Jessie Ware

South Londoner Jessie Ware is one of the most exciting vocalists to emerge from the UK underground. The last couple of years have seen the glamorous vocalist collaborating with some of the most respected producers on the electronic spectrum. Jessie caused waves throughout the scene in 2010 when she lent her vocals to masked producer SBTRKT for his fantastically catchy and squelchy track Nervous.

The following year she worked with Bristol dubstep producer Joker on the ominous and thunderous lead single The Vision from his debut album The Vision (4AD). And melted hearts with Sampha on Valentine, stealing the show at the Young Turks Valentine’s Day Special at the Boiler Room with their live rendition of the tune. The Devotion Songfacts reports that Jessie's ability to ride SBTRKT's and other dubstep musician's skittering beats earned her a solo deal. Her debut album, Devotion, was released by PMR Records on August 20, 2012.

After finishing her English literature degree at Sussex University, Brighton, Jessie worked with rowdy party-starters Man Like Me and performed as a backing singer for old school friend Jack Peñate. It was on Jack’s US tour that she discovered the music of SBTRKT. Peñate’s bassist, a guy called Tic, worked for XL Recording and was looking after the masked producer. He played Jack, Jessie and the rest of the band SBTRKT’s tunes on the long drives between shows. Ware was so into his music, she got in contact with him and they ended up creating Nervous and more recently Right Thing To Do.

Success breeds success and working with Tic and SBTRKT has opened doors for Ware - she met Sampha after hearing his vocals when he also collaborated with SBTRKT. Not long after that they went to Tic’s living room and wrote the R&B tinged Valentine, which is partly inspired by James Blake’s song Wilhelm Scream and based on the pair’s personal experiences in love, which was released on a special edition, heart-shaped vinyl by Young Turks earlier this year.

Inspired by legends such as Diana Ross and Chaka Khan, Jessie Ware’s soulful voice and vocal range are making the music world stand up and take note of her. With extended play on cult underground station Rinse FM fans eagerly await her her solo material to be released on PMR Records, where she will join Julio Bashmore, L-Vis 1990 and Two Inch Punch.