Interview: Jasmine Myra

BBC 6 Music’s Deb Grant spoke to Jasmine Myra ahead of her performance at Band on the Wall for Manchester Jazz Festival 2025.

Deb Grant: So you’re kind of one of the architects of the Leeds jazz scene, but do you feel connected to the Manchester scene as well, just like by virtue of geography?

Jasmine Myra: Yeah, I do. I feel like because it’s so close to Leeds and it’s another northern city where there’s a really interesting scene. I have friends here as well, so it’s a city that I’ve travelled to a lot for gigs and just to spend time, so I do really feel connected and it’s always nice getting to come back and play here. It’s been a few years since I’ve been back, so it’s really nice to be involved in the festival.

DG: Do you feel like Northern audiences have any particular qualities that you don’t see elsewhere?

JM: That’s a good question. I think there’s a warmth that comes from Northern audiences, not to say that Southern audiences aren’t warm as well. I think maybe I’m just biased because I’m a Northerner, but yeah, the reception is always just super welcoming and really relaxed as well, which I always enjoy. It feels a bit more casual, which is nice.

DG: You were telling me the last time you played at Band on the Wall, you think, was pre-lockdown. Do you have any memories of that gig?

JM: My main memory is I remember being really nervous to talk. I’m sure that a lot of musicians can relate to this, but I always get the most nervous to talk, or at least I used to. I feel like I’ve really come on and I just remember stumbling over my words a little bit and getting a few awkward laughs. But the actual gig was a really beautiful one. I remember I had quite a few friends and friendly faces in the crowd, so that was really nice.

DG: And what are you anticipating for the show tonight?

JM: I’m hoping that there’ll be a lot of people coming down. I’m just excited to play with these guys. This year is a little bit quieter for us and gigs are more sporadic because I’m writing at the moment. So we’ve had less gigs and every time we do get together and play again, it’s just really nice and uplifting. So I’m excited to play with the full band as well.

DG: Finally, do you have any pre-show rituals that you like to do either by yourself or with the band?

JM: That’s a good question. I really like to kind of take myself off and just play through all the melodies on my own. And actually, I quite like to think about what I’m going to say about each tune. Every tune that I’ve written and that we’re performing tonight has a meaning behind it or a connection to what I was going through at the time when I was writing it. And I quite like to just take myself off and think about that. I think it helps me to get in a good headspace for the gig and think about what I want to say.