Hey Music Mag - Issue 3 - December 2018

FEATURE JESS GLYNNE
to No.1. Both tracks were nominated for
BRIT Awards and Rather Be also scooped
Best Dance Recording at the Grammys.
Since then Glynne has appeared on tracks
with Tinie Tempah and Rudimental, and
collaborated on songwriting projects with
Iggy Azalea, Little Mix and Rita Ora. She
bagged her first No.1 solo single with Hold
My Hand in early 2015.
It hasn’t all been plain sailing though.
In 2015 Jess had to pull out of the
biggest festivals of the summer, including
Glastonbury, T in the Park and the Isle of
Wight Festival, as she recuperated from an
operation on her vocal chords.
“Having an operation on your voice is not
fun. I never want to go back there so I’ve
made sure my schedule will never override
my health again,” says Glynne. “Flying and
travelling is a lot, it’s a lot on the voice.”
Recalling her operation in 2015, she
remembers: “We sent my doctor my
schedule and he was like, ‘This is a joke.
You want to keep your voice? You won’t be
having a voice if you carry on like that’.
“If you’re not a singer or somebody who
uses their voice like that you’re never going
to know the strain that you put on it. I do
understand why the label didn’t understand
from that point of view at first and put all that
stuff in [the schedule] because they thought
it was exciting and amazing. It takes a lot
to be like, ‘Guys, I’m not sure...’ Thankfully I
spoke up and got checked out.”
Of course, as is the way in the music
industry a new album is followed by touring,
and at the time of writing Glynne had just
“Having an operation on
your voice is not fun. I’ve
made sure my schedule
will never override my
health again”
toured the length and breadth of the UK.
Her Always In Between tour picks up again
across Europe next March before heading
stateside until May. She’ll also be joining the
Spice Girls reunion tour next summer as a
special guest.
But this time around Glynne is putting her
health – and her voice – first.
“I don’t do too many shows in a row.
I’m careful. I’m very aware that my voice
is sensitive. Anyone who’s had a major
procedure has to be careful of the wound,
so I’m aware. I drink a lot of water. I do a lot
of exercises. My voice is fine. I just need to
look after it.”
She also makes sure there’s ‘me time’
worked into her schedule. “I got so ill [from
over working] I wouldn’t want to go back to
it. It’s really important to allow yourself time.
When you’re on the road it’s easy to get
16 DECEMBER 2018