Jessie Ware is a mom of three, but to some LGBTQ+ fans, she's just mother. "At first, I was giggling and thinking, 'Am I imagining this or is my mom always there? Oh, shut up, cocky," the 38-year-old British singer-songwriter tells Bustle. "A few years ago, it was 'grab the wig,' and I'd be happy to have wigs thrown at me on stage. But 'mother' is the highest compliment - and it comes with responsibility. So I will always try to be a good mother to my fans. And my kids. God, I shouldn’t forget them.”
Ware’s feel-good fifth studio album That! "Camp," released on April 28, is sure to please her queer fans. "My brother always said that, as a straight straight woman, I should be careful about using the word 'camp' ... but that's what 'camp' is," she laughs.
That! It feels good! As an answer to its predecessor "What Are You Glad About?" — After "What's Your Pleasure?," Ware was inspired to embark on a deeper journey onto the dance floor. Earning her a nomination for Album of the Year at the 2021 BRIT Awards. "It gave me the confidence to say, 'You know what? Things are great right now. Let's dance,'" she said. “I don’t want to sound smug because I’m still learning and making a lot of mistakes, but I think it’s important to admit when things feel good.”
The new album blends '70s funk and '80s disco styles with slow jams from her first two albums , "Devotion" and "Tough Love." There's elements of The B-52s, Kylie Minogue and the Spice Girls; single "Pearls" is charming and cheeky, fitting perfectly into ... Just Like That Season 2 trailer.
Ware will keep the party on tour in the fall, but these days, she has other priorities. "I'm actually going to go to bed early and watch the rest of 'Shrink' in bed and then take a shower, which feels good," she said. "I'm really happy with myself for going to work out today. It was brutal. And then I ate a lot of chocolate to congratulate myself."
Below, Ware discusses the surprise cameo in That! "Feels Good" is the song she won't sing on her next tour, and the reason she hates karaoke.
On surprise guest appearances and 'freak star' Kylie Minogue
There are many people introducing "That!" It feels good! "Who are they? How did they come together?"
I just looked through my phone book. I’ve been lucky enough to meet a lot of different talented people with great voices through podcasts and have made friends with a lot of them. No one in there had ever heard the song, so they'd ask, "Did I make it?" I said, "Everybody made it, don't worry." I had Barry Mulholland, Christopher Kane (Christopher Kane) CEO, because he’s my mate and he has a heavy Scottish accent. Then I asked Roisín Murphy to do one in an airport toilet. I have Kylie Minogue. I had Jamie Demetriou, and he really liked it—maybe a little too much. My mom, my best friend...I didn't actually ask my husband Sam to do it, but that's okay.
You mentioned Kylie Minogue and my jaw dropped.
God bless Kelly, I think she does a great job in the studio because she is such a professional. She is so cute. I asked her but got no reply - she was moving to Australia. And then I got this file and was like, "This is this option or this option." I was like, "I fucking love you." She's definitely better than you think in real life. She's kind, she's charming, she's an amazing star.
Who is the boy in "Shake the Bottle"?
I was a little worried that Benny Blanco would think Benny was him. No, it just sounds good. I guarantee you, none of these boys were the boys I knew...but everyone knew Eddie, everyone knew Jackson. The people I name and shame are fictional, but very stereotypical people that I think everyone has encountered in one way or another.
On hating karaoke and the hit song she'll never play live again
What are your favorite karaoke songs?
I don't like karaoke. Karaoke is for people who can't sing. No one wants to hear me sing karaoke. But if my mom was going to let me go up there, I'd probably give [Whitney Houston's "I Got Nothing"] a try, even though I'd definitely lose my voice at the top. Or if I'm drunk and feeling like myself, I'll be like Jennifer Hudson, *singing* " I won't... you'll love me. I won't leave" from Dreamgirls . But this It's me peeing.
What song was played at your wedding?
I walked down the aisle to Sade's "Your Love Is King," and our first dance was to Wayne Wonder's "Don't Let Me Go." We ended up doing drums and bass, with my husband and I DJing behind the scenes.
Your husband’s reaction to your last album was hilarious. What’s his favorite song on the album?
"Hello, love," I thought. No, he likes "Lightning".
What song would you like played at your funeral?
My mom always said she wanted "Walk On By" by Dionne Warwick because she thought it was funny, *sings* "If you see me walking down the street, I'm going to start crying." So I thought maybe I Should have it too. I want people to cry about it, but I don't mind them laughing too.
Is there a song you never want to play live again?
Yeah, "If you never move." I'm bored by that. It's time to go.
Is there a genre that you’d like to create but haven’t yet?
I still feel like I still have some R&B moments in me. But first, the musical. I'm working on something right now, so keep your fingers crossed.
What was the first CD, tape, vinyl record, etc. you bought?
I think "It's Oh So Quiet" by Bjork, but that was a single. I was mad at Take That, so Take That was probably the first album I ever bought. Has everything changed ? They didn't make it in America, but I totally fell in love with them.
Complete this sentence. The Grammy Awards are...
Hope you can invite me for a year.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
