Jess Glynne is behind one of the most recognizable voices in the industry, standing as one of United Kingdom’s top pop powerhouses. The English soil has brought unto the world The Spice Girls, David Bowie and Amy Winehouse among other British icons and in line for the same knightship is Glynne herself.

Begging no introduction, the top performing female artist’s voice speaks for itself–literally, one could say. Glynne attributes her sound to inspiration sourced from legends like Aretha Franklin, Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston. However with so many influences, discovering a voice of her own didn’t come so easy.

Glynne wears top Christopher Kane, earrings Kenneth Jay Lane

“It is something that takes a long time,” Glynne recounts of forging her own sound (now one of the most distinguishable in the industry). “I was trying lots of different genres and I tried a lot of different things with lots of different producers,” she says, “But you know what? I actually needed to write so many things in order to find that one sound that felt right and it took a really long time… after three years of writing and I remember I was doing a session and we wrote a song called ‘Home’, and it was literally in that moment i was like ‘Oh my god I found my thing!’ It all just clicked, the sound, the lyric, everything just fell into place and I immediately knew what I wanted to say and what I wanted to do and from then on i feel like everything just kind of roller coaster-ed.”

Glynne emphasizes a distinction between her voice sonically and lyrically. It’s not so much the way one sings than it is the type of music one makes. “It wasn’t until I wrote that song ‘Home’ and a few more songs alongside it that I realized I was also doing stuff for me and not following anyone else,” she claims. “It made me think, ‘Oh I need to sound like Jess.’” In that moment of self-discovery–a life-altering epiphany–Glynne initiated her mission to find her own voice.

If the musician is writing a song, it’s because she’s got something to say. “It’s a form of therapy, I turn to writing songs to help my mind and for an escape,” she divulges. Tapping into her emotion, whether up or down with her feelings, putting pen to paper helps Glynne vocalize what’s on her mind. “Each of my songs have a message.”

Behind the latest of her tracks, ‘Thursday’, co-written with Ed Sheeran, is a time when Glynne didn’t feel comfortable in her own skin. “I wrote that song during a time when I felt very insecure and I felt like I was constantly being judged for everything that I did, or how I walked or looked and whatever it was. I [needed] to focus on whatever makes me happy, and it reminds me of a moment where I became stronger, and learned to not give a shit.” The no-shits-given attitude is essential to Glynne’s industry approach, especially in the face of fame. 

“Sometimes you have to put on a show and just smile and get on with it and I find that a bit hard personally because it’s not in my character. I’m rarely in those situations, but I always just try and be the best version of myself and all of it cause I feel like the more you put on a facade, I think it becomes life and you forget who you are. I think it’s so important to just be you and if someone doesn’t like it then I don’t care. You’re not going to be everyone’s cup of tea at the end of the day. Some people will love you and some people will hate you.”

With numerous recognitions and nominations under her belt today, and even a Grammy Award for her 2015 track “Rather Be”, it is without doubt that Glynne has come a long way. This year, she intends on going further—global domination, that is. Fresh off the heels of her emotional performance at the BRIT Awards just a few days ago on February 20th, she continues on her headlining tour with Leon Bridges. Making all of the stops and then some, the talented force has also been recognized by the greats; invited by the Spice Girls to accompany them on their reunion tour this upcoming Summer.

From finding her voice to unapologetically standing by it, it couldn’t be more apparent that the world is all ears. Stream Jess Glynne’s latest release featuring H.E.R. in this special release of “Thursday” below.