Ever since he first emerged, New Zealand’s Jesse Will has always looked to create a broader and more emotive presence than many of his peers. And with a full decade passed since his previous EP ‘Every Thread’, he now makes his long-awaited return with the truly wondrous new single ‘Hold My Skin’.
So with the new single doing the rounds, we caught up with him to find out more about his background and what else he has planned now he’s back on the scene.
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Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
Raised in New Zealand, tinkered away on my grandparents piano. Got really into The Phantom of the Opera at an impressionable age. Now I sing ballads in my bedroom, just like the phantom
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
I always go back to the storytellers – Sam Cooke, Cohen, Stevie Nicks, Michael Jackson, John Martyn, Joni Mitchell. Recently I’ve been loving Andrew Bird. They’re all masters in world-building and saying a lot with very little.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
I was dropped on my head as a child
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
For this record, I’ve been writing on piano, so it’s often a melodic fragment, or an image that arrives first. I’ll latch on and use it as a seed to inform the images of the song. I’m very visual, so it grows from there. The best ideas come after getting it wrong many times, so it is an exercise in failure. Sometimes I’ll wake with a melody in my head and record it into my phone – those are the best ones.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
I pay close attention to how I’m feeling, what I’m noticing at the time. It’s a bit meditative. Songwriting is the one place I feel I can be entirely vulnerable, so that feels sacred to me. I’m protective of it – sometimes a little too much.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
Anger and furious lust. No, I’m kidding, I find songwriting and performing therapeutic, so I hope it also heals them in some way.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
Funding applications denied, lingering self-doubt, social media algorithms that silence your voice… it’s not as shiny as it looks on Instagram. I think it requires a particular naivety to continue pursuing this path, especially as a solo artist, it can be incredibly lonely.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
The 14 pence I made from Spotify last week
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
There’s an attitude in the industry nowadays that more content is the way forward. But I’ve always been a little old-fashioned in that I prefer quality over quantity. In saying that, I’m trying to find a healthy middle-ground. Hopefully the next single doesn’t take me 10 years to release…
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
All focus is currently on my next single and video, which we’re eyeing for a May release. After that, I’m hoping to finally start playing gigs again… With a full studio release toward the end of the year.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
Living at mum and dads in New Zealand.
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