When we think of UK artists who emanate soul, vocal prowess and versatility, one special talent comes to the fore: South London’s finest, Jaz Karis. Inspired by legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Erykah Badu, D’Angelo and Sade, her music is ageless and compelling like the work of her idols. Despite spinning gold from an endless number of genres, she remains fiercely loyal to her roots in the worlds of R&B and soul. Jaz entered the scene in 2017 with her stunning debut EP, Into The Wilderness, before shaking tables with the renowned single, “Petty Lover” in 2018, a song which has left an enduring mark on listeners and the music industry alike. Since then, her career has bloomed and grown beyond measure. The songstress’ discography continues to expand with well over 100 million global streams to date whilst she has sold headline shows and toured with stars including RAYE and Tom Misch. Her 2022 EP, Dear Jaz, was an honest, mature and vulnerable body of work and a testament to her growth. And today? This new musical era is all about Jaz Karis truly coming home to herself; her soul-stirring recent release, “Little Blue Moon” is a perfect portrayal of that.
“Little Blue Moon” is a compelling and an open-hearted expression of deep love and faith. Written at a time when she was riddled with anxiety, the song served as an opportunity for healing and catharsis. When speaking of the track, Jaz reflects:
“This song is me talking to God. It’s about unconditional love. Life gets crazy sometimes but my relationship with God is the one constant thing that I can rely on. It’s about knowing that even when I’ve disappointed myself or things are out of my control, God is always there for me… It was almost like a diary entry. I went into the studio with Adam and Jay [Adam Boukis and Jay Isaiah] and it just kind of… came out. Everything came out in that session.”
Despite this deeply personal element, Karis intentionally crafted the lyrics in a way that would resonate with each listener individually.
“One thing I love about music is that everyone’s interpretation will be different. I purposefully left this song open… if you hear it and you don’t know what it’s about, you could relate it to the love of your life, your partner, your brother, your sister, anyone really.”
The raw authenticity of “Little Blue Moon” translates beautifully in both the song and the breath-taking visuals, which are an ode to her roots.
“I essentially wanted [the video] to feel like a full circle moment: a little girl playing a younger me and living a very simple life… me seeing my younger self and realising that it always comes back to the beginning, back to the foundation. Remembering that everything will be ok.”
Born and raised in South London, Jaz Karis draws much inspiration from her hometown, “[from] the sounds that I hear [to] the music and the people I’m inspired by.” She also recognises how her roots are reflected through her character: “In South London, we’re known to be the loudest in the building. You’ve got to carry that vim with you, and I think that’s coming out more as I grow older.”
But where does her love of music come from?
“My mum loves soul. From very early on, I was around a lot of gospel and timeless classics. And I was at my nan and granddad’s a lot – all they had on was Smooth FM and they used to play loads of jazz. I think that really influenced me… I’m an extremely nostalgic person, so anything that reminds me of my childhood and the warmth that soul and jazz music can bring to you, I lean towards that. I’m way more interested in making music that will last, even if it takes a little longer to get there.”
And when it came to pursuing her own career in the world of music, she drew special inspiration from two particular places: “Disney and Church!” She began playing the piano aged 7 and was the youngest member of her church choir as a teenager, fuelling her passion for live instruments and performing.
“I love performing, that’s where I started. Live instruments are my favourite thing. I would take live over studio sessions any day. It’s a lot more freeing, it’s like a therapy session. After my last live show, I was so high that I literally had a physical come-down. I felt elated, it was crazy. You don’t get that feeling with many things in life but being on stage is one of them.”
And throughout her evolving career, Jaz has shown a rare versatility. She has traversed realms of jazz, reggae, Afrobeats, Amapiano, pop and garage, alongside her quintessential R&B and soul sounds. “There are so many different genres, the thought of tapping into other worlds and even scratching the surface has been amazing… it opens your mind.” But through these musical adventures, she always remained true to herself. “I never put something out if I didn’t love it. Being an independent artist, I’ve been very blessed to be able to choose. Luckily, I’ve never felt the need to release things I didn’t want to release.”
Through her journey of exploration, Jaz has built an ability to finetune her individual sound, and now she has truly found her own lane:
“I’m definitely in the refining stages. I’ve found my pocket. I’m not saying I will only do R&B and soul. I’ll definitely be tapping into the Afro world again, and the project I’m working on has Afro vibes and reggae vibes. But as long as my music has that consistent feel and it can all sit together in one space, then I’m happy with that.”
However, navigating R&B and soul genres within the UK industry hasn’t been an easy road. “Sometimes it’s like taking the stairs rather than taking the lift or the escalators. It’s a lot more expensive to make, things take a lot more time. Also, R&B is not a British thing. It’s hard to sell British R&B to British people because they already love American R&B, that’s where it comes from. And I completely understand it. So we don’t have a typical UK R&B scene like that… we have a pop scene, a rap scene, drill, grime.. not R&B. But we do have incredible R&B artists and songwriters and producers, and if you look at the stats and streaming numbers, UK R&B is thriving. It’s just about going where you’re loved, really looking at your fan base and tapping into that. It’s an uphill journey but it’s definitely one that is worth it.” As British R&B flourishes, Jaz Karis shines bright as a key player in its evolution whilst continuing to navigate her own path.
And in this new era of her music, Jaz Karis may be creating her magnum opus.
“Honestly, this is the best music I’ve ever made. It’s so much more polished, it’s just really solid. I’d like to say it’s timeless music, I’m very proud of it. There’s a lot of live instrumentation but it still sounds modern. The music has met me, it’s a reflection of where I’m at as a person. Dear Jaz [EP] was me figuring things out and feeling a bit lost, but as much as I’m still figuring stuff out, my feet are on more solid ground now.”
And through it all, Jaz is blossoming alongside the music she shares with the world:
“I think my music evolves as I evolve as a person. My friend and I were recently joking about how the more mature you become, the more boring life is. I actually feel like it’s the opposite with music: the more mature I become, the more free I am. Music is my escape, it liberates me.”
Jaz Karis describes her art as a testament to “freedom and love”, and her music is proof of their existence in sonic form. There is no question that Jaz Karis makes art that touches the heart and moves the spirit. As the soulstress leans more deeply into who she is, the music that she blesses us with will be more compelling than ever before; we can’t wait to bear witness.