// By: Salvador Medina
Fri 11 November 2022
Jem Cooke was born in East London and is a singer primarily known in Europe for her impressive vocals on Camelphat’s single, “Breathe”. She is also a prolific songwriter for herself and other artists, appearing on Camelphat’s single “Rabbit Hole”, recent single “Silenced” and the track “Carry Me Away” from the album “Dark Matter”. She is a singer-songwriter listed as a Spotify Secret Genius.
Listening to, creating or interpreting music is undoubtedly a therapeutic framework that allows you to identify physical, cognitive and emotional needs to respond to them and achieve well-being. Nature marks rhythms, seasons, tides… It offers us the sounds of the wind, the songs of birds, the flow of water, silence, the heartbeat, the swing of the arms, the breadth of inspiration, we are truly musicians by biology whose primary privilege is to be able to connect with people through it. We were able to talk about this and much more with Jem Cooke.
Creation of new music and creative processes
Hi Jem! Thank you very much for your time. It’s an honor to be able to speak with you. Congratulations on your new music. What do you think of your new music, Shelter in particular?
“Yeah, when we did that song it made me really happy to finally be able to work with Dragan. We had been talking about working together for a long time and our timing didn’t match. So when he sent me the music he was trying to find some ideas, it felt like the right time and the right idea. It all happened very quickly.”
You recently released Shelter with Dirty South; it is an extraordinary work. How was the creative process? How was this collaboration born?
«Well, we had been talking about it for some time, we had been in contact through various people. We hadn’t met in real life, but we had been in touch and talked. Basically, we had talked about doing something together, but hadn’t found the time. Then came the pandemic, of course; I had two kids during the pandemic.”
Oh! Congratulations!
“Thank you so much, thank you so much. But yeah, those two things happened together and it was all very busy for a while. But then he came to me with this amazing piece of music, the beat, and I felt like we could do it really fast As soon as I heard his beat, I knew what the song meant. I’d record it at my home in the UK and send it back to him, and that was it.”
The magic of connecting with people through music
Your new music will always be welcome. Congrats Jem on the artistry you have in making such powerful music. For me, the magic of music is that power of universal language that it expresses. From
a human point of view, for you, What does music mean and being able to share it with so many people around the world?
“It is a huge privilege. I’ve written music that no one has heard for a long time. So, the last five years have been quite amazing because I’ve written so many songs… Yes, it’s a great privilege, but also a great responsibility, to be as honest as possible with your music. Because I think that’s what people want and need, a shared experience. Being able to hear something and say, “I can understand that, I’ve been there too.” So it’s a great privilege for me to be able to do that now, to be able to write songs that people listen to, most of the time.”
Creativity is a feeling of freedom that allows us to live in a state of permanent transformation. Creativity expresses that need to transcend, to have that ability to find new unexpected connections. You are very creative. How difficult it is for you to find new ways of communication and artistic expression?
“I think it depends on what I’m experiencing at the time, personally. Sometimes the work is super demanding, and there are times when it’s very difficult for me… I think the more things that happen to me, oddly enough, the more ideas I come up with. But then of course there are times where, as a writer, I worry sometimes
I’ll run out of ideas sooner or later.”
“That hasn’t happened so far, but it’s definitely a scary idea. So what I try to do is be in the moment as much as possible. And if I’m struggling to write something, I just try to find my center again and think about what I’m going through in this moment and what’s going on in my life around me. Once I focus on the real stuff, it comes suddenly. So yeah, I think it’s about being as honest as possible and focusing on that.”
Throughout your career you have collaborated with various artists and bands. Your voice has been part of many projects; your voice is beautiful. You seem to be having a great time. What is the part that you think is most important to do?
collaborations and incorporating new talent into your musical creations?
“Well, I think this answer will be similar to the previous one. It’s about being as honest as possible and trying to focus on what you’re really feeling and what’s happening to you. I think there are common feelings that occur all over the world at times when things happen. And that may sound very hippie, but I think we vibrate at certain frequencies when certain things happen. I think if you can connect on a frequency that others are on (which I think music does, both lyrically and musically), I think that’s when you reach out to your most powerful connections.”
“I think it can only be achieved by being as authentic as possible. That’s what I think personally, I know everyone has their own method. But for me, I think I really recognize when I wasn’t as authentic as I could have been, and I feel it. Instead, When I expose my vulnerability a little more and when I expose my heart, that’s when I really connect. That’s kind of how it works for me.”
Jem Cooke’s dreams come true
This year you took part in a new edition of Glastonbury, one of the most important festivals in the world. How do you feel about it?
“I’m so excited, I don’t even have words. I stayed two nights. I was first invited to join Camoufat Boys the night they played. And then another amazing artist named Gardna invited me for Saturday. he still played my set i hope he can next year but my husband and friends many of We, we’ve been working and playing and going to Glastonbury for a long, long time.”
“The fact that this is the first in three years is… I think there will be a lot of tears, at least definitely mine. I was in that of 2019 and that of 2017; this is the third in a row. It is very special to be able to return. And speaking of frequencies, this is one of the places on the planet where the ley lines pass; It has to do with how mountains meet and how lines cross, it’s a geographical thing, I’m not really sure. But in theory, the way the ley lines intersect makes the magic arise in that place, and you definitely feel it when you’re there.”
Today, looking back on your great career, an inspiring career, What would you say to Jem Cooke as a kid with so many dreams to fulfill?
“Oh, you will make me cry… I think I would say: don’t worry about how things are going, enjoy today. Don’t let worry or fear of failure hold you back, because I think it was something I struggled with for a long time time. And I would also tell her: you are very sweet and very beautiful, and very thin! I assure you that there will come a time where you will want to be as thin as you are now! Because she’s always thought to be fat, silly things us girls think. But yeah, I think she would just try to give me the motivation not to worry and that everything will work out in the end.”
“Since everything is always good, you shouldn’t let the fear of not knowing where you’re going to end up stop you from doing what you want to do today. Because I think this is something that happens to us often, the idea of where we’re going to end up or where we won’t end up terrifies us. But that just makes us sit still and do nothing, when it really comes down to taking it one step at a time. The only way to take it is day after day, so we have to try not to worry of the neighbor. That would tell me”.
Thank you very much, it’s something very personal. It would be great to see you in Mexico.
“I’d love to do that one day!”
If one day! Do you plan to visit our country soon?
“Today we were just talking about this. It’s been a long, long time since I’ve done my own shows where I was just playing, for various reasons. But I intend to change that. As soon as things change and I have my Jem Cooke show ready, I promise, if you want me there, I’ll be there.”
Thank you so much, it was a pleasure talking to you. Congratulations on your new music! did you make a
good job.
“Thank you so much. Thank you so much for inviting me, it’s a great honor that you invited me, I really appreciate it. And sorry I’m late, I blame my kids! They wouldn’t go to sleep.”
Hahaha you are very inspiring. Congratulations on your music, your kids and your great career. And Glastonbury! You have so many reasons to be happy, so many compliments. Hope to see you soon in Mexico.
«How nice, yes, I hope so too. Thank you so much for inviting me, it was a pleasure.”
