As the release of her debut LP ‘Everything Changes’ approaches, singer-songwriter Jazzie Young reflects on the collaborative process and the lyrical inspirations that shaped the project—ranging from profound heartbreak to simply enjoying a beloved movie.
Stream: “Waiting on You!” – Jazzie Young
“Ah, change is good,” remarks Rafiki the mandrill in The Lion King. “Yeah, but it’s not easy,” counters Simba the lion.
It's unclear if this exchange ever crossed Jazzie Young’s mind—she identifies as a major animated movie enthusiast—but the essence of this dialogue appears to resonate with the central theme of her forthcoming album, aptly titled Everything Changes.
“I have such a love-hate relationship with change,” Jazzie shares. “While the prospect of things improving is thrilling, it also feels like an ongoing risk to what you currently possess... Change is constant, and when you are in a good space, that can sometimes feel quite alarming.”
Indeed, change has been a constant in Young's life, including multiple relocations. Originally from northern California, she spent her formative years in Hawaii and South Carolina before settling in Los Angeles, where she’s cultivated connections within the local music scene, including collaborations with Day Wave, a solo indie rock endeavor led by Jackson Phillips, as well as sound producers Isaiah Jose and John Velasquez.
These collaborators have significantly contributed to the creation of Everything Changes, which is set to be released this upcoming summer. Young has teased the album with several singles, including “Waiting on You!,” which portrays the romantic thoughts that linger (“Your name in my head like every night, take my heart out of my chest, can you tell me what’s next?”).
Then there’s “Mr. Casual,” which delivers a pointed critique of the contemporary “situationship” culture that she and many others navigate. Alongside these personal narratives, one track emerged from a creative prompt devised by Young and her producers: What if we wrote a song from the perspective of a character we really admire from a film? Ultimately, the chosen character was Lux Lisbon, portrayed by Kirsten Dunst in The Virgin Suicides from 1999.
In a recent discussion with Atwood Magazine, Young elaborated on the intricacies involved in crafting her full-length album—most significantly, ensuring each track contributes to a cohesive narrative and artistic expression that she can wholeheartedly endorse—and how she finally reached a point of satisfaction with the results.
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A CONVERSATION WITH JAZZIE YOUNG
This interview has been lightly edited for brevity and clarity.
Atwood Magazine: Reflecting on your journey as a recording artist, what have been some significant highlights and areas of growth?
Jazzie Young: I feel like I’ve experienced substantial growth. It’s fascinating to note that many of my past projects have been EPs, which allows for a comparison between different phases of my life and how my music has evolved, especially with this new album. I can look back at my exploration in production, songwriting, harmony, and collaborations that have transformed over time. These milestones help me see where I started versus where I am now; sometimes it’s challenging to be objective about your growth.
In making this album, I connected with a lot of musicians in LA, marking my first experience with co-writing alongside four or five others, particularly my main producer. It’s amazing how that collaboration can enhance the songwriting process; it's such an intimate experience. I also find it exciting to apply the lessons learned to new music as I start writing again, even before this album is out.
What has the transition been like moving from individual songs to creating EPs and now a full LP?
Jazzie Young: It feels like more of a marathon. Producing my new album spanned about eight months. Each journey is unique, but albums seem to attract more attention. To me, EPs often feel like a collection of songs, where I casually combine tracks written within a timeframe. On the other hand, albums require deeper consciousness.
You want to love every song, but certain ones simply don’t make the cut. When you have six tracks, for instance, you start to wonder what’s missing musically or if you want to explore a different emotion. This more deliberate approach means asking questions like, “Do I need a new beat?” or “How can I introduce variety to ensure it's not just the same sound repetitively?” With at least ten songs, it’s essential to ensure the work narrates a cohesive story.
Moreover, with a larger body of music, it’s crucial to keep variety in mind, so it doesn’t sound like the same track repeatedly. There was a lot more thought put into this aspect, and we’d sometimes decide to focus on specific styles, ultimately selecting the best three instead of including everything we created. This also allowed us to experiment with song structure and
As the release of her debut LP 'Everything Changes' approaches quickly, singer/songwriter Jazzie Young reflects on the collaborative journey and the lyrical influences—ranging from significant heartbreak to the simple act of watching a beloved old movie—that contributed to finishing the project.