Jessie Ware | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Jessica Lois Ware |
Born | London, England | 15 October 1984
Genres | |
Occupations |
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Years active | 2009–present |
Labels | |
Spouse | Sam Burrows (m. 2014) |
Children | 3 |
Website | jessieware |
Jessica Lois Ware (born 15 October 1984) is an English singer and songwriter. She came to prominence following the release of her debut studio album, Devotion (2012), which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart and produced the single "Wildest Moments". Her second studio album, Tough Love (2014), reached number nine in the UK and produced the singles "Tough Love" and "Say You Love Me". Her third studio album, Glasshouse (2017), reached number seven in the UK.
Ware pivoted to a disco influenced sound for her fourth studio album, What's Your Pleasure? (2020), which was released to critical acclaim, reached number three in the UK, and produced the singles "Spotlight", "Save a Kiss" and "Remember Where You Are". Her fifth studio album, That! Feels Good! (2023), produced the single "Free Yourself" and reached number three in the UK, as well as peaking at number sixteen in the Top Album Sales chart in the US. Ware has received accolades including seven Brit Awards nominations including one for Best New Artist and four for British Female Solo Artist and two Mercury Prize nominations.
In 2018, Ware began co-hosting Table Manners alongside her mother Lennie, a podcast about "family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat", available to online streaming platforms. [1]
Ware was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in Hammersmith, London, on 15 October 1984. [2] She was raised in Clapham, London. [3] [4] She is the daughter of Helena (née Keell, usually called Lennie [5] ), a social worker, and John Ware, a BBC Panorama reporter, who divorced when she was 10. She is the younger sister of English actress Hannah Ware. [6] [7] [8] Her mother was supportive in her early musical career and Ware considers her to be "her hero", [9] saying "She brought up my sister, brother and me with so much love and fun and always told me I could do anything I want." Ware's mother is Jewish and she was raised in the faith. [4]
Ware was educated at Alleyn's School, a co-educational independent school in Dulwich in South London, where she was a schoolmate of Florence Welch, Jack Peñate, and Felix White of the Maccabees. [10] She then attended the University of Sussex, where she graduated with a degree in English literature. [11] After her studies, Ware briefly worked as a journalist at The Jewish Chronicle , did sports journalism at The Daily Mirror and worked behind the scenes at TV company Love Productions. There, she was a colleague of Erika Leonard, otherwise known as E. L. James, the author of Fifty Shades of Grey . [12]
In the years prior to releasing her first solo album, Ware did backing vocals at live shows for Jack Peñate (who took her on tour in the U.S.) and Man Like Me. Ware said she learned a lot during her time with Jack Peñate: "Performing with him was really good training, because I got to learn all about how other people do it – I was able to perform live without the pressure of being a lead singer. It gave me a taste of what to expect, and it prepared me for what I'm doing now." [13]
One of Peñate's bandmates, Tic, first introduced Ware to SBTRKT; Ware and SBTRKT went on to collaborate on "Nervous" (2010). She consequently met Sampha, then known as SBTRKT's main collaborator. They created "Valentine" together, which was released on a special edition, heart-shaped vinyl by Young Turks in 2011. "Valentine" was partly inspired by James Blake's song "The Wilhelm Scream" and based on their own personal experiences in love. [14] The music video for "Valentine" was directed by Marcus Söderlund. [15] "Nervous", "Valentine" and an additional collaboration with DJ Joker ("The Vision") led Ware to a record deal with PMR Records. [16] She also featured on Ceremonials , the 2011 album by Florence and the Machine in which her good friend Florence Welch is lead singer.
On 14 October 2011, Ware released her debut solo single "Strangest Feeling" on limited 10" purple vinyl, [17] although the song did not chart on the UK Singles Chart.
On 20 August 2012, Ware released her debut album Devotion , which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart. The album's lead single "Running" was released on 24 February 2012. "110%" was released as the album's second single on 13 April, peaking at number 61 in the United Kingdom. "Wildest Moments" was released as the album's third single on 29 June, peaking at number 46 in the United Kingdom. "Night Light" was released as the fourth single on 24 August.
