JES on Why We Always Come Back to Emotional Music

Long before streaming algorithms and genre labels, her songs found their way into late-night drives, first festival moments, and dancefloors where emotion mattered as much as energy. Tracks like “As the Rush Comes” and “Imagination” didn’t just define an era of electronic music — they helped listeners fall in love with it.

What makes JES’s journey especially compelling is that she has never stayed in one role. Known globally as a vocalist, she has always been deeply involved behind the scenes as a songwriter, producer, DJ, and label owner. Her work has earned multiple Grammy nominations, Billboard #1s, and collaborations with some of the most influential names in dance music — yet her approach has remained grounded in feeling rather than a formula. While dance music has often been framed as producer-led, JES has quietly built a career proving that vocalists can shape the sound, the story, and the longevity of a record.

Beyond the studio and stage, JES has also become a trusted guide in the scene. Through her long-running radio show Unleash The Beat, she’s championed new music, spotlighted emerging artists, and stayed deeply connected to the culture as it continues to evolve. It’s a role that mirrors her career: part storyteller, part curator, and part constant presence.

From the golden age of trance to today’s evolving melodic and progressive landscapes, she has continued to adapt without losing her emotional core. Her voice has crossed genres, generations, and scenes — not by chasing trends, but by staying honest to the feeling that made people connect in the first place. As new interpretations of her music emerge and fresh collaborations bring her work into the present moment, JES remains a rare constant in electronic music: timeless, evolving, and deeply human.

Hi Jes! You first gained recognition as the vocalist on Motorcycle’s ‘As the Rush Comes,’ Grammy award-winning trance anthem for many fans discovering electronic music. Did it ever hit you that your voice became a gateway for a whole generation, and how did the track shape your career?

Looking back now, I’ve really come to understand the impact that track had, not just as a Trance anthem, but for vocalists in the dance world as a whole. When "As the Rush Comes" was released, there was an opening for a new sound, a new era of songs that made an impact and lived with you longer than a month. At the time, I was pretty naive about the genre, which made it even more exciting to be part of. I had been writing and recording different styles, like pop-rock and R&B, and I felt a strong need to make a statement, to represent a voice that commanded attention. It was amazing to see just how influential it became. I see it even more clearly now, and I’m beyond grateful to have been part of that movement. It completely changed the direction of my life and my musical career, and it put me on a wave I’m still very happy to be riding now, twisting and turning into new places, excited to break new ground and create new pathways for vocalists.

You’ve worked with or been associated with artists who defined entire eras like Armin van Buuren, Cosmic Gate, BT, ATB, Paul Oakenfold, Above & Beyond, Kaskade, Ferry Corsten, etc. Looking back at working with Tiësto, what do you feel you brought into his world and what did he unlock in you?

Working with Tiësto was an incredible opportunity. One of the biggest things I took away from that experience was getting a glimpse into his world and being able to watch someone truly at the top of their game. Seeing what it actually took, the discipline, the time management, the focus, and the standard he held himself to in everything he did in his music and performances. It’s always meaningful to work with people who share the same energy, determination, and work ethic, and to witness how that commitment translates into real success. Being around all the moving parts, the team, the structure, and the momentum was really inspiring. He was a powerful example of turning goals and dreams into something tangible and real. I feel like I brought something meaningful to that collaboration. I helped create songs that showed how a simple, well-crafted idea, even without a beat, can unlock some of the biggest anthems. I insisted on creating an acoustic version of Everything, which wasn’t something he did at the time, and he wasn’t so into the idea, but it became one of his favorite versions and was added to the album.

You’re one of the most influential vocalists in trance and EDM, and you also run Intonenation Records and ‘Unleash The Beat.’ Reflecting on your journey so far, what truly defines success and impact in electronic music today?

Thank you so much. Every day I forge forward and try not to be too critical of myself (which isn’t always easy). Authenticity has always been the most important thing to me. Not chasing trends, but really being you and being honest about what you’re conveying. That honesty is what creates a real connection, and for me, that connection with fans and listeners is the true goal. That’s always been the real measure of success, because that connection is the most beautiful thing. On a personal level, success means simply being the best version of myself: staying curious, not getting lazy, keeping ideas flowing, and protecting that sense of inspiration. I genuinely love what I do, and I’m truly addicted to creating and pushing myself forward. To me, success is about evolving in your craft and not giving up. I don’t see myself ever not making music or singing, and I’ve learned to pace myself. It’s a long journey with so many layers, but that’s all part of what makes it meaningful.

You’re hands-on at every stage — writing, singing, composing, producing, and DJing. How does a track evolve for you, from that first spark of inspiration to hearing it come alive on the dancefloor?

