Canal St caught up with Jess Kemp

1. For those who aren’t so familiar with you, can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Sure, my name is Jess Kemp and I’m a 21 year old female singer/songwriter from Manchester. I’ve been gigging the circuit since I was about 17 (I remember this as, my first few gigs I was unable to drink…).

2. How would you describe your music?

My own music is very far from what i actually listen to myself which is strange. I enjoy playing it and more importantly writing it. The best way to summarise it would be a load of ‘catchy’ stories all with significance to my own life. Comparisons in the past have always included KT Tunstall, Amy MacDonald and Alanis Morissette and I take that as a massive compliment! You could say my voice is fairly gritty with quite a bit of attitude. I don’t really do solemn. 

3. At what point did you think ‘Yup, music is the career for me’?

Well, when I was younger my dream career was always to be a police officer in the traffic division… I still really like the idea of it to be fair. But, I feel it properly hit me when I played my first talent show at school and received the reaction that I did. I sang with one of my best friends and the comments my school friends made gave me the biggest shock! I thought I would have the mick taken out of me but they loved it! Then from there I started playing The Ship Acoustic Night in Irlam and from then I started to really get some nice feedback. That pushed me out into Manchester and it was the same out there! It was great and I still love every minute of it.

4. Who are your musical influences?

I have quite a few and they are very broad as like I said, the music I write is very different to the music I listen to. Whether or not you can hear my influences in my stuff, I don’t know! I’m going to get the best one out the way and that would be Taylor Swift - for her writing style is very personal. Then probably, Paramore, KT Tunstall, McFly, Elton John, Queen, The Beach Boys… there are so many and like I said.. diverse!

5. If you could collaborate with any current artist, who would it be?

It would definitely be Hayley Williams from Paramore. She is my favourite all time female vocalist and her range is just ridiculous!!! I’d love to sing on stage with her!

6. You released a charity single, ‘Fairy Lights’ last Christmas. How did that come about?

I did indeed, it was basically just my way of giving back! I had a successful year with my single ‘Stars’ and because it did so well, I wanted to try and achieve the same sort of results but donate all the money to a worthy cause. My choice to donate to Francis House Childrens Hospice was simply because I feel Christmas is a time for everyone but most importantly children.

7. As well as releasing singles, you’re making waves in the industry with airplay on BBC Introducing and as a finalist on Key 103’s Future Stars. What’s been your proudest career moment to date?

I have recently been featured on BBC Radio 2 with my single Stars. So, I would say both BBC Introducing and BBC Radio 2 airplays have been my proudest moments!

8. What was the last gig you went to?

I went to watch Busted at the Manchester Arena and it was AMAZING.

9. No interview is complete without asking where you see yourself in 5 years time?

In 5 years time, I hope to have had a few releases out, whether that be independently like I am now, or with a small label, that would be cool. I hope to be playing a few more of the bigger festivals and branching out across the UK to play a lot more headline shows in different cities. There is a lot of work to be done but it’s all so exciting!! 

10. Now we’re desperate to find out more, where would we find your music? More importantly, where can we catch you onstage, in real life?!

You can listen to my music on iTunes, Spotify, Soundcloud, Youtube etc! It’s all 'Jess Kemp Artist’ or just ‘Jess Kemp’. 

I have some amazing shows coming up, with a headline gig at The Live Room in Manchester on 8th July and then me and my band have been lucky enough to bag a slot on Blackthorn Music Festival on The Paddock Stage! It’s on 22nd - 24th July and we’ll be playing on Sunday 24th. 2 massive gigs, so excited!!

Published: 30-Jun-2016: (3802)