Jess Humphries Interview

Jess Humphries is one of Australia's most exciting emerging musicians, known for her honest (and often devastating) lyricism, infectious pop hooks, incredible production (shout out Josh), and refreshingly hilarious, down-to-earth personality. With her latest single, Juliet, Jess turns heartbreak into an empowering anthem, as she does best, blending the perfect combination of humour and vulnerability. I caught up with Jess to chat about the story behind the track, navigating the pressures of social media, her creative journey, and what's next.

Mitch: Your latest single, Juliet, came out June 24. Do you mind sharing a bit about the track and what inspired it?
Jess Humphries: I was cheated on as a teenager. Best thing to ever happen to me to be honest! Obviously at the time it was like the end of the world because we’d dated for 2 years and that was it, I was never ever going to find anyone ever. But I am a warrior.

Mitch: How did the track come together?
Jess Humphries: It was the first song Josh and I ever worked on back in 2024. The early versions are a bit different to what is released, like the chorus then turned into the bridge and then got scrapped entirely. But there was about an 18-month break between when we started it and when we opened the session again, so we got to listen with fresh ears and make it what it is now which was cool.

Mitch: What do you hope people feel while listening?
Jess Humphries: Well, one thing I didn’t notice until recently is the emotional contrast between the bridge and the rest of the song, and it makes me laugh. The verses and chorus are supposed to be lighthearted and funny, but then the bridge hits and you’re like “Oh damn wait she isn’t joking anymore”. So to be honest as long as you feel something, that’s all I could hope for.

Mitch: If Juliet was playing in a movie scene, what would the scene look and feel like?
Jess Humphries: I lowkey feel like it’d be the scene where the main character finally realises she’s so much hotter than the grease ball she’d been chasing, and it’s just her doing a big Sunday reset of her apartment. The bridge is her on the balcony just mogging the city skyline, and at the end she winks at herself in the mirror, played by Delaney Rowe.

Mitch: What’s your favourite memory from making the track?
Jess Humphries: Probably when I heard the last chorus again for the first time in 18 months, with the vocals tracked, I was like “Omg I love this song play it again”.

Mitch: There can be a lot of pressure to chase viral moments. How do you balance creating music you genuinely love with the pressure to stay visible online?
Jess Humphries: LOL we could yap about this for hours. In a nutshell though, just make the music you want to make and don’t for a second think ‘Wow I sure hope people like this’. Bad, bad slippery slope. Yes, we want people to like what we do but not at the expense of it being honest and aligned. I think we’ve become so reliant on views and numbers and social media response as a way to measure how ‘good’ a song is, but it’s not reliable. Some of my favourite songs at the moment are from tiny artists that should be huge, and I have not once once seen them pop up on my feed. Staying visible is a whole other beast, but operating from the mindset that each video is going to reach a new group of people has helped me avoid feeling burnt out. I’ve been stuck in 300 view jail for a long time, but 287 of those views could be completely new people who have only seen 1 of the 50 videos I spammed this week. Out of those 287 people, 1 of them loves what I’m doing. Bit of a depressing turnover BUT if I’m posting consistently, 1 person per video is 50 new community members a week. 50 people is a lot of people. Sorry that ended up being a big nutshell. Hope you like nuts.

Mitch: Has your definition of success changed over the years you’ve been releasing music?
Jess Humphries: Mmm yes and no. From the get go all I wanted to do was make music and just live life and be happy doing it. I’m no less successful now than I was when I had songs doing social media numbers, purely because I’m still happy making music and living life, just with less people interested. But I’m still as interested, you know? On the other hand, I have bigger goals than I did in the beginning and my ambition has shifted. I have more long term goals that I’m determined to reach, but I don't let my lack of ‘being there’ dictate how I feel about myself or my music because I still love what I am creating.

Mitch: What’s something you’ve learned about yourself through writing music?
Jess Humphries: That I do not like to think. ‘Feeling’ is awesome sauceum, but the second I have to sit down and finish a song, it’s like you’ve asked me to lug a boulder up a mountain and all of a sudden I am Sisyphus. Thankfully though a lot of the time I finish the song whilst I’m still in this ‘writing a song’ mindset, not the ‘finishing a song’ mindset, two very very different things.

Mitch: Has there ever been a moment where you questioned whether to keep pursuing music? What kept you going?
Jess Humphries: Definitely. Writing and releasing has never been something I’ve questioned, but the act of actually trying to break through is difficult. Pouring your heart into a song just for no one to hear it, for a split second it feels like so much time and energy is wasted, but once it’s out there it’s out of your hands. Regardless of reception, what a beautiful thing it is to be able to spend so much of yourself creating! I just love it and find every aspect of it fun, that’s what has kept me going for sure.

Mitch: When you look back on your career so far, what’s a moment that still doesn’t quite feel real?
Jess Humphries: Well I get to do what I love every day with my best friend in the world. None of it ever feels real and I constantly brace myself for the moment when someone pinches me and I wake up in a different body living a different life and this was all just one big dream. Supporting Thelma Plum was wild as well.

Mitch: You’ve been releasing music for a few years now, and it’s been so fun hearing you grow and experiment with new sounds. Is there anything creatively you’ve been wanting to try that you haven’t had the chance to yet?
Jess Humphries: EDM. Jk but I would love to make a song that has a bit more of a dancier undertone.

Mitch: If you could manifest one thing for your career over the next year, what would it be?
Jess Humphries: Oooooh, probably a headline show, or if I’m REALLY manifesting, a headline tour. That’d be a hoot.

Mitch: What can fans expect from you next?
Jess Humphries: Lots! The second half of this year will ramp up for sure and I’m so excited for people to hear the new stuff. It's a bit different but it’s also not…but it is.

Mitch: What could the industry be doing to better support emerging local artists?
Jess Humphries: For starters, I think there should be more support for grassroots venues. Even just recognising how essential they are to the Aus music ecosystem. This is where emerging musicians and artists cut their teeth, experiment, meet people in the industry, grow communities etc. If those spaces disappear then so do so many opportunities for upcoming artists. So many venues in the area I’m from have either closed, are going to be closing soon, or have been on the brink of closing.

Mitch: Is there one song in your catalogue you wish more people would discover?
Jess Humphries: Probably somebody’s strange, I love that song and it’s definitely a niche one in the discography.

Mitch: Who are some emerging AUS/NZ musicians that people should get behind?
Jess Humphries: Lottie Mcleod! Dana Oberdan! I am also Holly Hebe’s no.1 fan!

RAPID FIRE QUESTIONS!!

Mitch: Favourite track you’ve released?
Jess Humphries: I think bleach!

Mitch: Favourite lyric you’ve written?
Jess Humphries: ‘If you were born so blameless then why were you born again’ but that song is not out yet.

Mitch: You’re starting a girl group! Who are the three emerging Aussie artists you’re inviting in?
Jess Humphries: Omg Holly Heebz, Frankie Venter and Dana Oberdan. Imagine the dance routine. I would be the weak link.

Mitch: Finish the sentence! Jess Humphries is for fans of…
Jess Humphries: Fear and manipulation.