We sat down with Jess Hunter after the release of her stellar new tune 'Anhedonia' to discuss what influences shaped her unique sound. Be sure to check out the single at the bottom and follow her on socials!
Seventeen – Sharon Van Etten.
In 2018, I discovered Sharon Van Etten's music when her song "One Day" was featured in a
Netflix movie. I listened to her album "Epic" repeatedly. A year later, she released "Remind
Me Tomorrow" and I instantly fell in love with her song "Seventeen". Whenever I listen to it,
I am reminded of the years when I was sixteen going on seventeen. At that time, I was
studying photography and had made a final project about my closest friends who were also
on the cusp of adulthood. I felt overwhelmed by the changes in my life - finishing school,
leaving home, falling in love, and struggling with an eating disorder. However, Sharon’s
music reminded me that I was only seventeen and that there was still so much life ahead of
me. When I listen to "Seventeen" now, it brings back endless nostalgia for that time. I hope
to reciprocate that same feeling in my own music, whether through lyrics or instrumentation.
Acolyte – Slaughter Beach, Dog
Acolyte explores a man's perspective on his love for a girl whom he wants to fly to Ireland
with and marry in time. I love everything about this song. For myself and I am sure many
others, Acolyte is a song that you can listen to when you're feeling down, but don’t want to
cry. A couple of years ago now, my best friend sent me this song as she said it reminded her
of myself and my boyfriend at the time. This track holds so much sentimental value.
Whenever I hear the beginning, I am whisked away to a time when I became so much closer
to my best friend, I fell so deeply in love, and things just felt good. I haven't been able to
listen to it for a while, but now I like to listen when the sun is shining, the sky is blue, and
the day is simple. Hearing Acolyte makes me feel ever so grateful for the friends I have
around and the love I have received and shared. I would also recommend seeing Slaughter
Beach, Dog live, I had the best night ever watching their set at The Moth Club.
Frou-frou Foxes in Midsummer Fires – The Cocteau Twins
Where do I even begin with The Cocteau Twins? What an ethereal, beautiful and
unconventional band. I first heard them when I was sixteen and was introduced to their
album Heaven Or Las Vegas. Frou-frou is the final song to conclude the album and I can
distinctly remember listening to it for the first time. I was laying on my bed in my Nans
house, blaring the song and hoping it wouldn’t end. To me, the final few minutes encapsulate
the pure Cocteau Twins sound. Frasers’ gorgeous vocals with the most elegant harmonies,
heavy synths, and dark guitar riffs. It’s perfect. The song’s structure heavily inspired my
second single Blank. Although Blank is not my favourite and I am not in love with its final
sound, I can really appreciate how I went about using a strong Cocteau Twins influence. It
was my first experimentation with synths and heavy vocal layers. Overall, I had so much fun
recording it and in future, I would love to rerecord Blank and potentially record a live
version as well. I cannot wait.
Salt In The Wound – Boygenius
Currently, Boygenius are my top band to listen to daily. If you see me with my headphones
on, just know I am probably listening to them or Adrianne Lenker. I saw Boygenius live at
Gunnersbury Park last summer and it was one of the best concerts I have ever been to. I was
my favourite people, in the sun, and beer in hand. Salt In The Wound was not a song I
listened to all the time, however after their set it has become one of my favourites. They
played it last and released so many fireworks as the song was ending. I will never forget the
reaction of those around me. If I could be taken back in time, it would be in that crowd with
my favourite people. I am a big fan of big endings when it comes to songs. My latest release
Anhedonia with Ethan Butler has a great end section where dozens of vocals are layered, a
huge belt is sung, the drums quicken, and it feels like a release. I can definitely say I felt
inspired by songs like Salt In The Wound.
Waiting Room – Phoebe Bridgers
There is so much to unpack when listening to Waiting Room. What an emotional journey.
First, Phoebe’s lyricism in this song is the most powerful. Throughout, Phoebe sings about
being so in love with another person that you would do anything. Towards the end, she
begins to recognise how unhealthy these habits can be and it may be for the better to move
on. I am in awe of how raw the song is and I love how sincere Waiting Room sounds.
Recently, I have noticed how much I enjoy repeated lyrics; for example, Boygenius’ “Not
Strong Enough.” It is as if the artist is trying to ingrain their emotions and really push how
they feel to you. Waiting Room repeats “Know it’s for the better” and later shifts to “No,
it’s for the better.” Genius. I wrote a song a few years ago with repeated lyrics at the end. I
am in the midst of recording it and cannot wait to share the song in time and the
vulnerability of its overall meaning.
Jess Hunter - Anhedonia
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