Jess Thristan’s latest, “Women Up” (The Demo)

In a genre that’s increasingly inspiring female empowerment anthems and outspoken artists such as Kacey Musgraves and Mickey Guyton, comes Jess Thristan.

Growing up in Yorkshire, which artists/songs did your family listen to?

My parents were huge Coldplay fans, so we had a lot of Coldplay throughout the house (and still do!). We also listened to a lot of Embrace too as they were a local band. To this day they’re both still two of my favourite bands. Listening to them now brings back so many great memories of my childhood, which I love.

Wrote first song, “The Shield,” at age 15 and recorded it five years later at the famous Angel Studios with a 24-piece orchestra. A few years passed and you refocused your music to have a country influence, ala Jillian Jacqueline and Maren Morris. What inspired this change in your musical direction?