Devotion was announced as a nominee for the prestigious Mercury Prize that year. Ware toured in the United Kingdom in the early part of March 2013, supported by Laura Mvula, starting with Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Oxford, Bristol and ending in London. [18] The United Kingdom tour was followed by a European tour in the second half of March 2013 and a US tour in April 2013. In the summer of 2013, Ware played many festivals all over the world, [19] and at the end of 2013, Jessie went on tour in the United States again.
Ware's second album, Tough Love , was released on 6 October 2014. [20] Ware began writing the album earlier that year. The album peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart, becoming her second top ten album. "Tough Love" was the first single to be taken from the album and released on 3 August 2014. "Tough Love" was compared to "Prince at his minimalist '80's best" by Pitchfork. [21] "Tough Love" is produced together with BenZel, the production duo composed of London post-bass producer Two Inch Punch and mega-producer Benny Blanco who Ware previously worked with on the single "If You Love Me"; Benzel are also executive producers of the album. Ed Sheeran co-wrote the song "Say You Love Me". [22] [23] Ware played the Wilderness Festival (7–10 August 2014); a pair of additional dates at Berlin Festival 2014 (6 July 2014) and Sopot Gulf of Art (26 July 2014) that year. [24]
Ware contributed a song for Nicki Minaj's third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014), called "The Crying Game" in which Minaj alternates between "devastating verses and pensive crooning" whilst Ware adds "haunting" and "soulful" vocals to the chorus. [25] Originally, Ware only received a songwriting credit, but she was then credited on updated versions of the album. She also co-wrote the song "New Man" for Ed Sheeran's third album, ÷ , and provided background vocals on it and two other songs.
In October 2017, Ware returned to the stage after a two-year absence in anticipation of the release of her third studio album, Glasshouse . [26] Featuring contribution from Francis and the Lights, Ed Sheeran, Cashmere Cat, Julia Michaels and others, [27] it was preceded by its first three singles "Midnight", "Selfish Love" and "Alone". [28] Glasshouse debuted and peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart.
In October 2018, Ware released the single "Overtime", later to be included on What's Your Pleasure (The Platinum Pleasure Edition) in 2021. [29] [30]
Ware's What's Your Pleasure? was released on 27 June 2020, after being pushed back from its initial release date of 5 June. [31] The first single from the album, "Adore You", was released in February 2019. [32] [33] [34] This was followed by "Mirage (Don't Stop)" in November, "Spotlight" in February 2020 and then "Ooh La La" in April, "Save a Kiss" in May and "What's Your Pleasure?" in July. The album was met with widespread critical acclaim. In April 2021, Ware announced an expanded edition of the album titled What's Your Pleasure? The Platinum Pleasure Edition with an 11 June release date, along with the release of the single "Please". The reissue features seven additional songs, including singles "Overtime", "Please", and "Hot N Heavy", and a remix of "Adore You", for a total of eight additional tracks. [35]
Later in 2021, Ware collaborated with Kylie Minogue on the reissue of Minogue's fifteenth studio album Disco entitled Disco: Guest List Edition. Their song "Kiss of Life" was released on 29 October 2021. Their collaboration took place after Minogue appeared on Ware's podcast Table Manners in September 2020. In the episode, the pair spoke about writing together. Ware later joked that she had "bullied" Minogue into a duet as the two further discussed a collaboration. [36]
"Free Yourself", the lead single from Ware's fifth studio album, That! Feels Good! , was released on 19 July 2022 following a premiere at that year's Glastonbury Festival. [37] It was produced by Stuart Price. [38] The next single, "Pearls", was released on 9 February 2023, following a teaser posted a few days prior. [39] [40] Ware has teased tracks of various genres including R&B, house and soul, [41] describing the record as "Remember Where You Are" but a "bit more soulful". [42]
In May 2023 Ware was announced as a judge on the ITV reality competition series Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, following the search for lead performers in Mamma Mia! on the West End for its 25th anniversary year. Ware will be joined on the panel by Alan Carr, Amber Riley, and Samantha Barks, with Zoe Ball as host. [43]
Towards the end of 2017, Ware launched a podcast, produced with her mother, called Table Manners for Acast and Island Records about "family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat", featuring a new guest each week on the show. [44] The first episode became available on 8 November 2017 and featured British singer-songwriter and friend Sam Smith. The show has since entered its tenth season, including guests such as Ed Sheeran, Randy Jackson, Nigella Lawson, Sandi Toksvig, Daniel Kaluuya, Paloma Faith, George Ezra, Annie Mac, Paul McCartney and Kylie Minogue. [44]
