Emerging musical talent Jessie Murph delves into the intricate threads of her formative years in northern Alabama and the transformative impact this upbringing had on her burgeoning career. Her highly anticipated new album, "Sex Hysteria," serves as a profound artistic statement, revealing a raw and multifaceted expression of her evolving self. Murph's narrative weaves together her complex connection to her origins, the burgeoning success in the pop music landscape, and her resolute commitment to authentic musical creation, signaling a pivotal moment in her artistic development.
For Jessie Murph, returning to her Alabama roots, specifically Athens, her hometown and former residence of the Alabama Shakes, evokes a unique blend of nostalgia and past resentment. She recounts a deep-seated desire to escape at a young age, feeling inherently mismatched with her environment. Yet, with time and distance, her perspective has shifted, fostering a newfound appreciation for the South's intrinsic charm and sentimental allure. This personal evolution is mirrored in her artistic output, demonstrating a willingness to confront and integrate her past experiences into her contemporary sound.
Currently based in Los Angeles, Murph finds that certain comforts of her Alabama home, such as boiled peanuts, are irreplaceable. Despite this minor culinary void, Los Angeles has served as the launchpad for her rapid ascent in the music industry. Collaborations with notable artists like Jelly Roll, Diplo, and BigXthaPlug have already propelled her career forward. Her sophomore album, "Sex Hysteria," is poised to further cement her status. This bold collection traverses genres, drawing inspiration from classic R&B reminiscent of Amy Winehouse on tracks such as "1965" and "Touch Me Like a Gangster." It also features captivating pop-rap numbers, including the Top 20 hit "Blue Strips," and delves into the melancholic balladry that echoes the style of her idol, Lana Del Rey, as heard in "Heroin." The album, meticulously curated from approximately 100 compositions, boasts guest appearances from Lil Baby and Gucci Mane, two artists Murph deeply admires.
Murph views "Sex Hysteria" as a testament to her versatile artistry, embodying a fearless, experimental approach. She describes it as possessing a "‘screw it, we’ll see what happens’ energy," intended to showcase her capabilities beyond what listeners have previously witnessed, particularly highlighting her prowess as a songwriter. The past year has been exceptionally productive for her, with two tracks from the album, "A Little Too Drunk" and "Blue Strips," reportedly written and recorded within a mere thirty minutes. Murph openly acknowledges feeling "misunderstood sometimes" and believes that her full artistic potential remains largely unseen by the public.
A significant aspect of Murph's artistic journey involves her growing willingness to unveil more of her personal history, particularly her challenging upbringing in Alabama, which she has previously only hinted at as being "very dark." Historically, she has channeled her most vulnerable emotions into her music rather than explicitly discussing them. However, tracks like "Gucci Mane," the album's opening piece, subtly allude to "messed up things" attributed to a paternal figure, with the narrator expressing a desire to "write my way around it." The album's most emotionally charged moment arrives with "The Man That Came Back," a piano-driven ballad addressing a father figure grappling with past transgressions and their profound impact on his daughter, who has been left with both emotional and physical scars. Murph reveals that she held onto this song for three years, fearing its raw vulnerability, but ultimately found the courage to include it, recognizing it as a medium to convey experiences she would otherwise keep private. She admits to facing external pressure to be more autobiographical, a realization that prompted her to confront her past more directly in this project, acknowledging it was a step she had previously avoided due to fear.
Growing up in northern Alabama, Murph consistently challenged conventional norms. From a young age, she resented restrictive dress codes, viewing them as arbitrary and biased. She faced reprimands for including explicit language in her online songs and endured scrutiny over her attire. The prevailing conservative culture, with its perceived double standards and hypocrisy, felt suffocating. Murph's defiance against these "dress codes" became a defining characteristic of her youth, ultimately prompting her departure for Nashville as a teenager. There, she immersed herself in the sounds of Drake and Mac Miller, integrating rap and hip-hop influences into her music. While her sound is often compared to contemporary country, especially given her collaborations with artists in that genre, and her use of R&B and trap elements, Murph distinctly separates herself from the country music scene. She found Nashville's industry structure, with its daily co-writing sessions, creatively stifling and encountered unwelcoming attitudes towards women within the "bro country" environment. Now, as her career gains traction with her first solo hit, "Blue Strips," Murph navigates a new set of expectations and pressures as a young woman in the music industry. She reflects on how some fans cling to her earlier, more "messed up" persona from when she was 17, a period marked by severe depression and personal struggles. While grateful for the music she created during that time, she expresses relief at moving beyond those difficult experiences, looking toward a future where she can continue to evolve as an artist.
Looking forward, Murph aspires to cultivate a long-lasting career marked by continuous artistic growth. She envisions a future where her music achieves a timeless quality, akin to the works of her inspirations like Alicia Keys, J. Cole, Taylor Swift, SZA, Noah Kahan, Amy Winehouse, and Lana Del Rey. Her ambition is to craft an album that feels eternally relevant, much like the legacies of Elton John, Don McLean, and Adele. For the present, Murph is embracing life and enjoying her creative journey, but she hints at plans for a profoundly serious project in the future. She believes there are still many layers of her artistry yet to be revealed, a process that she anticipates will unfold organically over time.