We caught up with former Parade beauty Jessica Agombar to discuss going solo, Parade, Neon Jungle and her home routes of Bow, East London and… Her debut solo album! Exciting times ahead.
MP!: Hello Jessica! We’re ma-hoosive fans of your tunes here at MP! Towers. How would you describe your sound to the MP! readers?
Jessica: I would definitely say it’s a Pop hot-pot! A mix of all the best sounds/ingredients. Mainly and most importantly Pop with grime and Dancehall influences.
MP!: You were once a member girl band Parade a couple of years back. How does going solo compare with being in a group? Does it ever get lonely?
Jessica: Before Parade I was a soloist so the band was a de-tour for me. A very sick, enjoyable de-tour but i’ve always been a lyricist before being in a band.
MP!: You are one of the few pop stars who can pull off extremely large spectacles and yours are particularly amazing. Are they functional or purely for style purposes?
Jessica: Ah thanks! I’m blind as a bat so I suppose I ain’t got much choice but to pull them off. I sometimes wear contact lenses so I remember what my face looks like!
MP!: Who are you musical influences at the moment? Are there any artists or producers you would like to work with at some point?
Jessica: Most definitely Sia! She is amazeballs her tone her lyrical content and pure pop factor is a winner. Also Fekky a grime artist who is next level good when it comes to his flow.
MP!: You were born and bred in Bow, East London and very proud of your roots. What’s your favourite thing about that area?
Jessica: My favourite thing is that you can go down the market on a Saturday buy Pie-mash and Liquor for £2.99 and know most of the people in and around the area! Community spirit, plus where can ya buy a full meal for £2.99 anywhere else in London.
MP!: Your latest single ‘Bam Bam’ is a brilliantly bonkers pop song AND features a Jean Claude van Damme reference. Is there a story behind the track?
Jessica: Yeah but it’s pretty simple. Me and producer Fred Cox was having a convo about nobody comparing to that special person you connect with and knowing nobody ever will come close to that. The van damme line was both of us knowing he knocked out everyone in his fighting career and that’s what happens when ya In love….(not physical abuse) being bowled over type thing.
MP!: What, in your opinion, is the best pop song out at the moment and why?
Jessica: Quite easily Sia Chandelier…I remember where I was when I first heard it (that’s how much I loved it) It was on the radio in Abu Dhabi in may. I remember getting so excited over just the verse melody and her timing was so refreshing in comparison to what else was around. It made sense when I found out she was the vocalist on it as she’s one of my favourite writers.
MP!: What’s your own writing process like? Do you bang out tunes in 10 minutes flat or do you like to spend a little more time on them?
Jessica: I normally bang out verses in 10 mins yeah. The whole song normally abit longer. I do think though if nothing comes to ya and its taking too long ya need to knock it on the head until the next day or scrap the music/production.
MP!: What have you got in store over the coming year? Can we expect an official single or album? Our iPods have a Jessica Agombar-shaped hole in them…
Jessica: I’m writing an album as we speak. I’m shooting a video to Bam Bam which should be to you soon and working on filming an acoustic track I have written called “Tuesdays Love” lots to come.
MP!: And finally – sorry, we HAD to ask – who would win in a song-off between ‘Louder’ by Parade and ‘Louder’ by Neon Jungle?
Jessica: Most definitely Neon Jungle without a shadow of a doubt as they’re still a band, we stopped longtime. Otherwise it would be me on my own singing it haha.
Thanks Jessica! Everyone else you can listen to ‘Bam Bam’ right ‘ere.