In a world overrun with over-produced, TikTok influencer-musician hybrids, LA-based singer-songwriter Jazzie Young is a breath of fresh air. The folk pop darling released her debut EP, “27 club,” last year and has already been making waves with nods from Wonderland Magazine, Rolling Stone, Flaunt, and Under The Radar, to name a few.
Young, who pens all of her own material, brings a melancholy grunge to her take on indie pop that is sure to be a perfect edition to any of your favorite rainy day playlists.
We sat down to chat with the rising star about her latest track, “california,” the new music video for the single, and her upcoming plans for 2023.
On its face, “california” seems like a typical love story, but when you dig deeper, it’s really a tale about the ups and downs of living in LA. What inspired you to call the City of Angels home and does living there have an impact on your sound and artistry at all?
I love that about ‘california,’ as well! It’s got a lot of layers and nuance to it.
I decided to move to LA after college because I wanted to pursue music and songwriting full-time, and this is one of the best places to do that. I was also born in California, and really felt it calling me back home. I think being exposed to so much artistry out here has definitely impacted my sound and songwriting development. Apart from that, a lot of the personal experiences that I’ve had since moving here have really elevated my songwriting and the way that I think about music. California really is quite a muse.
The music video for “california” was led by an all-female team, as are most of your other visuals. Is that a deliberate choice and how did you find your team of collaborators?
Yes! Most of the visual teams I’ve worked with do have strong female leads within them and that is very deliberate. When I started making visuals, I realized how male-dominated the industry was, and as someone who is a woman venturing out to create art independently, I wanted to collaborate with other likeminded people. I actually found my visual collaborator, Shelby Parks, through a mutual friend, and we just meshed instantly with the type of art that we enjoy making. I ended up working with her for almost all of my videos. The rest of the team members come from people she enjoys working with or creatives I’ve met and want to collaborate with. I think if you can find people that believe in your vision and have similar goals and dreams, regardless of gender, you will attract people that make you feel safe and inspired in your art. For me, that’s where the magic happens.
The visuals for your new album are such a 70’s vibe. I know those were your dad, Jesse Colin Young’s, formidable years. Are you often inspired by that decade and what made you decide to go that route for this release cycle?
I was listening to a lot of 70’s music and folk music when I was writing the songs for my EP, “27 club,” and I really wanted the visuals to feel cohesive within an era of time. I wanted something that could tie the songs together and create a visual mood board, of sorts. I really love the 70s for both its music and its fashion, so it felt like an authentic route to explore for that EP.
You also toured with your dad for the first time last year, hitting the road as his opening act. What was that like for you?
It was such a dream come true. I feel very lucky that that was my first official performing experience, because it felt so natural and safe. I got to explore different parts of my art while also getting to have such a unique bonding experience with my dad. I learned so much from that tour. We actually have a few more dates coming up at the end of January and into February that were moved around from this summer.
The title of your new record, “27 club,” has a lot of connotations associated with it. What made you want to invoke the lore around that infamous group of celebrities and are you inspired by any 27 club members?
I’ve definitely heard of the lore around the 27 club, and whenever I read about it, there was always a mention of this idea of the Saturn Return and why 27 itself is such a challenging time in life for a lot of people. I really felt Saturn’s lessons and struggles around my 27th year, and I wanted to dive into that ideology with my own personal experiences from that age. I put a bit of my own twist on the name, as well as what it meant for me, while trying to add some humor to the very real struggle of growth. As for artists apart of the 27 club, there are too many to name that are so influential and astounding in their art and impact.
It’s a brand-new year! What’s next for Jazzie Young in 2023?
I’m really excited for this new year. As I mentioned, I have a few more gigs with my dad in the Southern California area to finish out our tour that started in the summer. I’ve also been writing quite a lot and am working on writing a full-length album this time around. I’m really excited about the evolution and next phase of work that I’m conjuring up, and I’m looking forward to all of the blessings that 2023 has in store.
For tour dates and more information, visit jazzieyoung.com.
