Earlier in October, I got to watch one of my favorite bands, Years & Years at the Wiltern. One of the things I enjoy the most about attending concerts is the potential to discover new music to listen to through the opening bands. At the Years & Years concert, one of the opening artists caught my eye. Jess Kent, an Australian pop singer who only needs herself, her computer, and an Arturia controller to put on a performance.
Since the concert, I have listened to her music a lot. One of my favorite songs by her is titled Girl which discusses the misconceptions and difficulties of being a girl. The reason I like her music so much is because she has messages that are relatable to me. She tells stories about what she is going through in her life through fun pop songs I can dance to. She is not afraid of being unapologetically herself which I think serves an important message for girls who feel like they have to fit in or change themselves for others.
Recently I got to watch, Beyond the Barricade, an original series on YouTube produced by UMUSIC Experience, the college and lifestyle marketing division of Universal Music Group. The focus of the series is to show fans a behind the scenes into who the artists are and what they do on a day to day basis. In the 6 minute episode, Jess talks about her love of famous British artists such as The Cure and The Beatles while going through a handful of records at a store. She talks about who she would like to work with and artists she likes such as Troye Sivan (who I also love). In the episode she also gives a behind the scenes of her tour life and how she prepares for the shows.
Jess Kent is definitely an upcoming artist that people should keep an eye on. I have a feeling her career will only go up from here. I’m really looking forward to seeing what she has in store. Her music, vibe, and what she sings about is easy to relate to and dance along to. One of the places that people can keep up with her is her Instagram @jesskentmusic.