IN CONVERSATION WITH JESSIE MURPH

interview by JANA LETONJA

In 2024, Jessie Murph released her debut album ‘That Ain’t No Man That’s the Devil’, a certified Gold project that chased her 2023 mixtape ‘Drowning’, and catalysed what quickly became Jessie’s signature sound. On 18th July, she is releasing her sophomore project ‘Sex Hysteria’, in which she takes us on a ride through her train of thought.

You’ve described ‘Sex Hysteria’ as a declaration of independence. What does freedom sound like to you on this record? 

I think freedom sounds like getting to be brutally honest and vulnerable even to the point of it being uncomfortable.

full look CHANEL vintage

Sex is used as a metaphor for ultimate pleasure in the album. What inspired that creative direction? 

When I talk about sex on the album, it’s more-so a metaphor for love. It’s about how sex can be mistaken for love and vice versa. As I wrote the album, it just naturally developed as a common thread. 

You blend 60s pop and early 2000s trap on this project, two very different eras. How did that unusual combo become your new sonic home?

It’s really a reflection of the music I listen to personally. I’m super inspired by all different artists and genres and eras, so what I listen to myself is what naturally comes out when I write. 

bra JOHN GALLIANO vintage
shorts DSQUARED2 vintage
shoes MOSCHINO vintage

Your debut album was praised for its brutal honesty. How did the process of writing ‘That Ain’t No Man That’s the Devil’ help you heal? 

Writing for me is always therapeutic and healing. The studio is my safe space so getting my feelings out there is so much easier for me than actually talking.

Looking back on ‘Drowning’ to now, how has your relationship with pain and storytelling evolved?

That’s a good question. I think I’ve realized that the songs I write are different depending on what I’m feeling. When I’m sad or in pain, I write more ballads. But when I’m feeling angry, I write more of the rap trappy songs 

full look PRISTINE
shoes VERSACE vintage

How do you protect your peace now that you’re not just writing from heartbreak, but from power too?

I try to take time for myself as much as I can, but getting in the studio is also a place of peace for me.

You sold over 85.000 tickets on your global headline tour and just wrapped ‘In the Sticks’ with a sold-out arena show in Huntsville. What did it feel like to close that chapter in your hometown?

Omg, it was the most incredible feeling in the world. I just remember standing up there and feeling so grateful. I can’t believe the amount of people who buy tickets and come out to the shows and sing every word. It is my favorite thing. 

With the ‘Worldwide Hysteria’ tour coming up, how are you preparing to bring ‘Sex Hysteria’ to life in a live setting?

You’ll have to come to a show to find out!

left:
top BURBERRY vintage
skirt GALLIANO
necklace SELF-PORTRAIT

right:
dress DOLCE & GABBANA vintage
necklace PAUME

Pink is a recurring theme in this era – poise and kink, softness and power. Why does that duality speak so deeply to you?

That’s a lot of what this album is about. The delicate balance and the chaotic cycle of love vs sex, stability vs hysteria. I’m fascinated by how easily one can be mistaken for the other.

You often describe your music as therapy. Do you write from a place of closure, or does writing help you get there?

Writing definitely helps me deal with whatever I’m going through. I always say I can’t write about things I’m not feeling in the moment. That’s partially why there’s so many different emotions on this album. Sometimes I’m feeling empowered and honest, other times I’m feeling more vulnerable. Whatever I was feeling that day in the studio is what came out in the song.

full look PACO RABANNE vintage

You’ve had a massive rise in such a short time. How do you stay grounded when everything around you is speeding up?

I think spending time with my family really helps. I don’t get to go home nearly as often as I would like, but when I do, it really helps me decompress and feel refreshed. I’m also lucky that my older brother comes on tour with me.

What’s coming up next for you, besides the album and the tour?

Well, I’m touring until the end of the year so who knows what will be next. Maybe a nap?

TEAM CREDITS:

talent JESSIE MURPH
photography DANA TRIPPE
styling DANYUL BROWN
makeup LILLY KEYS
hair GREGG LENNON JR
set design SHAUN STULZ
photography assistants JOSH DESURE and SOPHIA CARRASCO
styling assistants HALEY LUX
styling intern SID SULTAN
editor TIMOTEJ LETONJA
interview JANA LETONJA
cover design ARTHUR ROELOFFZEN