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Photo – Vaidas Jokubauskas

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Interview with
JAZZU
– A Journey of Soul, Sound and Self

Interview with Dave Bruce

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Watch the complete interview below

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When you first hear the name Justé Arlauskaite, it might feel like a whisper from a cinematic mystery. It’s poetic, enigmatic, and as it turns out, deeply fitting for the woman behind it. But to most, she’s simply Justé, or as the world knows her on stage—Jazzu.

I sat down with this fiercely authentic artist who’s not only carved her own name into Lithuania’s music history, but has consistently transformed and evolved—both musically and personally—while navigating the duality of public recognition and private rebirth.

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Photo – Vaidas Jokubauskas

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“I think I was born to sing jazz…”

That was the moment, around age 11, when the seed was planted. After stumbling upon a jazz record—voices like Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne lighting up her young ears—Justé knew something profound had shifted. Her mother, groggy from being woken in the middle of the night, wasn’t as convinced. “Go to sleep,” she said. But the jazz bug had bitten. And Jazzu was born.

Coming from a musical family where everyone studied music but no one pursued it professionally, Justé made the leap. By 16, she released her first single. At 37 now, she’s been in the game for over 20 years. She laughs when she looks back, recalling how her childhood friend coined the name Jazzu casually—never realising it would stick and define her artistic identity.

Motherhood and Music: “I was born again…”

In the past couple of years, Jazzu stepped back from the stage and the studio. Why? She became a mother. And that, she says, changed everything.

“I couldn’t write anything for two years,” she admits. “I realised I’d spent most of my career writing from sadness and destruction. And suddenly, I was happy… I had to learn how to write from joy.”

This period of introspection—fueled by long walks away from the limelight and health challenges that forced her to pause—recalibrated her relationship with music. Now, she’s writing again. And yes, she’s back in the studio (straight after our chat, in fact).

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Beyond the Stage: Books, Business and Being Still

Jazzu is not just a singer. She’s released a book, starred in a documentary film, opened two restaurants, launched a brand, and judged on Lithuania’s X Factor. But these achievements, she says, were part of an outward spiral—one that fed her ego more than her essence.

“I had to ask myself: am I doing this from the heart? Or from ego?” That pause led to a conscious decision to return to the music that made her—quietly, thoughtfully, powerfully.

Jazzu’s Sound: “A musical soup of genres”

So what does Jazzu sound like? That’s a question she embraces with full honesty.

“My music is adult contemporary now. It’s not straight jazz. It’s not pop. It’s not electronic. It’s everything I’ve lived.”

From classical piano training in Finland to experimental electronic releases, her career has never followed a single path. Yet all roads have led to this moment—where her artistry reflects a lifetime of eclectic experiences, refined and grounded in authenticity.

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Influences and Inspirations

Jazzu doesn’t believe in imitation. “I’ve never tried to be someone else,” she declares. But yes, like all artists, she has heroes. One name rises above the rest: Róisín Murphy from Moloko.

“That band still inspires me today. I find miracles in that music.”

At home, though? It’s silence. “My house is full of kid noise and the Wiggles. So if I listen to anything, it’s jazz, Mozart, Chopin, or Rachmaninoff. It clears my head.”

And when asked about the biggest inspiration in her life? Without hesitation: “My mother. She’s a superwoman.”

“Welcome”: The Latest Single

Jazzu’s latest single, Welcome, dropped in March—and it’s a sensual, layered ode to soul connections and the cosmic pull of love. Originally written five years ago, it was shelved due to the pandemic, then quietly nurtured into being.

“It’s about meeting someone and feeling like you’ve known them through lifetimes. It’s sexy, it’s deep, it’s metaphysical.”

The video itself was years in the making—started pre-pandemic, finished while she was pregnant. “It’s the cycle of life,” she says, smiling. “From love, to song, to a child.”

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“Be You. Unapologetically.”

When I asked JAZZU what advice she’d offer to the next generation of artists navigating a world of social media, streaming, and opportunists who often come disguised as allies, her response was raw and full of lived truth:“Stick to your authentic being. Do not compare yourself to anyone. Just live your authentic life and things will come to you.”

It’s the kind of advice that only comes with experience. JAZZU has seen the transition from selling CDs to the streaming era. She’s navigated the fame, the noise, the industry pressures, and emerged stronger by staying grounded.

“If someone is rude, or brings your energy down—leave immediately. Period.”

“Love yourself unconditionally. As cliché as it sounds, your heart knows the best. Follow it.”

This wasn’t just talk. There was fire behind her words—fire earned through trial, error, and spiritual growth. In a world that constantly asks you to be more, to chase more, JAZZU insists on the importance of detachment and self-love.

“You Can Want More – But From the Right Place.”

We spoke about ego. About ambition. About the fine line between pursuing your dream and being consumed by the chase. JAZZU is clear: “We are a portal. We are a tool. We’re not writing for four walls—we’re writing for people. So yes, of course, I want more. But I want it from a place of love, not ego.”

That distinction is crucial. She doesn’t buy into the modesty that some artists feign about not wanting to expand their audience. “If you don’t want to sing for people, go sing to your lamp,” she says, laughing. But the real message is clear: do what you do from a pure, centered place. If your intentions are aligned, growth is not only allowed—it’s necessary.

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Photo – Vaidas Jokubauskas

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From Music to Medicine: A Spiritual Journey

When I asked her what she could talk about for hours, the answer came without hesitation—plant medicine and shamanism. For over a decade, she’s walked this spiritual path, which now deeply informs her music and life.

“It’s absolutely my spiritual path,” she says, adding that books, poetry, travel, and the creative spirit are all constant companions.

She talks about energy, people, and the importance of choosing your environment wisely. The years have brought her clarity: it’s not just about doing what you love—it’s also about who you allow into your orbit.

On Her Terms: Freedom, Passion, and Perspective

One of the craziest things she’s done? Quitting school to pursue music without telling her parents. Their reaction?

“My mum was in a massage session when I told her. She looked at me and said, ‘Finally. Thank God.’”

Her supportive family clearly saw her potential early—and JAZZU has honored that faith with years of committed artistry.

We covered favorites too—favorite food (ceviche and Tom Yum soup), favorite album (her own, of course, and plant medicine music), and favorite artist (Whitney Houston, who she says was “part human, part alien” because of her unmatched vocal power).

As for venues, the Royal Albert Hall still tops her list, while spiritually, places like Koh Phangan, Conil de la Frontera in Spain, and Peru hold special places in her heart.

What’s Next?

There’s an album ready to go—ten tracks deep and long overdue. “It’s finished. It’s been sitting there waiting for the right moment,” she explains. That moment? June.

But don’t think she’s resting on old material. The new studio session she’s heading to is for a new album. Yes, she’s back—and she’s only getting started.

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Photo – Vaidas Jokubauskas

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Final Words: The Conscious Creator

JAZZU embodies a rare blend of presence and ambition. She’s a light, in every sense of the word—creative, spiritual, intentional. As our conversation wrapped up, I felt not just inspired, but reminded that the true path to success, in music or life, is the one where you stay rooted in yourself, even when everything around you asks you to bend.

“If you can get out of your thoughts, which are measured by good or bad, you just experience what’s here—and you live what’s here.”

JAZZU isn’t just making music. She’s living artfully, consciously—and we’re lucky to witness it.

For more interviews and reviews, head to www.amnplify.com.au

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Watch the complete interview below

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Follow JAZZU
Facebook – Instagram – Spotify
TikTok – YouTube

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Photo – Vaidas Jokubauskas

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AMNPLIFY – DB