Image: Jess Ribeiro and Tony Yap by Nick Mckk – supplied.
Author: Melody Menu
The songs of Jess Ribeiro create and reflect many moods. At times warm and honeyed, and at others sparse or angular in instrumentation and tone, Jess Ribeiro’s music is ever-changing and frames a voice that knows no bounds. Now four albums in, Ribeiro continues to defy genre and convention to create music that is timeless and free-flowing alongside gorgeous and moving music videos that get under your skin.
A fixture of the national and international scene, Jess Ribeiro spared some time during an extensive tour around Europe to answer questions about her evocative new album Summer of Love as well as what friendship and collaboration bring to her music.
Congratulations on the EU/UK tour! How has it been?
It was a great time opening for U.S band Widowspeak and U.K act Still Corners.
I travelled with them in their vans and everything ran smoothly. The audiences were warm, I sold some new records, and am inspired to get back o/s again asap, hopefully with a group next time instead of solo.
Your upcoming ‘Friendship tour’ with Leah Senior sounds so wholesome. How did this come about and what does friendship mean to you and your music?
I’m not sure where the word “wholesome” came from but it’s in there which makes me laugh. The tour was arranged by Shannon who owns JET BLACK CAT RECORDS which now host tours and festivals. Shan has been a great supporter of my music since I released Kill it Yourself in 2015. She is a huge supporter of independent artists and has done so much for the Australian music community over the years. Friendship is family. Community is family. It’s all interwoven to me with my music and life.
For Summer of Love, you worked with many creatives including Nick Huggins, Jim White, Darcy McNulty, and Leah Senior, among others. What was it like to work with this wonderful bunch of collaborators?
It’s special. To witness and experience people’s creativity firsthand, especially in making a record like this which came with improvisation and spontaneity.
I was lucky enough to see you support Gareth Liddiard in Sydney last year and I remember you telling a story about not wanting to write country songs and subsequently finding out that you had written country songs. What does genre mean to you and to Summer of Love?
I’m not focused enough to be genre specific. My fickle nature and changing moods make me a lover of many styles of music. Summer of Love was driven by a mood and a time rather than a genre. I felt quiet and blue and found solace in nature during that time. I think those experiences crept in.
Your songs and music videos often contain high emotion and colour. Tell us a bit about the powerful video for ‘Everything Is Now’ and what it was like to create. Was it largely improvised or pre-planned?
It was both pre-planned and improvised. I wanted to shoot the restaurant as I’ve celebrated many birthdays there over the years. Other than that, I didn’t really have a vision. My collaborator Nick McKinlay who I’ve worked with before decided on a long shot and he introduced me to Tony Yap who is a contemporary dancer and shaman.
On the day we improvised.
What surprised or challenged you in the making of Summer of Love?
Using analogue tape loops was a cool surprise and finding an effect on a guitar pedal was an exciting pleasure too. Challenges were recording sporadically and without a solid band due to the covid restrictions of that time.
What drives you to create and make music?
Some kind of inner itch I guess.
Catch Jess Ribeiro on tour around Australia
Thur 23 May – Mapleton Pub – Gubbi Gubbi Country/Mapleton (Friendship Tour with Leah Senior) | Tickets
Fri 24 May – Season Three – Meanjin/Brisbane (Friendship Tour with Leah Senior) | Tickets
Sat 25 May – Eltham Pub – Bundjalung Country/Eltham (Friendship Tour with Leah Senior) | Tickets
Sat 22 June – The Great Club – Eora/Sydney | Tickets
Sun 23 June – La La La’s – Dharawal/Wollongong | Tickets
Fri 28 June – Brunswick Ballroom – Naarm/Melbourne w/ Hantu | Tickets
Sat 29 June – Tanswell’s Hotel – Yorta Yorta Country/Beechworth
Sat 6 July – Bridge Hotel – Dja Dja Wurrung/Castlemaine w/ Hantu | Tickets
Melody Menu 