WHO: Jess Kent is this week’s Next Up artist!
WHY: Jess Kent brings her own style and natural skill to producing electronic dance music. England-born and Australia-raised, she is a self-taught artist-singer-songwriter and music producer who has already topping the charts with her hit single “Get Down”. The alternative-dance track, which already has over 2.2 million plays on Spotify, infuses catchy reggae vibes with pop melodies—a match made in heaven for a hit single.
“Get Down” has caught the eye of different artists including will.i.am and Coldplay. It is also the most frequently played song on the national Australian radio station “Triple J”. The track definitely shows the influence Blondie and the Clash have on Jess.
Jess had her start in music at a young age. Her dad was a blues-rock guitarist and taught her to play at 7-years-old. Though she spent most of her childhood busking on the streets with her brother, the now 22-year-old has mastered her own style or rapping, combining emotional lyrics with a rapid-fire flow. For example, her debut EP features the track “The Sweet Spot”, which matches reggae-inspired rhythms with Kent’s profound lyrics.
Her new debut EP, “My Name is Jess Kent”, was just released in coalition with Capitol Records. The EP playfully combines various music styles such as hip-hop, alt-pop, and rhythm-heavy electronica all while being well resonating. Jess Kent definitely deserves to be this week’s Next Up artist!
FUN FACT: Jess will be the opening act for Coldplay’s headlining tours in Oceania and Asia!
Watch Jess talk about touring with Coldplay below: