Meet Jessica Leigh: A Kiwi artist blending 80s nostalgia with modern synth-pop vibrancy.
From Nelson’s sun-kissed embrace to the bustling creative hub of Wellington, Jessica Leigh‘s journey traces the contours of New Zealand’s music scene.
Embracing 80s synths and vibrant guitars, her sound feels both nostalgic and fresh. Chatting with Jessica, her musical inspirations unfold, including a spellbinding encounter with Taylor Swift and an enduring love for 80s pop.
Her latest single, “GIRLFRIENDS,” pays homage to the transformative power of female friendships, borne out of personal experiences post-breakup. Jessica’s creative process dances between lyrical sparks and a rich synth-driven palette, creating an emotional tapestry that resonates.
As her music weaves connections through social media, Jessica’s dedication to spreading joy remains palpable. Looking forward, Jessica’s sights are set on a grand project, collaborations, and live performances. For her, happiness is in giving happiness, a sentiment woven into every note she plays.
Happy: Tell us about where you are from?
Jessica: I was born in a sunny little city in New Zealand called Nelson, but have based in New Zealand’s capital, Wellington, for the last few years. It’s the cultural capital of NZ and has been coined our equivalent to New York.
I absolutely love it here – it’s so vibrant and artsy and there’s always something wonderful happening! Wellington was definitely a huge inspiration for GIRLFRIENDS and all of the events that happen in the song happened here :)
Happy: Describe an average day?
Jessica: I’m currently in my last semester of university, so my average day involves classes by day and grinding away at music into the night.
Happy: What about your ultimate day?
Jessica: Well it’s got to be a summer’s Saturday – hot girl walk around the city, coffee, a really good music session, then cosmopolitans and dancing with my girlfriends!
Happy: What did you listen to growing up that fuelled your passion for music?
Jessica: I can’t lie – I succumbed to the 2013 Tumblr canon growing up and absolutely ADORED Lorde, Lana Del Rey and The 1975! I think their influences are pretty clear in my music, especially Lorde’s pop bible Melodrama.
Happy: How did your Nelson upbringing influence your musical style, and how has it evolved since you relocated to Wellington?
Jessica: I think growing up in Nelson – where there wasn’t an awful lot to do as a young person – influenced my style lyrically because I would keep myself entertained (sane) by romanticising the world around me.
Making things seem more colourful and interesting than they were enabled me to hone the skill of more vivid and imaginative storytelling. The songs I wrote growing up were all very singer-songwritery, with just my voice and the piano or a guitar.
However, since moving to Wellington, I’ve really been drawn to the wonderful world of synth pop and reflecting my bigger, more grown up feelings with production that matches the intensity of them sonically.
Happy: Your journey in music began at a very young age. Could you tell us about the early influences that shaped your artistic vision and sound?
Jessica: The first time I knew I wanted to start writing music was when I was 11 at Taylor Swift’s Speak Now tour. Seeing her fly around the arena in her little balcony and princess dress was such a spellbinding moment for me and I’ve continued to be inspired by Taylor every day since! I also grew up adoring my dad’s taste in 80s pop music – I really love the timeless, classic feel of it.
Happy: Your music is often characterised by a fusion of 80s-inspired synths, warm guitars, and anthemic drums. What draws you to this nostalgic sonic palette, and how do you give it a fresh and contemporary twist?
Jessica: I love synthesisers. To me, they are the easiest way to sonically reflect my emotions. You can make them dreamy and melancholic, fierce and enraged, longing, lovely or whatever you want. A lot of people are opposed to not using ‘real’ instruments, but I think synths open a whole new spectrum of colour that gives you an entirely new world to discover.
I love pairing them with really classic sounding electric guitars and big drums to create songs that you can feel in your chest. I think my contemporary twist comes from really not shying away from making pop music. I’m not leaning away from it into indie or alternative – I really like creating that classic 80s, synth heavy sound.
Happy: Your upcoming single seems to delve into the vibrant emotional landscape of youth. Can you give us some insight into the inspiration behind this particular song and its themes?
Jessica: GIRLFRIENDS is all about the love I found in my platonic friendships with the young women in my life. After a turbulent breakup earlier this year, I felt so incredibly supported by my female friends in a way I never had before.
They were so supportive and the joy I felt with them living in the city and dancing on the weekends was so much more potent than anything I’d ever felt in romantic relationships. So, I wanted to make this song as a love letter to them and for other young women to sing to each other getting ready for nights out or in the car on the way to the party or on the dancefloor.
Happy: Can you tell us a bit about the recording process? where/When/any special collabs?
Jessica: Recording GIRLFRIENDS was an incredibly special experience. I was on my first ever recording contract for it and got to go to Sydney, Australia to work with pop alchemist Liam Quinn – who’s work I’ve been a fan of for a long time.
The whole time I was there I had to keep pinching myself to remind me it was actually happening! The song came together really quickly and it was a really fun day – which I think comes through in the energy of the track.
Happy: As a songwriter and producer, how do you navigate the creative process? Do you find yourself drawn more to lyrics or melodies when starting a new song?
Jessica: As my production skills improve, I find myself more drawn to starting a song by making a track in Logic and building it section by section instead of gravitating to writing the entire song first on the piano or guitar. However, it always starts with a lyric idea, which is usually a few words or a short phrase from my notes app!
Happy: In the age of digital streaming and social media, how do you connect with your fans and maintain a strong sense of community around your music?
Jessica: As much as social media can be a dangerous black hole, I do love it for the way it’s allowed me to meet some of the people who enjoy my music.
So many beautiful people from all over the world have gotten in contact with me – sharing extremely kind words about how they connect to my songs and where and when they listen to them, which is so, so special to me.
I’m very lucky that my music has found and continues to find its way into the hearts of such generous, loving and kind humans.
Happy: Looking ahead, what can we expect from Jessica Leigh in terms of future projects, collaborations, and musical exploration?
Jessica: I’m currently in the process of writing for my biggest project to date, which will be coming out next year. I am really putting my whole soul into it, and trying to make my best and most honest work yet. I’m really hoping to collaborate with some artists that inspire me in the near future and do some shows too.
Happy: Lastly, what makes you happy?
Jessica: Making others happy! And practising gratitude as much as possible. Life is too short to not love as openly and generously as we can.
