Jess Kent
Jess Kent in 2016
Background information
BornDerby, England
OriginAdelaide, Australia
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • songwriter
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
Years active2015–present
Labels
Websitewww.jesskent.com

Jess Kent is an Australian pop and electropop musician.[1][2] Kent was born in Derby, England.[3]

Kent is best known for her debut single, "Get Down",[4][5] which was uploaded to Triple J Unearthed" in 2015 and became the most-played song on Triple J in November of the same year.[6] "Get Down" ranked at number 185 on Triple J's Hottest 200 of 2015 and has accumulated more than 1.5 million streams on Spotify.[7][8]

Early life

Jess Kent was born in Derby, England.[3] Her father was a blues rock guitarist, while her mother was of Indian-African descent.[9]

From age seven, her father taught her how to play the guitar, and from age ten, she began songwriting.[9] As a child, she busked with her older brother at pubs and parties.[9] Kent lived in England until the age of eleven, when her family relocated to Adelaide, Australia.[9] When she was eighteen, she moved to Sydney to pursue a music career.[9]

Personal life

Kent enjoys watching films, playing video games, visiting art museums, shows, and travelling.[10] Her favourite film is Ferris Bueller's Day Off.[10]

Kent currently resides in Sydney, Australia.[3]

Musical style and influences

Kent has been described as a pop,[11] electropop,[8][1] electronic,[12] hip hop,[12] and indie artist.[12] Her debut single, "Get Down", was described as having "strong hip-hop/pop influences" and "strong reggae vibes".[13]

In her early childhood years, Kent listened to bands such as The Clash, The Who, Oasis, Blondie, Bob Marley, The Beautiful Girls, and Beastie Boys.[9] She later listened to bands such as Atomic Kitten and S Club 7 in her adolescent years.[11] Her music has been compared to that of M.I.A, Santigold, Lily Allen, Tkay Maidza and Asta.[13][9][12]

She considers The Police, The Clash, The Who, Blondie, Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Bob Marley and the Wailers, Dizzee Rascal, The Beautiful Girls, The Kooks, The Supremes and Marvin Gaye, and Red Hot Chili Peppers to be musical influences.[11][12] Kent has stated that she would like to collaborate with Pharrell Williams or Mark Ronson.[3]

Career

2015–2016: "Get Down" and My Name is Jess Kent

Kent uploaded her debut single "Get Down" to Triple J Unearthed on 22 September 2015.[12] The song ranked at #185 on Triple J's Hottest 200 of 2015.[7]

Kent released her follow-up single "The Sweet Spot" on 14 November 2016.[8] She released her debut EP My Name is Jess Kent on 18 November 2016 through Capitol Records,[14] which included both "Get Down" and "The Sweet Spot".[14] "Trolls" was released as the third single from the EP on 10 May 2017.[15]

On 13 January 2016, Kent collaborated with Australian producer Paces on the song "1993 (No Chill)" which featured on his debut album Vacation.[16]

2016–2019: Touring with Coldplay, Hayley Kiyoko, and Troye Sivan

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (June 2020)

In December 2016, Kent opened the Oceanian leg of British rock band Coldplay's A Head Full of Dreams Tour.[17] She also opened the Asian leg of the tour in March and April 2017.[17]

In April 2018, Kent performed as an opening act on Hayley Kiyoko's Expectations Tour.[18]

2020: Parking Karma

On 5 June 2020, Kent released "No One Else", her first single in two years, and announced that she would release a second EP later that year.[19] On 21 August 2020, she released "Life Happens", the second single from the EP, and announced it would be titled Parking Karma.[20] Parking Karma was released on 18 September 2020.[21] She will be performing for triple j Like A Version on Friday 9 October 2020.

Discography

Extended plays

List of extended plays, with release date and label shown
Title Details
My Name is Jess Kent
Parking Karma
  • Released: 18 September 2020[21]
  • Label: Ourness
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

List of singles as lead artist, with year released and album shown
Title Year Album
"Get Down"[13] 2015 My Name is Jess Kent
"The Sweet Spot"[22] 2016
"Trolls"[15] 2017
"Bass Bumps"[citation needed] 2018 Non-album singles
"No Love Songs"
(featuring Wes Period)[citation needed]
"Girl"[23]
"Slushie"[24] 2019
"No One Else"[19] 2020 Parking Karma
"Life Happens"[20]

As featured artist

List of singles as featured artist, with year released and album shown
Title Year Album
"1993 (No Chill)"
(Paces featuring Jess Kent)[25] 		2016 Vacation
"Out My Mind"
(Set Mo featuring Jess Kent)[26] 		2022

