A Quick Chat with Machine On A Break

Congratulations on your latest single ‘Honestly’! What are the plans to celebrate now the single is out in the world? 

To be completely honest, it’ll probably be a night in writing some new tunes! It’s my last weekend before starting my master’s degree so I’m going to enjoy the peace and quiet I think! Maybe head out to a live show if I can coax myself out of my Oodie.

Can you tell us a bit about the story behind the song? 

Absolutely. ‘Honestly’ is about the aftermath of finding out my partner was a supporter of political views I considered to be harmful. I was in absolute shock because he seemed like such a caring person so to hold views that I don’t see aligning with that was wild to me. I sat down at the piano to write the song and the first line that came out was “I don’t want to find love in another’s arms, but I guess you’re going to make me” and I think that was the sign for me that it was over. 

How do you draw upon inspiration for your music, and what advice could you give others looking to do the same? 

My music always comes from a real place. It’s my diary. When I write it’s almost always about what is going on for me then and there but is sometimes me reflecting on places, I’ve been having come through them. My advice would be to make it about what is on your mind - what is inspiring your thoughts, rather than trying to write about something in particular, but that’s also just the way I work, and I can appreciate that for others it’s completely different!

How does Machine On A Break differ from your previous project Anca?

Goodness, how is an orange different from a turtle? Haha. Anca was very much Jessie trying to make music she thought a select few people in her life wanted her to make. Even as I was writing it, I personally didn’t like it. ‘Human Like You’ was a massive mental breakdown song that ended that era because I didn’t care what anyone thought of it but myself and it allowed me the mental freedom to create Machine on a Break. Now I unapologetically create music I enjoy.

I hear you have a Shrek tattoo! What’s the best scene from Shrek of all time?  

I absolutely do have a Shrek tattoo! That is such a hard question because Shrek is such a cinematic masterpiece. If I absolutely had to choose it would probably be the end of Shrek 2 when Fiona says she wants to live happily ever after “with the ogre I married”. My goodness I cry EVERY time!