Photo Credit: Clara Bäcklund
[Jasmine Thompson](https://www.instagram.com/jasminethompson/) is a superstar in her own right, and she’s ready to bring that same energy into the music industry. Having signed to a major label at the young age of 13, the London-born and raised singer-songwriter has grown tremendously since her teenage years, even taking a much-needed hiatus and working at a local London restaurant. Now, she’s ready to debut her new project to audiences all around the world, simultaneously figuring herself out as an artist.
In describing her sound, Thompson states, “It’s acoustic piano pop. I like experimenting with more instruments at the moment, but my overall foundation is acoustic singer-songwriter.”
Boasting 3.62 million subscribers on YouTube alone, Thompson carries an extremely loyal fanbase, from capitalizing off her viral covers to releasing her own [_WONDERLAND_](https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fopen.spotify.com%2Falbum%2F2vMjiqNP4eulgUhHaOA2Tc%3Fsi%3Dx-tqAEBIQxycaCDFFzqnIg&data=04%7C01%7CChristina.Kotsamanidis%40atlanticrecords.com%7C7597610042484e7d655508d925f962ce%7C8367939002ec4ba1ad3d69da3fdd637e%7C0%7C0%7C637582575307117800%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=4MbZ%2FqW7hPi%2FbAogI%2F3nrU02%2BzAQfIs8bUQ5VrHlfbc%3D&reserved=0) and [_COLOUR_](https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fatlantic.lnk.to%2FcolourAW&data=04%7C01%7CChristina.Kotsamanidis%40atlanticrecords.com%7C7597610042484e7d655508d925f962ce%7C8367939002ec4ba1ad3d69da3fdd637e%7C0%7C0%7C637582575307117800%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=0IJNVi%2BaJHi4zVBzlDsgPwo1wArOpv216K25ifRjKTM%3D&reserved=0) EPs. Last year, she collaborated with EDM music staple Zedd on “[Funny](https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Flnk.to%2FzjFUNNYPR&data=04%7C01%7CChristina.Kotsamanidis%40atlanticrecords.com%7C7597610042484e7d655508d925f962ce%7C8367939002ec4ba1ad3d69da3fdd637e%7C0%7C0%7C637582575307107808%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=0movYHtnVhF1Np1%2FdQIsRWdrRcXUSXb1NtBHO80UkIs%3D&reserved=0),” which went on to amass nearly 200 million global streams and counting.
Fast forward to today, she releases her newest single and visual for “[happy for you](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjShUSob8Hw),” a breakup song that will have you appreciating the highs and lows of a relationship.
_Flaunt_ caught up with Jasmine via Zoom, who was posted in London slowly getting through the end of lockdown. Read below as we discuss her roots in London, biggest influences, the turning point in her music career, the inspiration behind “happy for you,” shooting the visual for “already there,” forthcoming EP _all of the above,_ studio essentials, goals, and more!
Photo Credit: Clara Bäcklund
**What was a young Jasmine like growing up in London?**
It was fun, London’s a very special place to grow up. Obviously I’m very biased, but it's a melting pot of different people, different cultures, music, art, and creativity. It's really allowed me to see there's a lot of opportunities and feel quite confident in the fact that music is something I love, really.
**Who were you listening to growing up?**
My favorite artist is definitely Kali Uchis, I’ve always loved her so much. Her voice and her lyrics, the way she has such an incredible stage presence, that's always definitely inspired me. Otherwise, I remember the first concert I ever went to was Britney Spears. It was so funny seeing someone who’s so pop and so out there with her dancing and her choreography. It was really cool, I liked her a lot.
**At what point did you realize this music thing was for real?**
I started on YouTube when I was 10. I was releasing lots of covers, doing it as an after-school hobby. I always really loved it. When you’re a kid, the music industry and being an artist seems so untouchable. It feels like a big dream, nothing you’d ever be able to do. I remember when I started on YouTube back in 2010, YouTube was growing so rapidly. I’d been on my channel for 3 years at this point when I was 13, basically it blew up. I released this cover of this song called “Ain’t Nobody” by Chaka Khan. A DJ called Felix Jaehn, he’s over in Germany, did a remix of it.
