Zedd is known for his massive anthems that he collaborates with on either big artists or up and coming artists in the industry. His new song with singer/songwriter, Jasmine Thompson is called “Funny.” The song, written by Thompson is a clash of both Zedd’s coming of age EDM sound and Thompson’s authentic soul searching songwriting. ECHO had the chance to chat with Thompson about her new song and much more.
Let’s talk your recent collaboration with Zedd. How did that come to be and what was the creative process behind the song like/
I was in the studio in LA, about a year ago, and I was working with these producers called Monsters and Strangerz and they work quite a lot with Zedd, they have in the past and they’re also really good friends. I was back in London and they actually ended up sending “funny,” which was originally more of a piano ballad, they sent it over to Zedd and he immediately loved it and wanted to collaborate. It was such a big surprise to me because no one told me, or mentioned it to me, it was a quite really a good surprise, I never expected that I would get an email with Zedd’s production on a song and I love what he did straight away, he really interpreted it into a really positive and hopeful vibe.
What did you learn from working with Zedd, since he’s been in the industry for so long?
Yeah, like you said, he’s been in the industry for a while and he’s obviously incredibly successful. What I loved learning about Zedd, spending time and chatting to him, I think he’s a very grounded person and super talented and very inspiring to be that hard working. He’s a classically trained musician and you can see that in his music. I think it’s very lovely how he’s built his own world and you can really tell when his songs are his, they have that sort of sound and I really think that’s inspiring for another artist to see.
There’s been a lot of negativity in the world lately, what lately have you found “funny?”
Even the smallest things I’d say, little videos on TikTok make me laugh so much. Normally it wouldn’t tickle me as much, but because it’ other people being hilarious where normally you’d see them out on the street, things like that, little TikTok videos.
You became known for your viral covers on You Tube, how did you go about making them sound your own and unique?
I think it’s really important to to pick a song that you’re really connected to, especially for me. I didn’t really want to sing any random cover song, it had to be a song I really liked. I was quite young when I was doing one of those You Tube videos, I wasn’t that tech savvy, I wasn’t really able to produce or make recordings, a lot of the time my mom helped out filming. A lot of the time I just did it very simple, recorded a keyboard or piano. For me that stripped back kind of feel really captured my You Tube cover era.
You started off really young in the industry and you’re only 19, how do you stay grounded in the industry?
I have brutally honest friends. I don’t really like surrounding myself with yes people and my friends and family have really made sure to call me out on things and I think that’s really important. I will also say, the reason I’m in the music industry is because I really enjoy making music, I really want to create, so it’s really easy to get distracted by shiny things and success and things like that, but for me. I just want to do the music and that’s the first and foremost thing I do.
You’re mom is a hard worker, how does your mom inspire you to thrive to be who you are today?
Oh, in so many ways. Honestly, I don’t think the interview is long enough. She has been a really good mom, not to get too deep, she’s been a really solid rock for our family, she really inspired both me and my brother to be creative, try hard and just to work. Also, I’m watching my mom flourish at the moment, she’s playing loads of tennis and she’s gardening all the time. Every couple of years, there’s a new shift in the family and it’s nice to see a woman living in constant change I guess.
If you could set up a fan in a setting for them to listen to your music, what setting would that be?
I think that if you go to the country side of the U.K. and you find a huge hill, it’s really pretty, there’s something about it when it’s super peaceful and quiet and all you hear are noisy sheep, it’s really sweet, it’s where my dad lives. I think when I listen to music I love just staring into space, the idea of having that sort of view would be nice and calming, I guess it would suit the saddest songs or upbeat ones cause you can dance around and no one will see you.
What’s one quote you heard in life that you want to ECHO out to the world?
I heard one the other day, I know this isn’t too inspiring, “If you can’t buy it twice, then you can’t afford it.” It really struck me and I remembered it over the past couple of weeks. I don’t spend much but it just makes a lot of sense.
Take a listen to the new song by Jasmine Thompson and Zedd below.