On 23 January 2019, Ware announced on her Instagram that she had created a premium kidswear collaboration called "Anyware Kids" launching online and in selected retailers Spring 2019, developed by designer George Reddings. The website officially went live on 31 March 2019. [45]
In 2021, Ware appeared as a guest judge on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK . [46]
In May 2023, it was announced that Ware would be one of the judges for the upcoming ITV talent show Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream alongside Alan Carr, Samantha Barks and Amber Riley with Zoe Ball being the presenter. The show will follow the search for two up-and-coming musical theatre performers to play the roles of Sophie and Sky in 'Mamma Mia!' in London's West End for its 25th anniversary year. [47]
Ware is a UNICEF UK ambassador and travelled with them to Bangladesh, Cameroon and North Macedonia to see the work they are doing there to help children who have fled violence. [48] On 15 November 2014, Ware joined the charity group Band Aid 30 along with other British and Irish pop acts, recording the latest version of the track "Do They Know It's Christmas?" at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa. [49]
Ware was also part of the lineup for "Artists for Grenfell" charity single which was released to raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation. [50]
In August 2014, Ware married her childhood friend, Sam Burrows. [51] They have three children. [52] [53] [54]
Ware is Jewish. [55] In 2021, she discussed her plans to have a Bat Mitzvah as an adult. [56]
Ware has been nominated for several awards, including seven Brit Awards nominations, four of them being for British Female Solo Artist. Her albums Devotion and That! Feels Good! were also both shortlisted for the Mercury Prize for Album of the Year.
Kylie Ann Minogue is an Australian singer, songwriter, and actress. Frequently referred to as the "Princess of Pop", she has achieved recognition in both the music industry and fashion world as a major style icon. Her numerous accolades include two Grammy Awards, four Brit Awards and eighteen ARIA Music Awards. Minogue is Australia's highest-selling female recording artist, with sales surpassing 80 million records worldwide, thereby highlighting her significant commercial success. In 2024, Time named her one of the most influential people in the world.
"Love at First Sight" is a song by Australian singer Kylie Minogue from her eighth studio album, Fever (2001). It was released as the third single from Fever on 3 June 2002. The song, which was written by Minogue, Richard Stannard, Julian Gallagher, Ash Howes and Martin Harrington, is unrelated to the song of the same name from Minogue's debut studio album, Kylie (1988). Musically, "Love at First Sight" is a dance-pop and nu-disco song which, lyrically, describes the singer falling and believing in love at first sight.
Stuart David Price is an English electronic musician, DJ, songwriter, and record producer. His acts include his own band Zoot Woman, Les Rythmes Digitales, Paper Faces, Man with Guitar, Thin White Duke, and the parodic French moniker Jacques Lu Cont.
James Ellis Ford is an English record producer and songwriter, known for being a member of Simian Mobile Disco and the Last Shadow Puppets as well as his production work with Arctic Monkeys, Blur, Depeche Mode, Foals, Florence and the Machine, Haim, Gorillaz, Klaxons, Jessie Ware, Kylie Minogue, Declan McKenna and the Pet Shop Boys.
Jessica Ellen Cornish, known professionally as Jessie J, is an English singer and songwriter. Born and raised in London, she began her career on stage, aged 11, with a role in the West End musical Whistle Down the Wind. She studied at the BRIT School before signing with Gut Records and striking a songwriting deal with Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
"If You're Never Gonna Move" is a song recorded by British singer Jessie Ware for her debut studio album Devotion. The synth-pop and R&B track was co-written by Ware and UK producer Julio Bashmore, which originally contained a sample from "The Big Shatterer" by the late American rapper Big Pun under its original title, "110%". Upon its release in the United States, however, the song was re-titled to "If You're Never Gonna Move", due to Big Pun's estate not granting clearance for the use of the sample. It was released as the second single from Devotion on 13 April 2012 as a digital download in the United Kingdom, and later in the United States as an extended play on 15 January 2013 via Cherrytree Records, eventually became the first single from Devotion in the States.
