After introducing herself with her stunning initial offerings 'Wonder?', 'Blank' and 'House Fire' last year, London-based singer-songwriter Jess Hunter is now back for 2024 to deliver her shimmering new single 'Anhedonia'.
Bringing back more of that warm and inviting alt-pop aesthetic she has been building lately, 'Anhedonia' makes for a beautifully rich and endearing listen. Filled with sweet and immersive textures, a sweeping atmosphere, and her own compelling vocals at the helm, she is returning to the fold with one of her most passionate efforts yet.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with her to find out more about her origins and what has been inspiring her lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
Vocals. Definitely. When I was around four, I was filmed singing Elton John with no front teeth. Safe to say I have improved in my vocals since then. Notably, I got my first keyboard when I was eleven. I learnt some adele here and there and began writing on top of simple chords a little later. It's a close call between the two instruments however singing is what I fell in love with.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I was brought up listening to lots of music spread over many genres. Both my parents had two very different tastes. I was exposed to rock, metal and punk by my Dad. My Mum on the other hand was obsessed with 90s hip-hop, UK garage classics and a bit too much Robbie Williams. When I was little, I was drawn more to rock n roll, the likes of AC/DC and The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, however in my early teenage years I fell in love with the 70s; Fleetwood Mac still being one of my favourite bands to date.
What was the first album you remember owning?
I got a record player when I was 14 and only started collecting around 16. I got my first few records from Sister Ray in Soho. These being, The Velvet Underground and Nico, Straight Outta Compton, Saturday Night Fever and Igor.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
Recently, I've been thinking about this question a lot and I might even make a playlist on Spotify full of songs I wish I made. I am torn between two to answer this. The first is Phoebe Bridger’s verse in “Cool About It.” I cannot listen to it without crying. The line “We don’t have to talk about it, I can walk you home and practice method acting” gets me every time. Phoebe is an incredible writer as are the rest of Boygenius. My second choice is “anything” by Adrianne Lenker. She has a talent for conveying such powerful and gorgeous imagery. I was sent the song last year by my boyfriend at the time, so the song takes me to a time of love and connection and I think of the little moments within a relationship that are so beautiful and delicate.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
A little habit or a sign, It sounds strange but I know that my lyrics are ones to stick with when I begin to cry after singing them aloud. My eyes begin to twitch and I get an itch in my nose. It sounds crazy writing this down but I promise it's not as weird as it sounds.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
I’ve been listening to a mixture at the moment. I am really enjoying Tom Odell's new album, Black Friday. His music overall is so warming to me and he is incredible at capturing raw emotion within his songs. Some other artists I have been loving at the moment are The Smashing Pumpkins (particularly their song “Drown”), Faye Webster and J.J. Cale. His track “Magnolia” is beautiful. I'd love to make music like that in time.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
I would love to open for Phoebe Bridgers. As my top musician at the moment, I would adore playing before her, warming up the crowd. What a night that would be. Maybe one day, a girl can dream.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
To me, hearing back from my listeners about their connection to my lyrics and music as a whole is so extremely rewarding. My primary goal as a musician is to have listeners feel less alone when they listen, as my music explores personal subject matters and raw emotion. My third single, House Fire, is about my Mum and her experience with the loss of her brother. Talking to her about the song and seeing her listening to it for the first time is a moment I will never forget.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating part of being a musician is battling with self criticism and understanding that reaching your idea of perfection isn’t going to happen. When creating a track and listening to it thousands of times, I begin to pick out the tiniest of imperfections and lose sleep over minimal issues, especially when mixing. It is hard to get over and in future I hope to not stress too much about the little things within a song that aren’t vital.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
Music advice? I was told to take every single opportunity that is given to you. Even if you’re unsure about what may happen, give it a shot. I did my first headline gig in December and I’ve never felt so nervous. When booking the venue, I almost didn’t reply when they said it was available for me to play, solely out of nerves. However, I am so glad I took the opportunity and had one of the best nights of my life.
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Jess Hunter's new single 'Anhedonia' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.