Jemima Patient Interview

Aussie Songwriter to Donate Profits to Mental Health Charity

Australian singer-songwriter Jemima has a new single on the horizon. The dreamy folk-pop track "Patient" (out March 4, released independently) was written as a reminder: when you're struggling with mental health, be kind, loving, and patient with yourself.

Jemima already donates 10% of everything she earns to various charities but wanted to go that extra mile with "Patient."

For the first three months of release, the 23-year-old musician from Newcastle, NSW will donate 100% of the profits from "Patient" (including all streams and sales across all platforms) to the Black Dog Institute, a non-profit that works to improve the lives of people affected by mental illness through research and increased accessibility to mental health services.

After the three-month period is over, she will return to donating 10% of all profits as normal.

Recorded at Rockinghorse Studio near Byron Bay, "Patient" was written by Jemima and engineered and mixed by Paul Pilsneniks, who has also engineered acts like Angus and Julia Stone, Pete Murray, Silverchair, and Powderfinger.

The song has already won over Aussie folk artist Angus Stone. After hearing the track, Stone invited Jemima to his home studio to sing backing vocals on his upcoming release.

"Patient" is Jemima's second release. After studying a Bachelor of Songwriting in London and performing regularly around Soho and Camden, Jemima returned to Australia and released her first single, "He'll Never Be You." She will release her debut EP later this year.

Interview with Jemima

Question: How would you describe your music?

Jemima: My songs usually start with a story, or at least an emotion that I need to let out. So I'd describe my music as narrative and honest. I also like bringing together elements of folk and pop.


Question: Can you tell us about Patient?

Jemima: Patient is a song I wrote while living in London. I love singing it live because it's very meaningful to me, but I have cried onstage a few times while performing it (laughs).


Question: What inspired Patient?

Jemima: I was struggling a lot with my mental health when I wrote this song. When I'm going through something, I like to try to figure out what I'm feeling and what I'm needing to move on. So this song was me realising I actually just needed to be patient and let myself feel what I was feeling, rather than try to fight or hide it.


Question: Why is it important to you to donate the profits of Patient?

Jemima: Even though society has never been more aware of the complexities of mental health, we still have a long way to go. I believe we need to better understand mental illness – the causes and how to help people in the most effective way. Then we need to make sure the people that need support are actually getting it.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Jemima: Not necessarily. I always write from a personal perspective but the beautiful thing about music is that each person will hear something specific to them or be reminded of their own story.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Jemima: Definitely live. It's so special to be able to stand on stage and connect with people directly.


Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Jemima: I usually love performing whatever song I wrote the most recently because then it's the most relevant to how I'm feeling. I also love playing 500 Miles by The Proclaimers. I do a slower, more stripped back version but people still recognize it so it's a lot of fun to perform.

Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Jemima: Taylor Swift, so I could thank her for making music that has comforted and inspired me since I was a kid.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Jemima: I guess the desire to tell a story. I think I write to be understood by others but also to understand myself.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Jemima: I've had Aussie artist Gretta Ray on repeat, as well as Maisie Peters and Gabrielle Aplin.


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?

Jemima: This is an interesting question because I can't pinpoint a specific moment. It was just always something I knew I wanted, ever since I was very young. I would write these songs when I was about 7, usually about my dog or something (laughs). That hunger for having a career in music has just grown over time.


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?
Jemima: Nina Nesbitt. She's so talented and hardworking and seems like a very genuine person too so I feel like collaborating with her would be a lot of fun.


Question: What has been your favourite part of becoming a music artist?

Jemima: When someone comes up to you after a show and says that one of your songs made them cry or laugh or feel understood. That's such an amazing feeling. To put a song out into the world that you really connect with and to have someone reach out and say, "I feel that too". I always cherish those moments.


Question: What's next, for you?

Jemima: I'm heading back into the studio soon to record my debut EP, which will be released later this year. I'll be releasing another single first though and playing a few shows. If you'd like to stay up to date, feel free to follow me on social media, it would make my day!


Question: Can you share your socials?

Jemima: www.facebook.com/jemimamusic
@jemimamusic
@jemimasong


Interview by Brooke Hunter