Sweden-born, UK-based singer-songwriter Jasi Bella is back and ready to make you move with her vibrant new single ‘Bad Decisions’. An infectious blend of nu-disco and funk-pop, the new track is so catchy that BBC Introducing crowned it ‘Track of the Day’ across the East Midlands. Now firmly on our radar, and busily making moves in the UK’s pop scene, Jasi Bella is definitely one to watch.
To celebrate the release of her new single, Jasi was kind enough to sit down with us to talk about ‘Bad Decisions’, her immersive upcoming project, and how Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift inspired her willingness to share.
It’s so great to be able to catch up with you, thanks for taking the time to answer some of our questions. Let’s dig right into things, when did you first start making music?
“I wrote songs before I could spell; meaning I’d make up lyrics and memorise them as a child, so it feels like forever. Songwriting was always a part of my life, but I didn’t start competing in talent shows and music competitions until I was 12. I was around the same age when I first walked into a studio, it was to record a cover of ‘Underneath Your Clothes’ by Shakira.”
What inspired you to start your journey into music?
“There’s a very prominent memory in my head from when I was around 6 years old. I saw Britney Spears in her iconic music video for ‘Oops I Did It Again’ on the TV. I remember pointing at the screen saying, ‘I’m going to do that when I grow up’, haha!”
What influences most define your music?
“Musically - Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift had [the] most impact on my willingness to share my transparency. I would always write songs from the heart growing up, but I feared I would have to become more cryptic in my writing if I were ever to release original material. These two women showed me that transparency and relatability is a genuine strength in music, so I told myself that no matter what, I will always write as though no one will ever hear the song. I think all is fair in songwriting, it’s the only forum where I won’t consider other people’s feelings or opinions about what I write.”
“As far as real-life influences go, I think it is no secret that the complexity of love, heartbreak and infatuation is at the core of most of my songs – both stemming from my own life and the lives I closely observe around me. I think most writers are intrigued by what they don’t understand, hence why we write so much about every angle of love. We spend our lives trying to put the feeling down on paper, yet we never quite feel like we ‘get it’.”
How would you describe your sound?
“I grew up listening to everything from 80’s pop to punk-rock bands – I always knew I’d be unable to box myself into one category. My discography so far is a blend of 2010-styles commercial pop, nu-disco pop and 80’s synth-pop. I’ve got a really big project coming out later this year which is more down the line of folk music (with a commercial spin). I set myself no creative limitations in creating this body of work – every song is about 5 minutes long!”
Can you tell us a bit more about your new single?
“‘Bad Decisions’ was written on a total whim, as most of my ‘best’ songs are, I guess. I embraced a level of immaturity when writing it; hinting at the good old saying ‘to get over someone, get under someone else’. It’s about navigating an infatuation with someone who’s playing it hot and cold. I’m not a fan of people taking up more space in my head than they deserve, so the song is about that infatuation leading to bad decision-making, all for the sake of kicking that crush out of my head. These types of situations were a hot topic amongst my friends when I was writing about it, with everyone going through their own forms of ‘situationships’. The common conclusion seemed to surround our abilities to build someone up in our head – only to realise they’re the complete opposite in real life. When the mirage comes undone, we realise that the object of our affection was a mere figment of our own imagination.”
What was your songwriting process for the single?
“It was like writing a long letter, or message, to someone without pressing ‘send’. I wrote it in about 5 minutes and even though I had other songs lined up as singles I went ‘yep, this is the next one’. I texted my producer and said I wanted it out ASAP. We finished it in a 10-hour studio session and by the end of it we kind of just looked at each other and went ‘this is the best one yet’.”
What’s the most important thing for you when you’re writing a song like this one?
“It’s honestly all about ‘getting it out of my system’. Writing songs will forever be my outlet and therapy. If it sounds good and people relate to it; it’s a great bonus!”
What’s next for you as an artist?
“I’m working on a big immersive music project and will be heading to the Scottish Highlands with an amazing creative team to complete it at the beginning of May. I’ve worked on this for the past 6 months and the concept is unlike anything we’ve all seen before, so I’m incredibly terrified and excited at the same time!”
Do you have anything you would like to say to our audience?
“Thank you so much for all the support, especially in the last year. Having anyone care and take interest in your journey is quite the privilege so I’m eternally grateful for the group of people I have listening to my music. Their excitement for every release fills me with a type of joy I cannot find words for. I feel very lucky.”
‘Bad Decisions’ isn’t Jasi Bella’s first playful song to have a serious undertone as it follows the critical exposé of Shakespeare’s Romeo Montague in ‘Rosaline’ and the heartbreak song ‘Breakup Honeymoon’ which could be described as a breakup song dressed up as a sparkly 2010’s girls’ anthem.
The Swedish pop star continues to demonstrate the ability to go from strength to strength with each release while her excitable fans, referring to themselves as ‘Bellantics’, are bracing themselves for a summer filled with performances up and down the country. With an explosive start to the year, Jasi Bella is heading for her biggest year in music yet.
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