It blew up all over Europe, the UK, and in America as well. It allowed me to realize I could possibly go touring and I could be writing music. Not going to lie, I wasn’t very good in school. I was really trying to go for the classic education system, I tried really hard but it wasn’t really working for me. The fact I could have the opportunity to tour and jump straight at it—started working in the industry when I was about 14, I got signed when I was 13. I've been going for it since then really.
**What was it like being signed so young?**
It was cool. Looking back on it, it feels like I can't remember it. My label is Atlantic over in New York, I remember going over there. First of all, I was mind-blown by being in New York at that age. Doing little touristy things in Central Park and feeling like I was in a movie, then going into the big offices and talking to people about the fact they really liked my music. They were ready to be so supportive about putting me in writing sessions.
What was nice was everyone I talked to when I was so young said “you have so much time to grow up. There’s no rush, you can develop into the artist and the person you want to be.” That was the main tricky thing: trying to grow up in the industry and slowly learn who I wanted to be. You change a lot from the ages of 13 to 20, it's been nice being able to do that quite slowly.
**“happy for you” out now, how are you feeling?**
It’s just nice to be putting more stuff out really. “happy for you” is going back to my Youtube roots in a way that it's a piano song, it's nice that it's so stripped back. It’s a very raw, emotional break-up song. It's addressing the way that at the end of a relationship sometimes, you have to learn to let someone go. You don't want to be the reason they feel trapped. You could see they’d be happier with someone else, but that doesn't necessarily leave you in the best place. I’m excited to put music out. During lockdown, it's been so weird not being able to do any gigs and not being able to be a musician in normal life. It’s very nice to put something out again.
**Was this inspired by a real break-up?**
No. The thing is for me, I always get so weirded out if I write about a specific person. Sometimes, it could haunt you when you sing about it on stage. It’s definitely inspired by previous relationships combined into one. I've always felt that feeling of either you’re attracted or they're attracted, it's the hard part of moving on from someone. I wouldn't say it's about a specific person, because otherwise anytime I’d sing the song, I’d think of them. That makes me quite sad.
**What was your creative vision with the video?**
It was really fun, I worked with this director called Melody Maker who’s based in the UK as well. We wanted to make sure the video wasn't too overcomplicated. I liked the idea of having a really nice, chilled out performance piece where it’s me singing to the camera, playing the piano. She had this really cool idea of making it look like it was slightly kaleidoscope, psychedelics with loads of different pictures, visuals, changes, and edits, which is really nice to see. We filmed it on a green screen. It was crazy pretending you’re in this cool space when it actually was green walls, you have to be really imaginative. It's cool.
**I also love another one of your recently released songs, “**[**already there**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RIqHxsh-i0)**.” Was that inspired by you taking a much-needed break from music?**
I took a break for about 2 to 3 years. Because I was touring from such a young age, I really felt like I wanted to be at home a bit more. See my friends and see my family, have a moment to myself. That's really important, I was towards the end of my teenage years and I wanted to do them properly. I missed a lot of birthdays and things, but I'm so grateful to be able to work. You need to find the right balance, so I stayed at home for 2 months, and I realized I can't sit still. I find it very difficult, it makes me feel quite sad about being in the same place for too long. I said “alright, I need to get a job.” I don't want it to be necessarily associated with music so cool, let's go find the first restaurant that’ll hire me. I didn't have a CV, never worked in anything that wasn't music.
I think I'm a fast learner. I like to say I'm good at talking to people and strangers so it worked out. It was for a year in Soho, it was so much fun. It was brilliant to meet people. Eventually, I realized I miss music so much. Everyday, I was humming in the restaurant. I was seeing my other friends who are artists touring. I was happy for them but also I can’t wait till I'm back on stage again. I started writing and put some more music out, then lockdown happened. Oh no, I was so ready to step back into the music industry and the whole world shuts down. It was a bit weird rise and then fall, then rise again.
**Where was the video shot? I love that you included the diner.**
It was fun. There's a place in South London called Box Hill, this really nice place with a really good view. The diner is a British calf where loads of bikers normally meet, it's a really famous place to go chill. Family-run place, we went and decorated everything. It was with the same director that did “happy for you.” I've always wanted to be able to do one take video. We hired this crane which lifts me up halfway through the video.
