August 23, 2023 |
JGrrey has been “silencing men since 1994” according to the singer’s cut-throat Instagram bio. If you couldn’t already tell from that confident claim, the South London-born singer is a power woman walking, and after stepping away from the music scene to ground herself before breaking into her next sonic phase, she’s back with a soulful new single that dropped earlier today.
Dubbed ‘Drream’ – the double ‘r’ is a JGrrey signature and typographic obsession – it’s a smooth and self-assured neo-soul soundscape – pure vibes – featuring Brooklyn rapper and lifelong idol Zombie Juice (who she’s been listening to since she was 18 and says might be the coolest person she’s ever met). Crafted in the studio alongside Ivor Novello nominated producer Owen Cutts, ‘Drream’ finds JGrrey – real name Jennifer (Jen) Clarke – at her apex, employing a sample specially composed by multi-instrumentalist Harry Jowett to tell a tale of gratitude, righteous fury and learnt unshakable self confidence. “Working with Cutts is maybe the reason I’m still making music,” she says. “He knows the music I listen to, because he listens to it too; we talk about old records and new tracks and when we make music we’re really just tryna make something we love… I love ‘Drream’, it feels full circle for me.”
‘Drream’ is the fourth loose-limbed single to grace our ears taken from her upcoming mixtape If Not Now?, a buttery, eight track record set to hit streaming platforms October 27. If Not Now? will be her first full-length mixtape ever and her first composite release in four years, as well as her first physical vinyl release. Inspired by “NY, and Rap music and samples” JGrrey expresses in a press release that “this one feels special.”
We fell face-first in love with the musician when she made her debut in 2017 with her viral rendition of ‘Don’t Fade’ on the Colours show, and since then JGrrey has racked up millions of streams of her velvety singles and has hit just about every mark on the music board from supporting Billie Eilish on her European tour to having her own sold-out UK tour and a headline set on the BBC Introducing stage at Glastonbury Festival, fast finding firm fans in Annie Mac, Jorja Smith, Julie Adenuga, DJ Target and Peter Rosenberg. Carving out her own territory in an industry thronged with newcomers, she’s even been featured on Madlib’s critically acclaimed album last year and was named British Vogue’s “Vogue Darling” in 2022.
And while change has been in the ether for the singer, who recently came out as queer and simultaneously began brokering her own label deal, it’s offered her nothing but growth. Opening up about her sexuality brought a newfound fearlessness to the singer, one that she’s carried with her into every ebb and flow of her life and can be heard on the new track. JGrrey and Jen were drifting apart, but she’s entered into a new era, reclaiming her sound and identity with fresh force. “I’m happy to say that I have never been so proud to release music,” she says. “[This is] something I really needed to make… When I release my debut album I want to shed light on my experiences and my expectation[s] of life. If you listen to it you’d say ‘Yeah, that’s Jen.”
With a spring in her step and climactic collaborations in her corner, JGrrey is ready to take back the music scene by the storm. Here, we chat with her about ‘Drream’, the upcoming mixtape and the perfect recipe for a live show.
1. Who is JGrrey?
“Someone trrying their best.”
2. How has living in London shaped your sound?
“I don’t know if it has? I’d say I’m unapologetic and in a rush to prove myself, I’m defensive with good reason but love my community(s) and would fight for them, I definitely owe all that to London, as a city she’s relentless and and beautifully contrasted, and again I see myself in that.”
3. Why is now the right moment to release your new mixtape If Not Now?
“If Not Now? When?”
4. How would you describe your sound on this project?
“Ideally you’d tell me, this a project I’ve lived through, it’s personal this time… you’d have to listen to get the answer to that, how you perceive my sound has nothing to do with me, genuinely if you’re reading to this, listen to the project for the answer, I’d like to let the prroject her speak forr herrself.”
5. What is the story behind your upcoming single “Drream”?
“I’m sample obsessed, it’s getting the better of me and Drream previews that.. it feels lazy and smokey and unpredictable but swwuung and the shit FEELS GOOD. It feels like a Sunday and you ain’t got work in the morning… and then Jewice [Zombie Juice] blessed me with a verse and I just had to show you what we made.”
6. Which artists were your biggest inspirations growing up?
“Amy Winehouse, Beyoncé, Norah Jones, Black Eyed Peas, Sugababes, Slipknot, Marilyn Manson, Biggie [The Notorious B.I.G], Dizzee Rascal, Sway, Rihanna and my motherr.”
7. What’s the perfect recipe for a great live show?
“Good weed, good people, safe spaces and no men.”
8. Where is your dream city to play in and why?
“NYC because that place is a real life movie.”
9. If you didn’t make music, what other creative field would you concentrate on?
“Nah I’d work in a garden centre or some shit.”
10. What can we expect from JGrrey in the future?
“A feature with Andre 3000 god willing.”
Photography by Riya Hollings. ‘Dream’ ft. Zombie Juice is out now, available for streaming on all major platforms. Pre-order ‘If Not Now’ on vinyl here.
