Jessie Ware

For the American entomologist, see Jessica Ware.

Jessie Ware
Ware performing in 2022
Ware performing in 2022
Background information
Birth nameJessica Lois Ware
Born (1984-10-15) 15 October 1984 (age 40)
London, England
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • podcaster
Years active2009–present
Labels
Spouse
Sam Burrows
​
(m. 2014)​
Children3
Websitejessieware.com

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]

Early life

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]

Music career

2009–2011: Career beginnings

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.

2011–2013: Devotion

Ware performing at the Eurosonic 2012 Festival

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.

2014–2018: Tough Love and Glasshouse

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.

Ware performing at the Jazz Café in February 2018

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]

2018–present: What's Your Pleasure? and That! Feels Good!

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]

Other work

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]

Philanthropy

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]

Personal life

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]

Discography

Main article: Jessie Ware discography

Tours

  • Devotion Tour (2012)
  • Night + Day Tour (2013)
  • Tough Love World Tour (2014)
  • Glasshouse Tour (2018)
  • What's Your Pleasure? Tour (2021–2022)
  • That! Feels Good! Live! (2023)

Awards and nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Jessie Ware

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.

References

  1. ^ "Table Manners with Jessie & Lennie Ware". Table Manners with Jessie & Lennie Ware. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  2. ^ "Jessie Ware". BBC. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  3. ^ Barnett, Emma (1 October 2012). "Mercury nominee Jessie Ware on the 'sorority' dominating British music". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  4. ^ a b Abbott, Jeremy (23 March 2012). "Hey sister, go sister, soul sister, flow sister". Ponystep. Archived from the original on 29 January 2013.
  5. ^ "At home with Jessie Ware: gnocchi, podcasts and Deliveroo". Evening Standard. 31 January 2018. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  6. ^ Births, Marriages & Deaths Index of England & Wales, 1916–2005.; at ancestry.com
  7. ^ "Jessie Ware interview". Time Out. Archived from the original on 19 December 2012. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  8. ^ "Jessie Ware reveals her secret ambition". The Jewish Chronicle. 23 August 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2013. Retrieved 16 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Jessie Ware's My London". standard.co.uk. 26 April 2013.
  10. ^ Maclean, Craig (17 February 2013). "Watch this face: Jessie Ware is the new queen of the Brits". independent.co.uk. Archived from the original on 8 June 2022.
  11. ^ One to watch: Jessie Ware Publisher: The Guardian newspaper. Published: 26 February 2012. Retrieved: 27 April 2013.
  12. ^ Greig, Rob (2012). "Jessie Ware interview: Brixton girl, Jessie Ware, takes Kim Taylor Bennett on a tour of her hood". Time Out London. Archived from the original on 13 February 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2018.
  13. ^ Duncan, Alasdair. "Jessie Ware Wildest Dreams". The Brag. [permanent dead link‍]
  14. ^ "Jessie Ware". Red Bull Studios London.
  15. ^ "Jessie Ware & Sampha – Valentine – YouTube". youngturksrecords / YouTube.com. 26 November 2012.
  16. ^ Smirke, Richard (8 December 2012). "Jessie Ware, Mercury Prize Nominee, Preps EP for U.S. Release". Billboard.
  17. ^ "Strangest Feeling by Jessie Ware – 10" – Boomkat – Your independent music specialist". boomkat.com. 14 November 2011. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012.
  18. ^ "Laura Mvula to support Jessie Ware on tour". counteract.co. Archived from the original on 18 November 2016. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  19. ^ "Jessie Ware". Songkick. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  20. ^ "Jessie Ware | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. 16 June 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  21. ^ Dombal, Ryan (16 June 2014). "Jessie Ware | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 10 August 2016.
  22. ^ "Ed Sheeran working with Jessie Ware on her new album". digitalspy.co.uk/. 26 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  23. ^ "Jessie Ware - Say You Love Me (Official audio)". YouTube. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
  24. ^ "Twitter / Jessie_Ware: My only UK festival this year ..." 23 March 2014. Archived from the original on 23 March 2014.
