A Quick Chat with Jazzy Gold

'FUCK I MISS MY MUM' has such an unforgettable title. At what moment did you realise it wasn't just a joke, but the heart of the song?

It was originally meant to be this happy, funny piss-take pop song. I thought I was just being dramatic and having a laugh, but somewhere along the way it turned into a full-blown journal entry. By the time I finished writing it, I had this horrible little moment of realisation where I was like... oh shit, I’m actually not doing very well, and I do, in fact, really fucking miss my mum.

Then I started playing it live and seeing people cry, sing it back and attach their own stories to it. It seems to hit everyone in a really personal way, whether it’s about missing their mum, grieving someone, growing up or just longing for that feeling of home. That’s when I realised the title wasn’t just a joke at all, it was the most honest way I could have said it.

This is the second single from your upcoming EP WTF is WRONG with ME. What made this the right song to release next?

“DUMB” felt like the perfect introduction to the louder, more chaotic and self-destructive side of the EP, whereas “FUCK I MISS MY MUM” starts to show where some of that chaos actually comes from.

WTF is WRONG with ME explores past versions of me, trauma, growth and the things that have shaped who I am. Moving away from home has been one of the biggest changes in my life, so it felt right to release this song next and let people understand me a little better, both as a person and as an artist. Introducing my mum and that part of my story also sets up some of the songs that are still to come, because everything on the EP connects in some way.

Even though the lyrics are quite sad and vulnerable, the song itself is genuinely really fun and definitely more pop-leaning for me. That contrast between upbeat, catchy music and brutally honest lyrics really sums up the kind of artist I am.

Your music blends vulnerability with dark humour. Why do you think that combination has become such a defining part of your songwriting?

I think dark humour is just naturally how I process difficult things. I’m usually the kind of person who will make a joke before admitting that something has actually hurt me, so it was always going to find its way into my songwriting.

A lot of my music deals with quite heavy subjects, but I never want it to feel completely miserable or untouchable. Humour makes vulnerability feel a little less scary, both for me writing it and for the person listening. It lets people laugh, dance or scream along before suddenly realising, “oh wait, this is actually really sad.”

That contrast feels very true to who I am as a person and an artist. I can be completely unhinged and deeply emotional within the same five minutes, so naturally my songs are too.

You'll be playing Chuck Trailer's on August 14 alongside Rox Lavi and Jessica Fortuine, before your Oxford Art Factory Main Room show on October 15 with Kyle Charles Hall. What excites you most about sharing the stage with these artists?

I love sharing the stage with artists who are completely comfortable being themselves and aren’t afraid to take risks. Rox Lavi, Jessica Fortuine and Kyle Charles Hall all have such strong identities and are very clearly in their own lanes. There are little points where our sounds and worlds cross over, but we’re also unbelievably different, which is what makes the lineups so exciting.

I think the best shows are the ones where every artist brings something completely distinct to the night. You’re not watching different versions of the same thing — you’re stepping into all these different worlds. I’m really excited to share the stage with people who are fearless in what they create and so unapologetically themselves.

Your live performances have earned a reputation for being immersive and unpredictable. What can audiences expect if they're seeing a Jazzy Gold show for the first time?

Crying while shaking ass type shit. Expect a lot of energy, a lot of feelings and absolutely no guarantee that everything will go according to plan. One second we’re having the time of our lives, and the next I’m exposing my deepest trauma to a room full of strangers.

I never want there to feel like there’s a wall between me and the audience. I want everyone to feel like they’re part of the show, whether that means screaming the lyrics, crying together, jumping on tables or me saying something completely unhinged between songs. Every show takes on a life of its own depending on the crowd, so no two are ever exactly the same. It’s vulnerable, chaotic and very, very fun.

If listeners take away one feeling after hearing 'FUCK I MISS MY MUM', what do you hope it is?

I hope people feel a little less alone. Missing someone can be such a weird, heavy feeling, especially when you’re trying to grow up and pretend you’ve got everything under control. I’d love for the song to make people feel understood, even if their story is completely different from mine.

And hopefully it makes them call their mum, hug someone they love or just let themselves feel it for a second. The song is sad, but there’s also so much love in it. I think that’s what I want people to leave with most, the ache of missing someone only exists because they mean so much to you.