JASMINE MATTHEWS | INTERVIEW + TRACK REVIEW

Jasmine Matthews is a rising force in Australia’s soul-pop scene — a storyteller who fuses emotional depth with sonic versatility. Since the release of her debut EP Reverie, Jasmine has carved out a space that’s raw, confident, and unapologetically personal. With each release, she peels back a new layer of her artistry, from the cinematic elegance of Inamorata to the fierce vulnerability of Narcissist, her breakout track nearing 20,000 streams. Jasmine reflects on the evolution of her sound, the catharsis of live performance, and the vision guiding her next chapter. We caught up with her to talk heartbreak, growth, and the creative threads that tie it all together.

TRACK REVIEW

Narcissist opens with a gloomy, slightly cheeky atmosphere — the kind of intro that tells you someone’s about to get called out, and you’d be absolutely right. The mood is set immediately, with an undercurrent of tension wrapped in style. Jasmine’s vocal cadence is magnetic here. There’s a control and rhythm to her delivery that gives every line punch and personality. The bassline? Wicked. It grooves with just enough swagger to keep the edge sharp without overpowering the emotion.

The lyric “blindsided by cheap tricks” lands perfectly — equal parts poetic and brutal. There’s a quiet confidence to the callout, and the production supports it beautifully. One of the standout moments is how the drums drop out in certain sections, leaving space that amplifies the intensity. When the beat kicks back in, it brings the heat with precision. Narcissist is a sharp, emotionally charged track with bite and elegance — a perfect example of Jasmine Matthews’ ability to blend vulnerability with defiance.

LISTEN HERE

Your debut EP Reverie introduced a sensual, soulful side of you to the world. Looking back now, how do you feel that release set the tone for the artist you’re becoming?

Reverie truly solidified the artist I want to be which sounds wild, considering it was my very first record. The creation process shaped the vision I have for myself as an artist. And while that vision keeps evolving, the core of it won’t change.

Inamorata has been described as a “Hollywood glam version of a romance scene.” When you were creating it, were you imagining a cinematic world around the song, or did that atmosphere develop naturally?

I absolutely looove that description. It added so much to the world I was creating with Inamorata. The character in that song is soulful, sexy, strong, but she’s also angry. It’s an anti–pick me anthem, and she really embodies that in this glam, almost satirical way.

Narcissist has been your biggest track so far, with almost 20k streams and a fast-growing audience. What’s the story behind the song, and why do you think it resonated with so many listeners?

Narcissist was written purely out of spite after my most recent breakup. I wrote and marketed it so people instantly got, ‘Oh okay, she’s mad’ but I never really focused on my ex or the breakup itself. I think flipping the narrative that way helped people connect with it in their own way.

You’ve been praised for revealing new sides of your artistry with each release. Is that something you consciously plan, or does it happen naturally as you evolve and experiment?

It’s definitely something I consciously plan. Going into a new track, one of the first things I think about is, “Okay, how can this fit into my current sound and push it further so I’m not just repeating myself?” I take a lot of pride in experimenting and evolving, putting that passion into every new release is something I never want to lose.

Geelong has such a vibrant music scene right now. How has being based there influenced your style, your writing, or your approach to live performance?

Being in Geelong has really given me space to experiment with live shows. Having the people I love around me makes it so much more sentimental. That support plays a huge role in how I feel on stage. In terms of my music, I think it’s become my way of critiquing and expanding the current soundscape here. There’s more to our exports than just the surf rock or indie pop we all know and love, I really want to highlight the diversity of styles we have to offer.

You’ve already supported notable acts and headlined your own shows across Victoria. Is there a particular live moment that stands out as a turning point for you as a performer?

Connecting with people after a set is always the standout for me. Of course I think about how I played and what I could improve, but that feeling doesn’t come close to someone telling me they resonated with my performance or the music I’ve created. That connection means everything.

Your music blends vulnerability with strength in a really unique way. When you sit down to write, are you more driven by storytelling, emotion, or capturing a particular vibe?

Ask anyone around me and they’ll tell you I’m such an emotional person hahaha! I definitely tap into that first when I write, and from there it feeds into the vibe I’m trying to capture.

With each new track, you seem to push your sound a little further. Are there any sonic directions, genres, or collaborations you’re excited to explore next?

I’ve got some collaborations lined up that I’m really excited about and can’t wait to see where they land. I’ve also been getting into production lately: making jersey club beats, afrobeats, DnB, '90s-influenced hip-hop — just a whole range of styles. Not sure if I’ll ever release any of it… but it’s been such a fun way to stretch creatively.

What’s something about your creative process that might surprise your listeners, either in how you write, record, or find inspiration?

One thing I love about being a creative is how it transcends into different avenues. I adore fashion, I adore art, I adore writing. I find inspiration in things like film, interior design, or runway shows. Recently I came across Cillian Murphy and Josh Hartnett in Miu Miu’s Fall 1999 performance art runway. It spoke volumes about how deeply connected the creative industries really are. I also just watched the film Sinners and it was incredible.

As someone who’s been called a “hidden jewel” but is now rapidly gaining international attention, what’s your vision for the next chapter of your journey as an artist?

In this next chapter, I really want to return to the Reverie era and explore a more soulful sound again. I’ve been watching Mihon Reko’s vinyl DJ sets and they’ve really inspired me. There’s something about that cozy, vintage feeling I want to bring into my music and performance moving forward.

LISTEN HERE