Jesse Saint John: Jesse's World

by Q Review Staff

Various artists over time have been heralded with an entire library of titles. There have been pop King’s, Queen’s, princesses and princes, bad boys, wild child’s and rebels. Well, when it comes to Jesse Saint John, if we’re going to apply any such titles to him it needs to be some combination that sums up a “Pop Pioneer of the Original Anti-Star”. In the most unassuming genuine manner he is quickly showing the world his layers of mad genius and becoming one of the most exciting talents around. And he’s not even trying. He’s just doing. 

Through his own admittance in social media posts he has related personal insecurities and hurdles he has had to face. And though I don’t assume to know his experiences or individual struggles, in a strange way I sometimes feel like I understand his understated and complex artistry far more than those who are in countless interviews and on every magazine cover. And that’s because of his approach to music and his career. Both of which are more than slightly unconventional. In truth it’s hard to categorize Jesse Saint John because of just how unique he is. If there’s a formula to follow, he tossed it out looooong ago. We’re so used to our pop stars craving mass appeal, high level success and adoration. For Jesse Saint John I’m not sure he even believes he deserves it, let alone could achieve it. 

Instead what we have is a creator who’s priority is truthful art and genuine connection. He’s the every day person who realizes he’s fortunate enough to be making the music he wants, surrounded by supports who want to see him succeed. He exerts true effort to channel honest sincerity and connection with his rapidly growing online fan base and offers public support to his musical peers. You get the sense of his true gratitude towards any and all who have taken even the fleeting of moments to appreciate his work. And he's not content to serve up the standard. So he’s stepping out of any box he may have been expected to play in and creating his own musical playground.

When I first heard his single ‘Wiser’ I was immediately struck by the maturity of sentiment delivered in lyrics that were fused with a magnetic melody that pulls at you and doesn’t easily let go. The vocals fit perfectly but weren’t themselves perfect. There are serious human beats all throughout the recording. Moments that, in the hands of another artist, would be polished so perfectly as to erase even the slightest blemish, so cleanly that it could leave the vocal presence feeling coldly manufactured. But Jesse Saint John doesn’t finish clean. There’s this honest raspy gravel to his voice that he allows to be heard. And it’s magic. These are moments of raw emotion projected and captured that instantly make him the real f’ing deal. It’s a statement that says “This is me”.

So, when he comes along with a follow up double shot new release, the cynic in us automatically expects throw away or “trying too hard” material. But not Jesse Saint John. Instead he delivers up a delicious slice of re-envisioned awesomeness served with a side of holy f**k! ‘What Do U Like’ was already a champion song. ‘What Do You Like 2’ is the after prom date you didn’t expect and didn’t know you wanted. It’s a dance floor stampede of intelligent collaborations and music elevation. Making a great song better is always a tough sell. But rather than adding over the top bells and whistles, JSJ allowed remixers Ojivolta to give the song room to simply breathe with new life, imagination and connection. The result is not a remix, it’s an evolution.

And then snapping bullet track ‘Crying’ onto its tail just makes the full Jesse experience that much more intriguing. At one minute 12 seconds into ‘Crying’ we’re taken from sugary fierce pop pleasure into an electro synth forest filled with raging rivers and thorny briar patches. From clear blue skies to thunder clouds. Why keep the sweet pop prescription when you can get real and switch it up to a full throttle sonic blitzkrieg. That would be the more interesting and unpredictable thing to do. And that’s what we get. And it’s masterful. We’re jolted out of our own conditioning, and the moment it happens is jarring in the best of ways. We’re taken from beautiful lyrical expression to searing disruptive chaotic emotion in a blink. It’s the bucket of ice water that wakes us from a day dream into reality. It doesn’t matter if it makes sense. It matters that he had the balls to do it.

This is where that mad genius I mentioned earlier shines. Not in overthought and overwrought production. But in understanding that sometimes we need a sudden shakeup. We like the unexpected. It’s adventurous and uncertain and different. And different is good. Jesse Saint John is different. And it’s an extraordinary thing.

Check out Jesse Saint John's latest releases ‘Wiser’, ‘What Do You Like 2’ and ‘Crying’ streaming now on all platforms.
Jesse Saint John on Spotify!