jazzygold is the new artist project from Jasmin Mote, who is ready to take over the world. Melting RnB and soul-pop perfectly, she writes about life in her 20s. Too much partying, too many hangovers, too many heartaches, dying her hair red, being tired of her friends and cheering for new beginnings. She’s honest and maybe a bit too real? That’s definitely something you can feel in her voice, lyrics and music. As a woman of colour, she didn’t really have anyone to mirror herself in when she was little, and that’s one of the reasons she wanted to start this project.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hey jazzygold, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
I’ve always had a big love for music, and my parents always played a lot of music in the house when i grew up, and my big sister and brother always watched MTV, so I got influenced by a lot of different music. But it wasn’t until later as a teen I really found the courage to write my own stuff because I went to a school abroad that was very music focused on music and they encouraged me to perform and write.
What is your creative process like?
Hmm, my creative process is different from time to time but I do get inspired by my own life and my feelings. Sometimes I get random melodies locked in my head (often when I’m drunk) and I record them on my phone. I get random lines as well and write them down on notes and so on. And then it just bubbles there for a while until I’m ready to go dig in them again and that’s how it all starts.
Your new song is 'boring like me'. Can you tell us more about the making of it? Were there any curious or unusual things happening during the process?
I was in Denmark playing concerts with my old band, and I decided to make a quick spontaneous trip to Stockholm, and I was there for like 2-3 days and on one of those days I made ‘’boring like me’’. I’ve never had a more ‘’FUCK YEAH’’ feeling making a song. I was in a session with two Swedish friends called Daniel and Ida, and we didn’t really know what we wanted to write. We just had a feeling, and Ida kept singing the ‘’boring like me’’ line, and we all thought it was such a strong line, so we basically wrote the whole song around that one line. Ever since that session, I was sure that that was supposed to be my debut single.
What was the most difficult challenge you faced?
I think going from JASMIN (my band) to my solo project jazzygold is probably one of the most difficult challenges I’ve ever had to face if we’re talking music-wise. I released my last EP with JASMIN in late 2020, and all of 2021 I was in a ‘’wtf do I do now’’ phase. I had the biggest writer's block I’ve ever experienced, and I was honestly just very sad within.
Thank god for writing sessions and Stockholm cause that was the thing and city that saved me and got me out of that hole.
In October 2021 I was invited to go to Stockholm for a week to have sessions and meet new producers and songwriters and that kickstarted me finding myself again and starting jazzygold and a journey to finding my happiness back. Today I’m happy and confident and just glad that I get to show the world these tracks ‘cause I know they’re hella good.
How do you balance your time in the studio with other commitments such as a part-time job, family, friends, or just the admin of your project?
It’s hard, it’s very hard and I’m learning each day to balance all of it. And honestly, I feel like I’m going crazy at times cause you wanna do it all, you know? And when I can’t, I end up with a guilty conscious which is crazy cause I’m not a superhuman. I really try and prioritise myself and my mental health cause if that’s not working, nothing else is and I’ve tried that before and I never wanna go back to that.
Are there people who help you with the production of the songs?
Yes, there are for sure people who help me with the production of the songs and the writing as well. As much as I wanna be a superhuman and do it all, I’m just not a producer. But thankfully I know the coolest, sweetest and most talented producers and songwriters in Stockholm.
The same people made the first jazzygold tracks with me in 2021, and we kinda made my sound together, so I’m forever thankful for that.
What are your long-term goals as jazzygold?
Easy one, to take over the world with my music.
Why do you want to record and release your own music?
That’s my therapy, that’s what I’m good at, and that’s how I’m good at explaining what I wanna say. I’ve always had this feeling that I suck at talking and explaining and so on. It sounds stupid. But I feel like I never can explain myself how I want to, but with the music, it comes naturally.
What memorable responses have you had to your work so far?
I think playing my debut concert with jazzygold in Trondheim in February was the most memorable response I’ve had to my work so far. I was asked to play at a showcase festival called ‘’Trondheim Callling’’ and I was so nervous oh my and when I got there I was like ‘’wtf did I say yes to this’’, but it ended up being the most amazing night ever. There was packed with people who had never heard my music before, but they yelled ‘’i love you jazzygold’’ and stuff, it was insane haha. So yeah, I’m looking forward to more concerts and vibes.
Where is the best place in the world you’ve ever been to?
Oh damn, hard one. If I have to say one I would probaly say Kenya. My father is from there and I’ve only been twice and both was when I was a child but I remember how amazing it was. The people, the culture, the food, the hair and the list goes on and on.