We chat with Alice Jemima following the release of her self-titled debut album.
Prepare to be hypnotised by the mesmerising vocals of Alice Jemima. The Devon singer, who is best known for her sugar-sweet cover of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity”, has been hotly tipped as one to watch this year. And her stunning new album is definitely proof of this.
Combining elements of indie, electro and pop, her songs are emotional and captivating. Set to head out on tour this month, Alice will be bewitching audiences around the world with her beautiful vocals.
We managed to sit down with the incredible singer/songwriter to find out all about her.
What music did you listen to growing up?
When I was younger it was all about the Spice girls… and Sade, Gabrielle, Everything But The Girl. In my teenage years I listened to a lot of singer songwriters like KT Tunstall, Corrine Bailey Rae, Feist. And now I listen to more to chilled, electronic style music, like Bonobo, The XX, Nicolas Jaar. My mum was a violinist in a Tango band, so I guess I grew up listening to Argentinian Tango music too!
Have you always wanted to be a singer?
No. I first picked up the guitar when I was 8, but didn’t start singing until a few years later. I slowly got into it when I started writing poems, and then linking it in with the guitar playing.
Who are your main musical influences?
The XX for their minimalistic sound. I fell in love with the space they give to the guitar to shine / do it’s thing – the same with beats and the vocals.
Describe your sound in three words…
Electro, indie, pop.
“It’s been a fantastic journey for me, and along the way learning to record and produce music has been a big part of this.”
You’ve just released a cover of Blackstreet’s “No Diggity”. What made you want to cover this song?
I decided to cover “No Diggity” after hearing Chet Fakers striped-back version of it. Although I hadn’t planned to record a cover of it, I was just playing around with some chords & beats on Logic and then started singing “No Diggity” over the top of it. It wasn’t supposed to be that, but it worked, and now it’s officially out in the world!
It comes from your debut album. What can you tell us about it?
The album has been a couple of years in the making and contains songs I’ve written about a number of subjects from relationships to break-ups to my love of murder-mystery novels!
I have also co-written with a few inspirational songwriters and this has helped to push my music into new directions. In terms of the production, I’ve been very much involved with that aspect, producing some of the tracks myself – “Cocoa Liquor” and “No Diggity”, and other tracks with Roy Kerr. I loved working with Roy, he completely understood the sound and direction that I wanted the album to go in. It’s been a fantastic journey for me, and along the way learning to record and produce music has been a big part of this.
You’re set to head off on tour. What are you most looking forward to about touring?
I’m looking forward to all of it, really! I’ve never been on tour before so I’m just really excited to be playing the shows one after another, traveling, meeting new people & watching the support bands before I play.
If you could hang out with anyone in a tourbus, who would it be?
I’d take my best friends!
What do you have lined up for the rest of 2017?
TBH I haven’t planned very far ahead for this year! But I’m excited for this album, the tour and also I’ll be playing SXSW this year which is another dream of mine – so that should be a lot of fun!