Devotion is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. It was released in the United Kingdom on 20 August 2012 through PMR Records and Island, and later on 16 April 2013 through Cherrytree and Interscope in the United States. Production for the album came primarily from Dave Okumu of alternative rock band The Invisible, alongside house Record producer Julio Bashmore and Kid Harpoon with contribution from Wilma Archer, fellow UK musician and collaborator Sampha and Hassan Hamandi, while Ware co-wrote most of the album tracks' lyrics.
Tough Love is the second studio album by English singer Jessie Ware. It was released on 13 October 2014 in the United Kingdom and 24 October 2014 in the United States. The album was supported by the singles "Tough Love", "Say You Love Me", "You & I (Forever)" and "Champagne Kisses".
"Tough Love" is a song by British singer Jessie Ware from her second studio album, Tough Love (2014). It was written by Ware, Benny Blanco, and Benjamin Ash and produced by Blanco and Ash under their production pseudonym BenZel. The song was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 23 June 2014 as the lead single from the album. It peaked at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart, becoming Ware's first domestic top 40 entry. Critically acclaimed, "Tough Love" was included on Pitchfork's list of the 100 best songs of 2014.
"Say You Love Me" is a song by British singer Jessie Ware from her second studio album, Tough Love (2014). The song was released in the United Kingdom as a digital download on 28 September 2014 as the second single from the album. The song was written by Ware, Ed Sheeran, Benny Blanco and Ben Ash. Sheeran also provided uncredited vocals for the track.
English singer and songwriter Jessie Ware has released five studio albums, thirty-four singles, four extended plays and thirty-one music videos.
"Champagne Kisses" is a song by British singer Jessie Ware from her second studio album, Tough Love (2014). The song serves as the album's fourth official single, and a digital download containing two official remixes of the song was released in the United Kingdom on 20 April 2015. "Champagne Kisses" was written by Ware, Benny Blanco and Ben Ash, and was produced by BenZel.
Glasshouse is the third studio album by English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. It was released on 20 October 2017 through Island Records. The album was supported by the singles "Midnight", "Selfish Love" and "Alone".
"Alone" is a song by English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. It was written by Ware, Sarah Aarons and Kid Harpoon, with production handled by Harpoon and Stint. The song was released through Island Records on 14 September 2017, as the third single from the singer-songwriter's third studio album, Glasshouse (2017).
What's Your Pleasure? is the fourth studio album by English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware, released on 26 June 2020 by PMR Records and Virgin EMI Records. Ware and co-producer James Ford co-wrote all tracks, along with writers and producers Benji B, Joseph Mount, Kindness, Morgan Geist, Matthew Tavares and Midland.
"Remember Where You Are" is a song by English singer and songwriter Jessie Ware. It was released on 5 February 2021 as the seventh & final single from her fourth studio album, What's Your Pleasure? The song was written by Ware and its producer James Ford alongside Danny Parker and Shungudzo Kuyimba.
"Kiss of Life" is a song by Australian singer-songwriter Kylie Minogue and English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware. The song was released on 29 October 2021 as the second single from Disco: Guest List Edition, the reissue of Minogue's fifteenth studio album Disco (2020).
"Free Yourself" is a song recorded by English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware, released on 19 July 2022 as the first single from her fifth studio album, That! Feels Good! It was written by Ware, Clarence Coffee Jr. and the song's producer Stuart Price.
That! Feels Good! is the fifth studio album by English singer-songwriter Jessie Ware, released on 28 April 2023 via EMI Records. Co-produced by Stuart Price and James Ford, whom she had worked with on her previous record What's Your Pleasure? (2020), Ware co-wrote all tracks alongside Shungudzo, Danny Parker, Clarence Coffee Jr., Sarah Hudson and its producers.