Cityscape talks to breakthrough hip-hop artist JessB before her appearance at February’s Electric Avenue Festival.

What was the turning point for you to pursue a career in the music industry? When P-Money came across some of my older music on Soundcloud and decided to hit me up.

Bloom is a phenomenal album – what was the creative process like for that and how was it collaborating with P-Money? Thank you! The creative process was a journey of me finding my feet as a musician, but also as a person. All the music I write is representative of a time in my life. So the songs in the EP are all things that I was experiencing/seeing/exploring as I was writing them. Collaborating with P-Money is a hip-hop artist’s dream come true! And he is very in tune with the sort of sounds and music I am drawn to, so it makes the creative process really fun and seamless.

You smashed your Vodafone Music Awards performance – it must have been a career highlight? Yes!! I was very lucky to have the opportunity to perform, and the team that helped me put it together made it an experience I won’t ever forget.

You have such a rad and unique style – are there any brands or designers that influence this? No – most of my clothes are from op-shops. 

And are there any fashion trends that need to go? I think people should wear whatever they feel best expresses them. No rules :)

Weirdest fan experience? People who think they can get all up in my personal space lol. Unsolicited hugs are scary asf!

Pre- and post-show rituals I don’t really have anything that I have to do before or after a show. Probably getting ready and doing my hair/makeup is something that I enjoy, just to take a moment before things get crazy.

Person you’d love to collaborate with? Missy Elliott.

Anything on the cards for when you’re in Christchurch for Electric Ave? Heat.

Electric Avenue Music Festival
Hagley Park, February 23 2019 
electricavenuefestival.co.nz

Hero image: Pati Solomona Tyrell