You haven't heard of Jesswar (yet). She's a nineteen year old rapper from the Gold Coast and she's just released an EP, Peachy, that is absolutely blowing us away, and we know we won't be alone.
See, Jesswar is already doing something amazing; breaking into a patriarchal Australian hip hop scene dominated by male MC's and Iggy Azalea, who arguably obscures the issues surrounding diversity in Australian music due to her polarising career (I personally don't find anything objectionable to her). But for Jesswar to actually fulfil that promise, and deliver with an EP dripping with youthful indignation and hedonistic thrill, is something else.
Jesswar has already gotten Triple J Unearthed's Dave Ruby Howe interested with "Jelly", a spitting, well-paced consideration of the damned-if-you-do-damned-if-you-don't-ness of relationships. The brass intro, playful jazz keys and nervous giggle is a perfect counterpoint to the rollicking, liberated rhymes that follow, punctuated by a soulful chorus
In contrast to these RnB/ soul elements, "Acid Fantasy" takes a further descent into madness with much deeper, heavier trap and house stylings. "Bitchy", meanwhile, utilises haunting strings and more ambient rhythm, and is all the more haunting for it.
Dave Ruby Howe and AAA aren't the only ones frothing over Jesswar at the moment. She's recently been picked up by Human Records who will release her debut LP already underway with Serotonin Productions, after this EP. Monash University's Radio Monash recently named her one of the top five 'Femcees' in Australia at the moment.
The best thing about Jesswar is she's brutally independent; she's not the Queensland Tkay Maidza, she's not a young Iggy Azalea, she's just a rapper making enormous strides, playing to her strengths and telling it how it is.
You can see what all the fuss is about, too: Jesswar is playing June 19 at Players Showgirls at the Gold Coast (probably one more for the gents than the ladies) and June 25 at the End in Brisbane's West End.
The country’s biggest All Aussie Hip Hop Festival hits Brisbane this coming weekend! Plan your day in advance so you get the best experience out of it! See set times below.
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