Jasmine Nelson releases her debut album ‘Hercules’ on September 24, a stunningly stripped back collection of songs that bring forward the art of storytelling, and cover topics that are immediately relatable.
Jamine Nelson’s debut single ‘Heart’ (below) is a powerful journey into relationships that everyone can relate too. We all know the pain of someone leaving, we all have to keep breathing, listen to the track below.
Inspired by artists like Feist, Rufus Wainwright and Nick Drake while also incorporating her love of Jazz musicians Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, ‘Hercules’ will draw you into Jasmine’s inner world – a whimsical place of depth and emotion, like a secret garden that has luckily been discovered. She describes her album ‘Hercules’ as,
‘Going back and forth between fear and love, darkness and light. But mostly it’s a collection of songs written with the soft pedal on the piano, so I wouldn’t disturb the neighbours’.
‘Hercules’ came to fruition one afternoon, after Jasmine nervously played her songs for the first time to producers Grant Windsor and Graeme Blevins, who then encouraged her to record the album. The result is an extremely special insight into a modern-day songwriter with talent, depth and a beautiful way of crafting music that is simple, understated, and engaging.
Jasmine explains that title track ‘Hercules’ was written on a train journey, and that most of the songs have been written and collected over a number of years to form the album.
A former WAAPA Jazz Honours graduate, Jasmine has been living and working in London since 2006 – performing, writing music, and gigging in various European music venues until her move back to Melbourne this year. Jasmine was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Montreux Jazz Voice Festival competition in 2006; she was awarded 2nd place in Brussels the same year in the Brussels Jazz Voice Competition; and in 2013 Jasmine was awarded 3rd place in the highly acclaimed Vanda & Young Songwriting Competition with her song, ‘Keep Her Close’, which is featured on the album.
Follow Jasmine Nelson on twitter @JasmineENelson and you can pre-order ‘Hercules’ here: bit.ly/HerculesPreOrder