Who is Jessmin?
I’m Jessmin, a French-born, Netherlands-raised singer-songwriter and pop artist. My music goes from intimate and vulnerable songs to energetic, guitar-driven pop with a full band.
I write a lot about relationships, heartbreak, overthinking and basically the things that stay in my head for way too long. I love a big hook, but lyrics are really important to me too.
What is your origin story?
I was born in Audincourt, France, and grew up in the Netherlands. Music has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was 15, I took part in X Factor in the Netherlands, which was probably the first time I thought: okay, maybe I can actually do something with this.
After that, I studied at PACT Amsterdam and spent years performing with different cover bands. I played a lot during that period, which gave me a huge amount of live experience. You learn very quickly by just being on stage all the time.
Later, I studied songwriting and composing at Wisseloord Academy. That shifted my focus much more towards writing my own songs and figuring out what I actually wanted to make myself.
I love playing energetic songs with a full band, but I also love stripping everything back and letting the lyrics and vocals do the work. I don’t really feel the need to choose between those two sides.
When did you realise you wanted to make music?
I don’t think there was one big moment where I suddenly decided, “this is what I’m going to do.” Music was always there. Doing X Factor at 15 definitely made it feel more real.
But songwriting probably changed things the most for me. I love starting with some random thought or feeling in my head and ending up with an actual song. Even now, I still think that process is kind of amazing. Once I really got into writing my own music, there was no going back.
Who are your long-standing influences?
Avril Lavigne and Taylor Swift have been long-standing influences for me, alongside that whole 2000s Disney generation with artists like Hilary Duff, Demi Lovato and Miley Cyrus.
I grew up listening to all of them. Avril definitely influenced my love for guitars and that bit of attitude in pop music, while I’ve always loved Taylor’s storytelling.
And yes, I still have a huge soft spot for that whole 2000s Disney pop era. I’m not even going to pretend I don’t.
What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned as a musician?
Probably that I can’t make everybody happy.
Everyone has an opinion about your voice, your production, your lyrics, what you should release, what you should sound like and what you should do next. Sometimes that advice is really useful. Sometimes it isn’t.
I’ve become much better at listening to people without feeling like I automatically have to do what they say. At the end of the day, I have to be able to stand behind the music myself. Not everybody is going to like it, and that’s fine.
What are you working on at the moment?
Right now I’m finishing my debut EP, Hyperfixated, which comes out in October.
It has the more energetic, guitar-driven side of my music, but also some quieter and more emotional songs. A lot of the songs are about people, feelings or situations that somehow get stuck in your head, so Hyperfixated ended up being a pretty obvious title.
I’m involved in a lot more than just writing the songs. I’m there for production and mixing decisions and I love working on the visual concepts and videos too.
And then there’s the live side. I have a regular band around me now, and I’m really looking forward to playing these songs live.
What would you tell your younger self?
Stop worrying so much about whether everybody approves of what you’re doing. You’re never going to be enough for some people and you’ll somehow be too much for others, so you might as well be yourself.
And maybe there’s a little hint in there about where my music is heading next year.
I’d also tell myself to stop thinking everything has to happen immediately. Sometimes you look around and feel like everybody else is moving faster than you. Let them.
Keep writing, keep learning and trust your own instincts a little more.
Which band or artist are you really excited about at the moment?
At the moment, I’m really excited about After. I love their dreamy trip-hop vibe. The lyrics, the atmosphere, the whole feel of their music just really works for me. It has this almost hypnotic quality where I can completely disappear into it for a while.
I also have to mention Now, Now, specifically their song Talk to God. I wouldn’t say everything they make is necessarily my thing, but I absolutely love that song.
Sometimes one song just hits exactly right, and Talk to God is one of those songs for me. The mix is beautiful, the guitar sounds amazing, and somehow it keeps that vibe going for the full four minutes without losing my attention. Great song.
Where can people find your music?
My music is on Spotify, Apple Music and the other major streaming platforms. And you can find me on Instagram at @jessminmusic. That’s probably the best place to follow what I’m doing.
What’s next for Jessmin?
First, my debut EP Hyperfixated comes out in October.
I also have two big support shows coming up in the Netherlands. I’m not allowed to share who they’re with yet, but those will be announced in September. We’re also working on more shows for this and next year.
I’ll be in London in October for my EP promotion and in January I’ll be playing during ESNS 2027 in Groningen after winning Pinguin Radio’s “2 Minuten Show”.
And I’m already writing what comes after Hyperfixated. The release plan for 2027 and 2028 is actually already on paper, so I know where I want to go next.
Part of that plan is to start working towards my first album, which I’d love to release in 2028. I’ll be working closely with a regular producer and team on that. I’m really looking forward to having the time to build an album together instead of thinking song by song.