“ERRATIC, THOUGHTFUL AND UNDERSTANDING” | JESS BALL ON NEW SINGLE ‘ROUNDABOUTS’

INTERVIEW | JESS BALL by Anne Kelly

From dominating the airwaves with EDX to navigating the complex cycles of modern heartbreak, Jess Ball’s musical journey has been anything but linear. With her new single ‘Roundabouts’, Jess explores the dizzying spiral of relationships that have overstayed their welcome, blending her electronic roots with a raw, thoughtful new edge.

Fresh off the heels of her Australian success and prepping for a massive move to the UK, Jess talks to us about the new single, local inspirations and her dream collaborations.

First of all, how would you introduce yourself in three 3 words?

I’d say I’m erratic, thoughtful, and understanding.

What can you tell us about your brand new single ‘Roundabouts‘?

I think ‘Roundabouts’ is quite representative of situations I sometimes find myself in. The song is about staying in relationships that no longer serve us, and how that can reveal the “ugly” side we all have within us. In a way, that reflects the erratic side of me — making decisions abruptly or unpredictably — followed by the spiral of thoughts and overthinking that tends to come afterwards. That’s where the more thoughtful and understanding side of me comes in.

Was there a specific moment of realisation that inspired the “Roundabout” metaphor for the single?

Not necessarily. When I’m songwriting, I tend to let the lyrics take shape in response to the music rather than the other way around. You can usually feel the emotional direction of a track even before there are words. I was working out a melody over a sample of Peebs The Prophet’s ‘Take a Moment‘ when this idea started to form. The sample felt like it needed something with a bit of attitude — that feeling of letting go and realising what’s best for you.

You started your career dominating the Beatport charts, how did the transition high-energy dance floor fillers to the more muted and introspective sounds found on ‘Roundabouts‘?

Personally, I’ve found the transition really exciting and I’ve loved exploring new sounds. It’s been nice to have the creative freedom to approach my ideas in different ways. At the same time, it’s been a bit strange because people who love my dance music are often expecting more of that. So introducing a different style to my profile hasn’t always been completely seamless, but creatively it’s been really rewarding.

We love the Australian music scene and have a team based in Melbourne, do you have any local favourites you are inspired by or want to shout about?

If you haven’t heard her stuff already, Riordan is constantly putting out amazing music. She’s such a talented singer-songwriter and her enthusiasm is honestly really inspiring and motivating.

You have already worked with some incredible names on the scene, do you have any special memories or favourites you can share from those collaborations?

My first collaboration with EDX will always hold a special place in my heart because it really introduced me to what has now been the past six years of my life. That collaboration showed me the possibilities and opportunities music could bring and made me realise it was something worth seriously pursuing. It’s also not that common that I actually get to meet people I’ve worked with overseas, but I’ve been lucky enough to meet EDX a few times now and it feels more like a family connection.

Do you have a wish list of people you would like to work with? If so, what top 3 would you pick?

Royel Otis, Lily Allen, and Cigarettes After Sex.

Finally, can UK based fans expect some live dates anytime soon?

Hopefully very soon! I’m moving to the UK in mid-March, so I’m really excited to start playing some shows there.