The Old Town-raised singer releases her first official single, Gaze, this Friday, stepping out of the comfort of live rooms and familiar stages and into the sharper light of recorded music. It is a big move for any artist, and an especially brave one at sixteen.
Jasmine has already put in the hours. Over the past year she has become a recognisable presence on Swindon’s live circuit, moving fluidly between acoustic sets, an RnB girl band and backing vocals in an eight-piece soul outfit supporting twins Billie and Louie. Grade 8 trained, but never stiff, she blends jazz, soul and pop with an ease that suggests she has grown up inside music rather than just studied it.
Swindon has a habit of producing musicians who cut their teeth locally before finding wider audiences, and Jasmine’s path feels very much part of that tradition. School performances, community events, open mics and small stages have all played their part, the kind of ecosystem where young artists learn how to hold a room, make mistakes, and come back stronger the next night.
Those who have heard her live often talk about the weight in her voice, soulful, emotionally open, with phrasing that may remind some listeners of Amy Winehouse. Not in imitation, but in that same sense of honesty, where the voice sounds like it is telling the truth rather than showing off.
Music has also been a shared language at home. Jasmine has spoken about the influence of her mum, Rebecca Sayers, herself a singer, with their shared love of music shaping Jasmine’s confidence and curiosity from an early age. It is easy to hear that familial grounding in the way she sings, assured, but never forced.
On social media, Jasmine has been quietly building anticipation for Gaze, sharing a pre-save link ahead of its release on 19 December. The track marks her first step into releasing music that is fully her own. Gaze was recorded over the summer with her dad, Sam Bates, adding a personal layer to the track’s creation.
Jasmine said,
“Releasing my first song feels really scary but also exciting. I have been singing for as long as I can remember, but putting something out that is actually mine feels like a whole new level. I just hope people listen to it and feel something, even if it is just for a few minutes. I am proud of myself for being brave enough to do it.”
Whether Gaze is the start of something long-term or simply the first chapter, it captures a moment, a young artist finding her voice, backed by a town that continues to give new musicians space to grow, be heard, and take that first real leap.
Pre-save her new debut track Gaze on spotify, apple music and itunes.
