Teenage chart sensation Jasmine Thompson is a star-in-waiting. After uploading fresh-faced YouTube covers since she was 10, her 2013 version of Chaka Khan's Ain't Nobody was picked up by British supermarket chain Sainsbury's for an advertising campaign, and later became a hit single. A year later, she supplied the vocals for house producer Robin Schultz's smash Sun Goes Down (192 million YouTube views and counting).
Now signed to Atlantic Records, 15-year-old Thompson is working on a debut album of self-written material, following last year's major label debut EP and single Adore.
What is your first musical memory?
I remember my brother had singing lessons before I did, and I remember being in the teacher’s house looking at my brother singing. He got really annoyed because I would keep cutting in. This was always something that I knew I wanted to do, always – it’s very therapeutic for me. It’s always been the way that I get my emotions out – signing is when I feel happiest.
Fame happened very early and quickly for you – when did it sink in and what did your friends and family make of it?
I don’t know really, it happened gradually for lots of different people around – my mum has always been really supportive of me and my music. So when I started travelling for my music and going on tour with Robin [Schulz] and all of these things, it has just been such an incredible journey – and all of my family and friends have been so supportive and there for me along the way.
How did Sun Goes Down come about?
Me and Robin were on the same label, that’s how we met. He showed me the track and I really loved it, and I really wanted to try it because I had never really worked on an EDM track before – I wasn’t sure if my voice would suit that sort of music. It went really well and there was a ton of new opportunities that arose from that track, and he sort of took me on and let me go on tour with him and let me have so many amazing experiences.
When can we expect an album from you, and what will it sound like?
I think it’s going to be a mixture of acoustic jamming songs, as well as upbeat pop songs. I’m really into the meaning behind it and the artwork for the album – we are going to have like a theme going through the whole piece. Hopefully it will be out around the beginning of next year.
You are best known so far for covers – where do you find songwriting inspiration?
The album is going to be all original songs – it’s all going to be really personal. I get inspired by everything in life. I’m at the stage of growing up as a teenager, trying to find who I want to be as a person. I think that everyone goes through this phase growing up, where they don’t really know what they want to say, but they have, like, a glimpse – just trying to show who I want to be basically.
It’s a busy bill on Friday – have you met any of the other acts?
I am obsessed with Rudimental and Disclosure – I have seen both preform live before and it was such an amazing experience. I don’t know who I am more excited to see, but they are both amazing. I am so excited to go to Dubai because I have never been before. One of my friends used to live there, so I will get to see some of my friends while I’m there.
What’s your musical guilty pleasure?
I would have to say that my one guilty pleasure is that I do listen to quite a lot of Pink.
• Love Music Your Way is on Friday, April 29, 4pm-1am. Tickets, from Dh399, are available at www.lovemusicyourway.com
rgarratt@thenational.ae
