In celebration of this year’s 25th New Zealand Music Month, The Guardian is interviewing local musicians. Gordon Preece talks to former Motueka High School student Jessica Leigh.
Jessica Leigh’s emotive and introspective indie pop delighted one UK-based fan to such an extent she got lyrics from one of Jessica’s songs inked on her forearm.
Her music excursions since graduating from Motueka High School in 2019 will, like the title of her fresh single, make you go ‘Ooh La La’.
Now based in Aotearoa’s music mecca Auckland, 23-year-old Jessica is finely-tuned in her career with 10 singles released, and she has written songs with esteemed individuals in the industry like Joel Little, the Kiwi producer of Lorde’s first album.
Jessica says pop music juggernaut Taylor Swift and her small-town upbringing were the makings of where she is today.
“I loved doing music in high school, I had a really great teacher, Hilary Sinclair, and I won a regional songwriting competition in 2019,” she says.
“Music is probably my biggest hobby, I thought that I should pursue it, and I haven’t regretted doing that yet, it’s really gratifying and rewarding.”
“I was lucky to see Taylor Swift every time she’s [performed in Aotearoa]... and I think a lot of my songwriting is informed by her approach.”
Jessica’s latest release ‘Ooh La La’ was recently featured in the acclaimed Rolling Stone magazine, and she has 100 songs on the dropbox.
“It’s an interesting game in music, you’ll be in a session and write and make a song, but it doesn’t see the light of day for a year or two,” she says.
“[My songs are] usually about relationships when they’re good, and then sometimes when they’re not so good.
“If there’s not too much going on in my personal life, then I love drawing inspiration from books, films and stories my friends have told me.”
Jessica’s songwriting avidity includes jetting to New York annually to attend a songwriting camp with global artists and producers.
“It’s super intense, but it’s been really rewarding in the past, and I’ve met a lot of really inspiring people,” she says.
“It’s important to be honest and authentic with what you’re writing, and that usually resonates well with people. Sometimes songs just feel like gifts that come to visit you, and you are the vessel for translating them into something tangible.”
Jessica aspires to perform more live music later in the year.
