Jesswar, is a

Fijian Australian Fijian Australians refers to Australian citizens or residents of Australia who are of ethnic iTaukei or Indian descent. Most Fijians Australians live in New South Wales (Sydney), Queensland (Brisbane) and Victoria (Melbourne). Australia is home ...

artist based on Yugambeh/Kombumerri country. Jesswar's debut single, "Savage", released in 2017 and was followed by debut EP ''Tropixx'' in 2021 and debut mixtape ''LIFE'S SHORT, LIVE BIG'' in 2022. In 2021, Jesswar was a winner at the

Queensland Music Awards The Queensland Music Awards (commonly known as QMA and known as the Q Song Awards from 2006 to 2010) are annual awards celebrating Queensland's emerging artists. They commenced in 2006. Each year, the QMA Song of the Year is immortalised in a ...

and the APRA Professional Development Awards.

Early life

Born in Canberra, Jesswar grew up partly in Fiji and partly on the Gold Coast, Queensland. They left home at 16 years old, studying music at

TAFE Queensland TAFE Queensland is the statutory authority parent body for TAFE technical and further education training in the Australian state of Queensland. Established in 1882, TAFE Queensland is one of Australia's largest education providers with 120,0 ...

, and later at the

Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (formerly the Queensland Conservatorium of Music) is a selective, audition based music school located in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, and is part of Griffith University. History The Conservatori ...

. In 2012 Jesswar formed a four-piece

pop rap Pop rap (also known as pop hip-hop, hip pop, melodic hip-hop or melodic rap) is a genre of music fusing the rhythm-based lyricism of hip hop music with pop music's preference for melodious vocals and catchy tunes. This genre gained mainstrea ...

band, Sneeky Picnic, with fellow students.

Music career

2017-present: ''TROPIXX'' & ''Life’s Short, Live Big''

Jesswar's first release as a solo artist was "Savage" in 2017, though they later signed with

Golden Era Records Golden Era Records is a record label that specializes in Australian hip hop music and is based in Stirling, South Australia, Stirling, South Australia, Australia. The label was founded in 2008 in music, 2008 by South Australian hip hop trio Hillt ...

. In 2018 Jesswar performed at St Jerome's Laneway Festival. By 2019, they had collaborated with artists including

Tasha the Amazon Tasha the Amazon, born Tasha Schumann, is a Canadian rapper, singer-songwriter, hip hop producer Okenyo Zindzi Okenyo is a television and theatre actress, and musician from Sydney. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), she is a presenter on '' Play School'', and performs music professionally under the stage name Okenyo. She i ...

DZ Deathrays DZ Deathrays (previously Denzel then DZ) are an Australian dance-punk trio from Brisbane, Queensland. Composed of Shane Parsons (vocals/guitar), Lachlan Ewbank (lead guitar/vocals) and Simon Ridley (drums), they put out two EPs before releasing ...

, and

B Wise James Iheakanwa, known professionally as B Wise, is a Nigerian Australian artist from Sydney, New South Wales. He released his debut album ''Area Famous'' in 2018 via the label Elefant Tracks. Biography Iheakanwa was born and raised in Liv ...

. In 2021, Jesswar signed a global deal with

PIAS Recordings PIAS Recordings (formerly Play It Again Sam) is a Belgian record label founded in 1983 by Kenny Gates and Michel Lambot. Play It Again Sam expanded along with other European independent labels in the early 1980s. Play It Again Sam's prominent ea ...

and also released debut EP ''Tropixx''. The EP the singles "Medusa" and "Venom", the latter of which won in the hip hop/rap category at the 2021

. Later that year, they released the lead single from their debut mixtape: a Rihanna-inspired collaboration with viral Texan rapper

Erica Banks Erica Banks is an American rapper born and raised in DeSoto, Texas. Following the release of her first three mixtapes, she signed to 1501 Certified Entertainment, who released her self-titled mixtape in June 2020. It spawned her first charting ...

: "Bad Like Riri".. The single gained significant traction and is trap-laced celebration of strong, unapologetic voices and the self-possessed mindset of a baddie. Stylistically, Jesswar’s debut mixtape, LIFE’S SHORT, LIVE BIG (released on September 23, 2022) lives out the bold, carpe diem-style ethos implied by its title - apt for an artist whose sound is constantly evolving, always coming into itself. Thematically, the record is no less ravenous, carried primarily by Jesswar’s undiluted charisma. The low-slung ‘SWEET’, featuring producer and vocalist DVNA, places fierce declarations of romantic devotion and dedication in its verses up against honeyed, love-drunk gratitude in the chorus. Immersed is exactly how Jesswar sounds on ‘FELL IN LOVE,’ the second single released from the mixtape, with each element of the track wrapped up in the affection that they sing of - from the gossamer backdrop of gliding, funk-polished guitars to the slinky cadence of the chorus and velvety, sultry flow of the verses. On the raucous ‘ANTISOCIAL’, Jesswar offers an impassioned screed against social injustices, drawing the line between their lived experiences and generations of preceding trauma, a melee of sirens, growling sub-bass and industrial percussion swirling around them. Elsewhere, they effortlessly switch into new and at times unexpected gears, as on the warped, club-ready bounce of ‘THROW IT IN THE AIR’ or the sweltering, carnal longing of ‘CANDY’, backed by pitched-up R&B vocal samples and delivered in a borderline whisper. Audacious and bumping, third single ‘HEFTY’ is a vintage New York rap cut, featuring stark, staccato strikes of piano over a pared-back beat, with boastful, chest-heavy lyricism and a sneer, while ‘CARAMEL BARS’ is yet another potent, one-and-a-half minute display of Jesswar’s technical abilities, their steely flow riding a tough and immediate minimalist beat.

Discography

Mixtapes

Extended Play

Awards and nominations

AIR Awards

The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as

AIR Awards The Australian Independent Record Awards (commonly known informally as AIR Awards) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. History The inaugural 2006 awards were held at ...

) is an annual awards night to recognise, promote and celebrate the success of Australia's Independent Music sector. ! , - ,

2022 File:2022 collage V1.png, Clockwise, from top left: Road junction at Yamato-Saidaiji Station several hours after the assassination of Shinzo Abe; Anti-government protest in Sri Lanka in front of the Presidential Secretariat; The global monkeypo ...

, ''Tropixx'' , Best Independent Hip Hop Album or EP , ,

Rolling Stone Australia Awards

The Rolling Stone Australia Awards are awarded annually in January or February by the Australian edition of ''

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first known for its ...

'' magazine for outstanding contributions to popular culture in the previous year. ! , - , 2022 , Jesswar , Best New Artist , , , -

References

{{Authority control 1990s births Australian people of Fijian descent Australian women rappers Fijian musicians LGBT rappers Living people Musicians from Canberra Year of birth missing (living people)