Jaz cover issue low res - Flipbook - Page 14
Jazmin Bean
T
here’s currently a lot of performers, singers, bands, that project an
image or association that connects them with social change of some
sort. They carefully construct and project an online persona, align
themselves with noble causes, collaborate with the right people, make
considered comments structured not to offend. They produce music
and videos which are designed to be edgy, current, yet caring, compassionate,
and maybe angry. I’ve seen some of them and maybe the music is ok, perhaps
a few anthems, maybe a Greenpeace flag at the back of the stage. The problem
is it tends to feel a bit phoney, like they’re trying too hard, like the current trend
for large corporations to sponsor Gay Pride or feature minorities in every TV ad.
For sure it’s good that alternative lifestyles and a broader range of sexualities get
sponsorship, that diversity and inclusion are seen as important, but perhaps the
whole process shouldn’t be a token gesture and a cold business decision focused
on maximum profit?
I’d suggest that the great thing about Jazmin Bean is that JB is the real deal.
Jazmin Bean made their own tracks and their own videos, utilising friends and
family, creativity and imagination and not a large budget. Jazmin Bean started
a Vegan / Cruelty Free make-up brand ...... Cult Candy Cosmetics. Importantly
Jazmin’s social media, performances, music, general life features the current
outliers of music, fashion, club culture, and social change; but centrally those
people are there because they know JB and they wanna be - and not because they
were recruited by a stylist,
publicist, or corporate PR.
It’s probably the reason
for Jazmin Bean’s large
social media and Youtube
engagement.
From Jazmin:
I think a lot of people
are so concerned about
upholding their brand
and I just don’t really care
about the brand because I
never even chose to have a
brand, like I never chose to
like this thing that people
now perceive me as, it
was never in my cards
or in my plans. I just like
existed online, but… you
know you’ll see so many
different things in this
album. People are quite
flared up that it’s not what they had just previously seen which isn’t that the
whole point of an artist?
Jazmin Bean started their career early (not just music career, because
there’s so much more going on) at the age of 15. In 2019 they self released a
debut extended play single titled Worldwide Torture (later reissued by Island
and Interscope Records in November 2020 with six additional tracks). A music
video for one of the tracks Saccharine was released the same month. They’ve
released solo singles, including Hello Kitty in December 2019, Yandere in
October 2020, R U Looking 4 Me Now in July 2021, and Puppy Pound on
March 25th, 2022. Collaborative singles Princess Castle featuring Cottontail
and Monster Truck featuring Zheani - were both released in November
2020, and - most recently - Carnage featuring Lucy Loone was released on
November 18th, 2022.
For a person barely 20 years of age Jazmin writes lyrics like someone with
life experience far beyond that age. Evocative and emotional, delivered with
the passion of someone who’s been there, and can articulate it in a way that
connects. Without sarcasm or meanness I feel that Jazmin’s fan base includes
many outsiders ..... kids and adults that didn’t/don’t fit in, bullied at school, self
harmers. It’s a big and rapidly expanding club. Many of the tracks probably
require several listenings.
My next question to Jazmin, was a much more personal one. With total bias
I’d recommend the track B4 The Flight, it’s like a knife in the heart. I can envisage
so many artists recording it. It’s like a Whitney Houston record. It transcends
any kind of genres and evokes being in an airport with feelings of desperation:
Yeah, I absolutely love B4 the Flight. I think that people probably seek out
a punch when they listen to my music, and to me that’s the biggest punch
ball being punched in the heart.
Because it’s that message of an airport, I mean, it’s a personal thing
for me, ‘cause it reminds me of splitting up with a girlfriend. Having
Why the fuck
do they want
to sign me? I’m like
the label’s
worst nightmare!
12/Salvation
FABUL
FREAKY & FA
The almost chimerical figure of Ja
like Worldwide Torture and Carn
about music, culture, make-up
been in Kennedy Airport knowing I was never going to see her ever
again so it resonates with me, but. I think it probably resonates with
loads of people.
I wrote it in an airport, wrote at the baggage claims when I had landed
back in London from New York. And it’s yeah, it’s just that feeling of I don’t
know there’s something so specific about being in an airport. Airports are
weird ‘cause you’re thrust together with all these people that you’ll never
see again. And there’s something really weird about the fact that you just
won’t ever see them again. It’s a bit like that thing you know when a plane
crashes, I always think about the people who just made the flight or the
people who just missed the flight. Kind of suspended animation.
I accessed Jazmin’s songs via Youtube and I guess the visuals initially held
my attention. Jazmin has a striking visual presence:
So you were interviewed by Vogue magazine. Is fashion something you care
about a lot or do you just see it as fun and not really important?
I think it’s extremely important. I find it hard to leave the house if I’m
not feeling like I’m representing myself in some way when it comes to that
because I’m so existential about things. I really take life seriously and I