  25. ^ Lockett, Dee (12 December 2014). "Update: Nicki Minaj's The Pinkprint Leaked: Here's a Track-by-Track Breakdown". Slate. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  26. ^ "Wakacyjne koncerty Jessie Ware w Gdańsku i Warszawie". SOMusic (in Polish). 10 September 2017. Archived from the original on 14 September 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  27. ^ "Jessie Ware Shares New Song "Midnight": Listen | Pitchfork". pitchfork.com. 27 July 2017. Retrieved 28 July 2017.
  28. ^ "Jessie Ware – "Selfish Love"". Spin. 31 August 2017. Retrieved 14 September 2017.
  29. ^ Bloom, Madison (3 October 2018). "Jessie Ware Drops New Song "Overtime": Listen". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  30. ^ Vozick-Levinson, Simon (3 October 2018). "Jessie Ware Makes Jubilant Return to the Club With 'Overtime'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  31. ^ "Jessie Ware shares groove-driven new track 'Ooh La La'". Nme.com. 24 April 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
  32. ^ Bloom, Madison (14 February 2019). "Listen to Jessie Ware's New Song "Adore You"". Pitchfork. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  33. ^ Darville, Jordan (13 February 2019). "Jessie Ware returns with the luxurious "Adore You"". The Fader. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  34. ^ Daramola, Israel (13 February 2019). "Jessie Ware – "Adore You"". Spin. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
  35. ^ Kreps, Daniel (28 April 2021). "Jessie Ware Drops New Song 'Please' From 'What's Your Pleasure?' Platinum Edition". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  36. ^ "UK pop star Jessie Ware talks pregnancy, Kylie Minogue duet and return to the charts". 7News. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
  37. ^ Reilly, Nick (12 July 2022). "Jessie Ware announces new single 'Free Yourself'". Rolling Stone UK. Retrieved 12 July 2022.
  38. ^ Mier, Tomás (19 July 2022). "Jessie Ware Delivers Disco Dancefloor-Ready 'Free Yourself'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 19 July 2022.
  39. ^ "Alô, DJ! Jessie Ware divulga nova prévia do single "Pearls"; já viu a capa?". PAPELPOP (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 February 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  40. ^ Jessie Ware [@JessieWare] (7 February 2023). "Pearls. Coming Thursday" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 February 2023 – via Twitter.
  41. ^ @JessieWareInfo (30 December 2022). "In the podcast of @evanrosskatz @JessieWare says how she made 'Free Yourself' and a song called 'Lighting' with Stuart Price" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 January 2023 – via Twitter.
  42. ^ @JessieWareInfo (20 December 2022). "In a new episode of RPS Presents @JessieWare describes her new album as Remember Where You Are 'but with more energy'" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 January 2023 – via Twitter.
  43. ^ "Jessie Ware named as judge for new ITV talent show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream". RetroPOP Magazine. 2 May 2023. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  44. ^ a b "Table Manners with Jessie Ware on acast". acast.com. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  45. ^ "In conversation with Jessie Ware & George Reddings - Anyware Kids". pirouetteblog.com. 14 May 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  46. ^ Nugent, Annabel (28 December 2020). "Dawn French, Maya Jama and Jessie Ware join RuPaul's Drag Race UK series two's guest judge line-up". The Independent. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  47. ^ "Jessie Ware named as judge for new ITV talent show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream". retropopmagazine.com. 2 May 2023. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  48. ^ "Jessie Ware, UNICEF UK Ambassador". unicef.org.uk. 1 February 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  49. ^ "Band Aid 30 Line Up Announced". smoothradio.com. 10 November 2014. Archived from the original on 15 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  50. ^ "All-star Grenfell charity single released today". Musicweek.com. Retrieved 9 January 2020.
  51. ^ Lipworth, Elaine (22 January 2018). "'I need to own my success' Jessie Ware on fame, family and her most personal album to date". YOU Magazine. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  52. ^ "Jessie Ware announces the arrival of her third child". Rte.ie. 17 July 2021.
  53. ^ "Jessie Ware: I didn't get maternity leave after birth of my daughter". Belfast Telegraph. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  54. ^ "Jessie Ware welcomes her first child". Hello!. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  55. ^ "Jessie Ware". Jewish Lives Project. Archived from the original on 19 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  56. ^ Barber, Sonya (21 November 2021). "Jessie Ware on her Jewish upbringing, doing a batmitzvah now and her new memoir!". Jewish News. Retrieved 28 April 2022.