I step on it and try to keep eye contact with the camera while I’m walking through the park that leads to the diner. You walk and you step on a crane, you have to pretend that nothing
is happening because the shot is just of your head. But really there’s 2 people clipping bungee ropes onto my harness, which was hidden by my dress. It slowly lifts you up and you're flying through the air, so much fun. It was a really cool project. More personally I've always wanted to be on a crane, so let's go for it. \[laughs\]
**What is it you want fans to get from your story?**
I’d like it if they could connect to my music, I’d like it if I could inspire someone. I bumped into someone the other day at a bar, she came up to me and said “I used to watch your music when I was 10. You really inspired me as a female artist on Youtube, being so young.” She’s a young photographer, this is so lovely to hear these moments, even if the song gets them through anything. When I was younger and listening to Florence The Machine, she made me want to be a singer because she helped me go through so much growing up. If I could return the favor to someone else, that‘d be really nice.
**What can we expect from your new EP, _all of the above,_ arriving this year?**
A lot of songs were written just before lockdown or during lockdown. _all of the above_ to me is a reflection EP of the last year. I don't want to talk for the people, but everyone has really gone through it. I'm sure a lot of people have gone through a bit of low during lockdown but for me, it was not the best time. I had a lot of time to be by myself, think and reflect on certain things. A lot of songs on there are exploring my thoughts. Hopefully people will like it, it’ll be out soon.
**3 things you need in the studio?**
Comfy clothes is a go-to. If I’m in anything too tight or rigid... I like to feel like I'm at home and I can really sit by myself and think. Having someone that I can connect with like another writer is brilliant. I've been meeting most people over Zoom the past year. I can’t wait to go travel and see them, meet them for the first time. And a piano, I always write my songs on piano.
**What all instruments do you play?**
I like to say I can play guitar but I'm so bad at it. I've honestly been trying, I don't think I’m trying enough that's the thing. Within a year I've learned the guitar and it has not worked, but I can get away with it sometimes. It's mainly piano, and occasionally guitar.
**How was it collaborating with Zedd on “**[**Funny**](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDE5ygucFyY)**”? That’s so epic.**
Cheers, it was really cool. I was working in LA a few years ago just before lockdown. I had a session with these producers called Monsters & Strangerz. I didn't really connect the fact that they worked with Zedd quite a lot. When I was back home in London, I got an email one day from my managers and my A&R saying “hey, do you like Zedd? What do you think? By the way, he’s had your version of ‘Funny’,” which really was more a piano, quite sad breakup song. They sent me this version that Zedd had done, he changed it into this really epic, more powerful breakup song.
I was amazed that Zedd had worked on it, it felt so out of the blue and a random connection. It was amazing, it was so lovely. That was during the height of the first lockdown in the UK. I remember when we’re doing a music video, we had to do it all over Zoom. We’re trying to figure out how we can make a nice video but he’s over in LA and I’m in London. Sadly, we still haven’t met. I hope one time we can go do a gig somewhere or a festival, or even go get coffee would be nice. We spent a lot of time on Zoom working on the song, it’d be nice to meet in person.
**What did it mean to co-write Selena Gomez’s “Kinda Crazy”?**
That was mental. I can't remember how old I was but it was one of the first sessions I did with a writer Justin Tranter. He’s amazing, he’s so welcoming and brilliant. He’s a legend in the industry now. I remember going into the room with him, we’re writing this track. It was supposed to possibly be for my project, but I was not too sure about it. He sent it off to Selena a few years later, absolute years later. \[laughs\] Suddenly she’s like “oh I love this. Can I jump on it? Can we work on it a little bit more?”
I remember hearing her vocals for the first time. I grew up watching her on the Disney channel. When I heard that she wanted to take on the song, I wanted to tell my friends. I wanted to scream this out on Instagram because I was having such a fangirl moment, but I had to keep it quiet for a really long time. I was so proud, I was so happy I got to work with one of my childhood idols.
**What are you excited for this year?**
I’m excited to put more music out and get back into the studio. It’s been lovely working from home. I definitely found a really good routine, but I miss touring. I miss being out on a gig and seeing people. Everything’s going to get better, lockdown was as low as it can get to be honest. \[laughs\]
**Goals yourself as an artist at this point of your career?**
I definitely want to do at least a few gigs before the year is up. Going to try and make sure the rest of the songs go out, then I’ll be happy and we’ll go from there.
