JAMILLA

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NINA SIMONE-Inspired Release

?Bloom?

+ Touring With TIJUANA CARTEL

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“Sonically elegant… Jamilla’s voice takes you places” – Nkechi Anele, triple j

“Two things we’ve come to love [about Jamilla] over the past year or so: her penchant for deep, sparse production and her warm, soulful vocals.” – Pilerats

“Delightful alternative R&B…[Jamilla’s] stunning voice round[s] out an exciting take on modern soul sounds.” – Tone Deaf

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Ahead of her recently announced run as national support on Tijuana Cartel’s upcoming 17-date Australian tour along with a hometown headline show of her own, Perth-based critically acclaimed artist/producer Jamilla shares her new music ‘Bloom’, out across all digital platforms today.
With ‘Bloom’ comes visuals directed by SAKIDASUMI, premiering yesterday via Cool Accidents who compared the “magical” clip to Beyonce’s ‘Lemonade’ for the weightiness of its message and artful mise en scène.

Despite having only released her debut single “Beautiful” in April 2018 which garnered airplay on triple j and community radio along with September’s followup “King” which was RTRFM’s most played release of the month, Jamilla’s “silky, smooth vocal delivery and bars fire enough to get the crowd melting into a groove” (Isolated Nation) has seen her support Abbe May, Stella Donnelly, Didirri, Thelma Plum, Alex The Astronaut , Mojo Juju, Sex On Toast and 30/70 locally, embarking on her first national tour off the back of “King”; as well as appearing on festivals including Hidden Treasures, Perth Festival, and WAMFest, with WAM acknowledging her artistry with a whopping 4 nominations at their 2018 WAM Awards.

Thematically inspired by a pivotal Nina Simone interview (who Jamilla subsequently got a tattoo of), ‘Bloom’ is sonically stunning and cinematic, with strings, saxophone and subtle samples of winds blowing through the trees and crickets chirping in African forests, showcasing the ever-growing and sophisticated palette of Jamilla’s production skills.

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“As a black woman growing up in Australia, being a woman of colour has always been a huge part of my identity, whether I liked it or not. I’ve been lucky enough to experience very little individual racism in my life but cultural and institutional racism have both been a constant since I was a child.

‘Bloom’ is a track that has changed and formed in different ways over the last three years and has become a way for me to educate and inform the people around me, without having to do it too often in my personal life.  

Nina Simone is the whole reason ‘Bloom’ exists. She redefined my idea of what it meant to be a woman, reminding me that European beauty standards were bullshit and making me feel powerful.

One day, whilst watching this interview with her, she gave me a voice to speak honestly about my experiences.

I felt inspired and angry and ready. And so, I wrote ‘Bloom’.

This song has been the most powerful song I’ve written so far. It connects to people like nothing else in my set. I’ve been playing it since I first started doing gigs and the conversations and love that come about, not only from black women that understand but from others appreciating the honesty, is so important.

And if the only things that come from this are those conversations and those connections, I’m content with that.

Ultimately, the song is hopeful. Being a black woman has been a blessing and taught me so much about the world and myself. I would not change it for anything and I know that no matter what, I will keep connecting, growing and blooming.”

Jamilla

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A proudly self-produced artist, Jamilla returns after a three month writing hiatus where she spent time collaborating with producers including Tobacco Rat, Ukiyo, JCAL and others to work on developing a sound that’s all her own.

‘Bloom’ is released alongside a gorgeously picturesque video completely directed by and starring women of colour, a stipulation that was particularly important to Jamilla in her creative process.

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“For this music video, I got to spend a whole day celebrating the beauty of black women. It was cathartic and healing.

There was a beautiful loving feeling throughout the whole day of shooting, lots of respectful and intelligent discussions, celebrations of each other and “QUEEEEN!”s being yelled out when someone was doing a particularly beautiful shot.

The first time I saw the finished music video I cried. It was one of those moments where I felt I was making the 8 year old me and the 80 year old me (the only people I should be concerned about impressing) proud.

I had put together something that boldly celebrates the one thing I would have changed about myself when I was growing up. I had created something that would have helped me to accept myself earlier. That I wished I had seen when I was a teenager.

I hope it will help young black women to celebrate their beauty and discover self love earlier than I did.”

Jamilla

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With support rolling in from everywhere from official state bodies to grassroots media, it’s clear 2019 is Jamilla’s year to bloom.

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FOLLOW TOUR

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The ‘Bloom’ Tour

* Supporting Tijuana Cartel

SAT 26 – SUN 27 APR – FAIRBRIDGE FESTIVAL, FAIRBRIDGE WA

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These shows will take place on stolen land –
sovereignty was never ceded.
Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.

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Connect with JAMILLA

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AMNPLIFY – DB