JAEL: "Let Go And Let God"
Photo credit: Rob Jones
JAEL has been writing songs since she was four, although these days the questions are a little bigger. On her debut EP Mama Says, the Melbourne-born artist writes her way through family, relationships, faith and the things we may never fully understand, including, on Hollow Ground, the disappearance of a family member she has spent years trying to find.
Music has always been instinctive. Raised by musician parents who met playing in their church band, JAEL grew up around gospel and a belief in letting the music go wherever it needed to. “Let go and let God,” as she puts it. It’s an approach that still means no two performances sound quite the same.
For FOUND, she talks about the family expectations behind Mama Says, learning to get out of her own head, and the Melbourne places that existed long before the record deals, from making kebabs while dreaming about performing to the Woolworths snack aisle that still makes her feel instantly at home.
You wrote your first song when you were four years old. Do you remember it?
I actually do. I was sitting on the edge of my sister's bed and started coming up with these little lyrics in my head. It wasn't exactly a masterpiece, but I remember it so clearly. Then I ended up singing it at church. There's even a video of it somewhere on YouTube through my dad's account. It's funny because I can still vividly remember the feeling of writing it.
You grew up in Melbourne surrounded by music. Did it always feel like something you'd pursue?
Yeah. Both of my parents are musical and have been worship leaders at our church for as long as I can remember. They actually met playing in the church band. Music was always around me. Everything started in Melbourne and I was constantly surrounded by people singing, playing and creating. Looking back, it would've been pretty hard for me not to fall in love with it.
Growing up around gospel music, what do you think you absorbed from church that still shows up in your music today?
Definitely the freedom. The church I grew up in was very gospel-focused and there weren't really any rules when it came to music. It was all about feeling where the song wanted to go. Even now, when I perform, I struggle to sing something exactly the same way twice. Sometimes my manager will say, "That was great, but maybe stick to the melody a little more." I physically can't. I get into this flow state where I just follow wherever the music takes me. Sometimes sections end up sounding completely different live compared to the recording and I actually love that.
How do you get into that state?
For me it's less about meditation and more about presence. I grew up hearing people say, "Let go and let God." That's probably the closest way to describe it. When you're too focused on what you're supposed to be doing, you can get trapped in your own head. When you let go a little, that's when the best moments happen.
Then at 12, Junior Eurovision took you from Melbourne to Belarus. What did that experience do to your perspective?
It was crazy. That was my first time overseas and I was going to Belarus, which felt like a pretty wild first country to visit. I'd done little performances around Melbourne, but suddenly I was performing internationally. Going from local shows to something that big was such a shock. It felt like stepping into a completely different world.
Your debut EP is called Mama Says. Why did that feel like the right title?
Mama Says is also the title of the lead single and it's probably my favourite song on the project. The song is really about the expectations my mum raised me with and the standards she taught me to have in relationships. She has such a beautiful relationship with my dad and I value her opinions a lot. It's about how somebody should treat you, how two people should grow together and also wanting families to come together as well. It felt like the heart of the EP, so it made sense for it to become the title.
Your songs often feel like they're searching for answers. When you write, are you looking for clarity or asking questions?
Probably more questions. I question things a lot in my own life and that naturally ends up in my music. I always try to find some kind of resolution by the end of a song, but most of the time I'm writing from a place of trying to understand something. There's a song on the EP called Don't Make Me Like You and it's basically asking: why did you make me care this much if you were going to treat me like that? A lot of my songs come from trying to understand someone else's decisions.
One of the most moving moments on the EP comes through Hollow Ground. What's the story behind that song?
It's actually much deeper than most people realise. The song is about a family member who left many years ago. I've tried to find them on every platform possible and I've never been able to. They still live in the same city as me, but I haven't been able to find them. What's interesting is that people often hear it as a love song, but for me it's about someone completely different. It's one of the most personal songs I've ever written.
You've spoken a lot about family and staying grounded. What part of yourself are you most protective of as your career grows?
My sense of humour. I have a very specific sense of humour. My family gets it immediately but other people sometimes need a minute. It's become part of who I am and even shows up in my socials now and then. I never want to lose that side of myself because it keeps me grounded throughout all of this.
Is there a place in Melbourne that's shaped who you are today?
A music shop in Greensborough that my dad used to take me to. I remember walking in and feeling like a kid in a candy store. It's one of my strongest childhood memories.
What's a Melbourne spot you'd hate to see disappear?
The Richmond Hotel. I have so many memories there with my grandma and cousins. Whenever I think about it, I think about my nanny.
Is there a spot that that holds a memory for you?
The kebab shop where I used to work. I'd be making kebabs while dreaming about performing on stage. I still drive past it now and laugh.
What's the one place that instantly makes you feel at home?
My local Woolworths. I'm there almost every day when I'm home. The second I'm standing in the snack aisle, I feel like I've never left Melbourne.
Which Melbourne venue has had the biggest impact on your journey as an artist?
The Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre. Some of my first performances happened there and it still feels like the place where everything started.
Is there a hidden gem in your city?
I'd have to say Fitzroy Street in St Kilda, Melbourne. It's not exactly hidden, but it's packed with incredible little live music venues, bars and restaurants that people often overlook. You can wander in almost any night of the week and discover amazing local artists and bands.
Do you have a unexpected recommendation?
Sydney's Cafe. I always seem to find myself there whenever I'm in town. It has such a great sense of community, and it's one of those places where you can easily lose a few hours over a coffee. It's become a bit of a go-to for me.
Who are you spotlighting?
Moolah Jones. She's an artist I've followed for a while and I absolutely love her music. Her voice is incredible and songs like Birthday Makeup and Love Letter have been doing really well recently. I think she's amazing.