In just a few years, Irish singer-songwriter Jazzy has soared to the top of the dance charts; her infectious, club-ready anthems dominating the airwaves and racking up accolades.
Breaking out in 2022 with “Make Me Feel Good,” a collaboration with Belters Only that shot to number one in the Irish charts, Jazzy landed her second Irish number one with “Giving Me” just a year later, making history as the first Irish woman to top the charts in over 14 years. The track didn’t just resonate at home – it soared to number three in the UK and was crowned The Official Charts’ biggest debut release that year. Now certified platinum in the UK and diamond in Ireland, Jazzy has cemented her place as a dance music powerhouse.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Jack Alexander
FASHION
Krishan Parmar at Carol Hayes Management
HAIR
Shanice Noel using Sam McKnight
and Drybar
MAKE-UP
Gracie Jai Cox
Jacket and skirt Philipp Plein / Boots Kurt Geiger / Earrings Giovanni Raspini
With a clear knack for crafting addictive, feel-good bangers, Jazzy’s momentum has been unstoppable. She’s earned Ivor Novello and BRIT Award nominations, secured a coveted spot on Forbes’ 30 Under 30, and surpassed legends like Enya and Sinéad O’Connor to become the most-streamed Irish female artist in the world on Spotify.
Last year, Jazzy kept the hits coming with “Somedays,” a link-up with dance music heavyweights Sonny Fodera and D.O.D. The night before Principle sat down with Jazzy for this interview, it was revealed that the track had just been nominated for a BRIT Award – yet another milestone in Jazzy’s meteoric rise…
Congratulations on your BRITs Song of the Year nomination! How are you feeling?
I’m absolutely buzzing. I can’t believe I’m going back so soon.
Top and jeans STEL / Trainers Adidas / Earrings and Bracelet Giovanni Raspini
This is your second BRITs Song of the Year nomination, after “Giving Me” was nominated two years ago.
Absolutely. I mean, it’s only things I could dream of, you know, just to go once. I thought it would at least be another couple of years till I get to go again.
The nominated single, “Somedays,” is particularly special to you. What significance does it hold?
I think the message in the track is really important for everyone, in life, in general, especially in this world we’re living in right now. And when we put the track out, I loved it, obviously, and it really resonated with me, but when we put it out, so many people were getting the lyrics tattooed on them, and so many lovely messages of how it helps certain people. And I won’t get into stories, but really, really hard times, you know. So it’s just really lovely to hear.
Have you ever had someone want to tattoo your face on them?
Not yet. That would be a mad one!
Dress Self Portrait / Boots Kurt Geiger / Earrings Lucy Quartermaine
You’ve been smashing it the past few years. Does it all feel a bit mad? Or are you getting more used to collecting accolades now?
It does definitely still feel a bit surreal. I have to look down on paper to remember everything that’s happening, because there’s so much going on, you know, and I couldn’t have expected so much to happen in my first couple of years as an artist. So, I’m very happy.
Which recognition has meant the most to you so far?
Obviously, the BRITs is a big one. But the I won some awards at home last year. In the same year, I got Breakthrough Artist and Artist of the Year [RTÉ Choice Music Prize 2024]. I was working really hard, so it felt really nice to be recognised. And then, not too long ago, I also got Woman of the Year [Irish Tatler, Woman of 2024 for Music], which was lovely.
You’ve been described as “the new face of dance music” and a “key figure in the Irish dance scene.” How do you feel about carrying these titles?
It feels lovely. I mean, obviously, some people would feel pressure, but kind of from the start, when I put on out my debut single, that went to number one in Ireland, and people always have high expectations when things like that happen. I said to myself, just keep doing your thing as you’re doing it. Don’t put pressure on yourself. Don’t try too hard, and that’s really helped me along the way.
Jacket and skirt Philipp Plein / Boots Kurt Geiger / Earrings Giovanni Raspini
As well as collaborating with Sonny Fodera and D.O.D., you’ve also dropped a track with Kilimanjaro, “No Bad Vibes,” which Jayda G added her spin to earlier this month. How did the remix come about?
Yeah, she’s a proper house legend, I was just buzzing to have her on the track at all.
How did it come about? Did you DM her? Did she get in touch? Or was it more of a label thing?
We had our teams be in touch about it. We had a couple of different people that we wanted to reach out to. Jayda was definitely at the top of the list for me, especially, to have another female on there, another house legend.
Who would you like to collaborate with next? Anyone on the bucket list?
There’s a couple. I would like to dabble my feet in some other worlds, like maybe a Stormzy or another different genre that I haven’t given a go to.
Top and jeans STEL / Trainers Adidas / Earrings and Bracelet Giovanni Raspini
Do you have plans to explore other genres or experiment with your sound in future releases?
I feel like I could be quite versatile. I feel like I’ve seen a lot of artists do that as well. I love house music, that’s where I come from. But I’m not going to restrict myself either.
For sure. And that’s the beauty of being an artist in today’s landscape, is that you can just constantly evolve, and bring new fans with you as you grow, right?
Absolutely, that’s it, yeah. Just even recently, kind of stepping into that Afro House scene with “No Bad Vibes.”
Has your approach to writing and production changed as your career has grown and your music continues to be heard by and resonate with more and more people? Or have you stayed pretty aligned with how you’ve always done things?
I think I have. The only thing I would say is that I’ve grown a lot, and I listen back to some of the stuff I’ve done before, I can definitely hear a baby Jazzy in there. I feel like I’ve grown a lot over the last few years, and I’m much more confident in myself.
Dress Self Portrait / Boots Kurt Geiger / Earrings Lucy Quartermaine
When you’re creating new music, do you stop listening to music, or are you not worried about being influenced?
I go just by whatever mood I’m in, to be honest. Like, I could be listening to Nicki Minaj one day, and then something totally different the day after, it just depends on how I’m feeling really. I wouldn’t put pressure on myself to stop listening to anything.
And lastly, with so much achieved already, what’s next? Any upcoming projects or collaborations you can share? Will you be touring or playing overseas this year?
So I’m kind of just putting together a tour at the moment and will post about that when we finalise everything. But I’m also going to be starting to work on an album this year, which I’m really excited about.
