Amy Winehouse and The Teskey Brothers. 

JESA recalls “‘I wrote ‘Black Swan’ at a pivotal turning point in my life as I was coming to terms with having depression.” In the song she metaphorically describes mental illness as being a toxic relationship you want to break from. 

The track opens with intriguing vocals, smooth drumming (by Bobby Alu), blues guitar and soaring organ parts that decorate her pain as soulful and sweet. In the second half, a punchy bridge with powerful church-like vocal-stacks and arpeggiating bass lines bring a sense of hopefulness with the message  “wearing all the weather, now I’m feeling better, dance with the pain, don’t let it stay”. Ending with a free-flow jam by producer Billy Otto and JESA, ‘Black Swan’ is a beautiful reminder to everyone to reach out in their time of need and the power of music to change our emotional state.

Black Swan

Did You Forget - Jess Johnson

Original Demo Track 
- speaking on a topic most women face, objectification, as song reiterates we ARE WOMEN not OBJECTS, respect! 

I Am A Woman - Jess Johnson

You Before Me is a self-love anthem that is dreamy, empowering and vibrant. Somewhere between Lisa Mitchell and Maggie Rogers folk-pop this colourful palette also dips into 70s soul and 80s disco with funky electric guitars, shimmering percussion and bouncing bass line. 'You Before Me' covers themes of identity, healing and new beginnings. Coming out of the gates JESA's new project is imaginative, uplifting and enticing.