Jess Kent has had an incredible 2016. The Sydney artist released her debut EP, My Name is Jess Kent, last month – preceded by singles The Sweet Spot and 2015’s Get Down – which saw her working with an incredible range of producers who have previously worked with Troye Sivan, Snakadaktal, Fwen Stefani and Peking Duk among others. Following a handful of international tour dates, Kent is currently on tour as support act for none other than Coldplay, and will be performing at Laneway in early 2017.
In a press release, Kent writes that she listens to everything from “different types of electronic music, from hip hop to techno,” and that this open approach has given her songwriting a “constant fusing of the older foundations of my influences with what I’m into now, contemporary-wise.” We wanted to get to know these influences a little better, so we asked her to share three albums which changed her life.
Eminem, Curtain Call
When I was younger we could only buy an album on CD every so often, and Eminem joined the catalogue when my brother bought it. We used to listen to it all the time; it was pretty much the first rap album we had access to. I remember seeing 8 Mile and understanding the anger in the music, and also coming to appreciate his sense of humour and self-satire. Eminem taught us to have a ‘fuck you’ attitude.
Jamie T, Panic Prevention
Jamie T was a staple in the Myspace age. This album soundtracked my walk to school, beach adventures, cruising the suburbs of where I grew up. I loved his English brit-pop sensibility, and how he mashed up singing and rapping. Also he didn’t really sound like he gave many fucks. His songs were puzzle pieces of truth and stories and observations on English culture.
The Kills, Midnight Boom
I was fascinated with the entire Midnight Boom concept sonically, culturally, stared at the artwork… This was also in the MySpace phase when all you had access to was the album, few cool photos and tour dates (which never came to my hometown -_-). I loved the high distorted, rugged hot mess of it all. Alison Mosshart oozes swag and cavalier London nonchalance. I was in my dramatic middle school phase and this album spoke to me in ways in which I could not articulate at the time.
Coldplay tour dates
December 6 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, QLD
December 9 & 10 Etihad Stadium, Melbourne, VIC
December 13 & 14 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, NSW
Laneway 2017
January 26 Brisbane Showgrounds, Brisbane, QLD
January 28 Footscray Community Arts Centre & The River’s Edge, Melb VIC
February 3 Hart’s Mill, Port Adelaide, SA
February 4 Sydney College of the Arts, Rozelle, NSW
February 5 Esplanade Reserve and West End, Fremantle, WA
Image: Supplied