Music videos

List of music videos, with year released and director shown
Title Year Director
"Get Down" (Lyric Video)[27] 2015 None
"The Sweet Spot"[28] 2016
"Trolls"[29] 2017 Jamie Martinez
"Bass Bumps" (Visualizer)[30] 2018 None
"No Love Songs" (Audio)
(featuring Wes Period)[31]
"Girl" (Lyric Video)[32]
"Slushie" (Lyric Video)[33] 2019 Beck Quade
"No One Else"[34] 2020 Bart Celestino

References

  1. ^ a b Sansome, Kate (14 January 2016). "Jess Kent teams up with Paces for track '1993 (No Chill)'". This Is Radelaide. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  2. ^ Iannella, Antimo (20 December 2015). "Black Eyed Peas will.i.am praises former Adelaide busker Jess Kent". The Advertiser. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  3. ^ a b c d Tan, Emily (26 April 2017). "Jess Kent on 'Sweet Spot': "I wrote it to remind myself to be determined"". Myspace. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Seven Splendour acts that will blow your mind and also are not The Cure". The Music. 14 April 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ^ Murphy, Sam (21 January 2016). "The Interns' future Class of 2016". The Interns. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  6. ^ Holmes, Lara (20 December 2015). "Jess Kent is a name you need to know before heading into 2016". Happy Mag. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  7. ^ a b "Here's what made it on to Triple J's second Hottest 100 of 2015 (The Hottest 200)". Music Feeds. 31 January 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. ^ a b c Langford, Jackson (14 November 2016). "Jess Kent hits the 'The Sweet Spot' with new video". Purple Sneakers. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g Kelly, Nic (2017). "Introducing: Get Down to Sydney's Jess Kent". Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  10. ^ a b "In the Studio with Jess Kent". CoolPrettyCool. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  11. ^ a b c "Jess Kent – First Avenue". First Avenue. 2017. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d e f "Jess Kent – Triple J Unearthed". Triple J Unearthed. 22 September 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  13. ^ a b c Sansome, Kate (13 November 2015). "Jess Kent releases debut single 'Get Down'". This Is Radelaide. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  14. ^ a b c Wass, Mike (14 November 2016). "Jess Kent announces debut EP 'My Name is Jess Kent'". Idolator. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  15. ^ a b Smith, Joseph (11 May 2017). "Jess Kent takes aim at 'Trolls' on [sic] latest music video". Stoney Roads. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  16. ^ Murphy, Sam (13 January 2016). "Paces and Jess Kent have crafted a summer banger together '1993 (No Chill)'". The Interns. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  17. ^ a b "Australian pop singer Jess Kent to open for Coldplay in Asian tour". Bandwagon. 17 February 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  18. ^ Belken, Breanna (29 April 2018). "Hayley Kiyoko's Expectations Tour captivates sold out crowd at The Observatory". The Daily Titan. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  19. ^ a b Martin, Josh (5 June 2020). "Jess Kent shares new single 'No One Else' from forthcoming EP". NME. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  20. ^ a b Brereton, Greta (21 August 2020). "Jess Kent shares new single 'Life Happens' from forthcoming EP 'Parking Karma'". NME. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  21. ^ a b Brereton, Greta (18 September 2020). "Jess Kent shares new EP, 'Parking Karma'". NME. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  22. ^ "Jess Kent's new single 'The Sweet Spot' is here". Project U. 14 November 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  23. ^ "Jess Kent releases new single – "Girl"". Elicit Magazine. 14 September 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  24. ^ "Ten questions with Jess Kent". 10 Magazine. 28 October 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  25. ^ Davies, Hayden (14 January 2016). "Paces drops new single, announces debut album 'Vacation'". Pilerats. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  26. ^ "Home and Hosed: Set Mo First Play". Triple J. 6 October 2022. Retrieved 8 October 2022.
  27. ^ "Jess Kent has put an amazing emoji video for 'Get Down' on the internet". Project U. 13 November 2015. Retrieved 22 June 2020.
  28. ^ Graves, Shahlin (1 December 2016). "Jess Kent - 'The Sweet Spot' music video". Coup de Main Magazine. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  29. ^ "Jess Kent drops video for 'Trolls'". The Partae. 11 May 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  30. ^ "Jess Kent – Bass Bumps (Visualizer)". 12 July 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020 – via YouTube.
  31. ^ "Jess Kent – No Love Songs (Audio) ft. Wes Period". 12 July 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020 – via YouTube.
  32. ^ "Jess Kent – Girl". 14 September 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2020 – via YouTube.
  33. ^ "Jess Kent – Slushie". 18 October 2019. Retrieved 22 June 2020 – via YouTube.
  34. ^ Langford, Jackson (17 June 2020). "Jess Kent drops new music video for 'No One Else'". Music Feeds. Retrieved 20 June 2020.

External links

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