That’s a great question, and I'd say every track is different. Sometimes it starts with a lyric, sometimes a title, sometimes a chord progression, but ultimately, I have to feel pulled toward it and want to explore it and work on it. I usually start by scatting it down and letting my emotions pour out of me (like a waterfall ;-)), then I listen back and look for ideas that feel memorable and important, and build from there. I work that way whether I’m writing to an existing track or creating my own tracks from scratch. Later, I’ll sift through the lyrics, which can take time unless I’m really in a flow, in which case they come more easily. Once that’s done, I cut and arrange and mix my vocals, then either send them off to the DJ or artist I’m collaborating with, or continue developing the track with my closest collaborator and producer, Richard Robson. It's funny, every time I start something I wonder how it will come out and how it will get to the finish line... ultimately hearing it come to life on the dance floor and seeing people singing and dancing to it is a pretty magical experience!

What do you think artists today misunderstand the most about building real longevity in dance music?

Well, it’s definitely a long game. There are so many components to building momentum and a career that lasts. It is important to build your identity. The music industry moves fast, but it’s more important to represent something true and make music that has meaning to the fans, rather than releasing lots of mediocre tracks. Some of the biggest names in music have made their careers on a handful of songs. Meaning matters. As the world changes, people gravitate toward things they truly connect with. Patience is essential. While some artists experience incredible bursts in their careers, most success takes longer than you want it to, and a huge amount of self-belief. Evolving and developing your art is also very important. It’s not about being everywhere all the time. It’s about meaning something to someone, building one fan at a time. Play the long game. Connection is what truly matters, and the support of your fans is what will keep you growing artistically and commercially.

Dance music used to feel very producer-driven. Vocalists have always been part of dance music, but it seems they’re now more involved across different genres and are finally getting the recognition they deserve. How do you feel about that?

Before electronic music, I was in the pop/rock industry, and it was more usual to be equally credited. When I started out in the dance scene, the business differences were strange, and sometimes I had to fight to get my name on my songs. Vocals have definitely become more popular, and there are way more tracks coming out with vocals, but I think we still have a way to go. I see an increasing trend of vocalists not being credited at all. Singers and songwriters have been pushing for a long time to be recognized in dance, so that is a worrying development. It’s still a daily grind to protect your name and rights because the norms in dance have been created over a long history, and change can be slow to take effect. It is truly inspiring when you are equally acknowledged, and I’m very excited to see progress in so many ways, but we all have to keep the pressure on to keep moving forward!

Trance once dominated the global scene and is slowly finding new life again. Why do you think emotional and melodic music always finds its way back?

It’s natural to want to feel things, to feel good, and for emotional, melodic music has a way of transporting us to the most meaningful part of our lives. It evokes memories, times, people, places, and the shades and moods in the chapters of our lives. That’s what music truly is, a language we all understand, something we can connect and bond through. It’s the energy at the core of everything. In the same way fashions and styles come around and re-inspire our culture, so does music. It's part of the beauty of art, as new generations experience it all as something new, reacting to the energy and keeping it alive. The love and connection of great rhythms, melodies, and forms never really disappears, it returns, reimagined, and ready to be felt again.

Your voice has moved across Trance, Progressive, House, and beyond. How do you decide which sonic worlds feel right at different moments, and how do you know when a sound still feels truly ‘JES’?

I love so many different styles and genres, I could never be tied to just one. Sometimes when I’m writing a song, it’s the beat or the progression of chords that directs me, and I often try to go totally against the grain of what it is saying. It’s important to play around with it, but in the end, I have to feel it in my gut. If it feels right, that’s my only barometer. If I’m collaborating on a song and someone else is 100% convinced it’s great, I’ll often try to hear it in the way they do and remind myself to be open to how other people might feel about it. As long as the vibe is there for me and it has an opinion and some type of emotional connection, I can trust someone else's opinion. But when I’m working on something for myself, it has to feel absolutely right to me before I let it go. Music is a feeling, and if my instinct isn’t immediately yes, then it’s not ready yet!

Top chart hits like “Imagination” continue to be reworked by different generations of producers — most recently with the Paul Thomas remix. What’s it like hearing your original emotions re-translated through someone else’s sound years later?

Remixes can be a great way to re-energize a song. When they’re done well (like Paul Thomas' take on Imagination), they can give a track a whole new life, carrying it across genres, time, and production styles while updating or modernizing it. I’ve always loved remixes, and Imagination has gone through a few, but Paul brought a beautifully melodic, contemporary feel that really fits this moment in time. I always loved his productions, so hearing what he’s done with this remix has been especially exciting for me. We’re all very proud of how it turned out and can’t wait for everyone to hear it when it’s released on January 30th on Magik Muzik.

After everything you’ve achieved, what still excites you — or even scares you — about making new music? Is there a creative risk you still haven’t taken but feel drawn to?

Performing new music, making new albums, and creating new pieces of work is what really excites me. Interaction and being live in the moment, the uncertainty, the chaos, the raw craziness of the energy never gets boring. Bringing new songs to life on stage and feeling the crowd’s response is what it’s all about for me. I’m only interested in doing new things and stretching myself at this point. It can be hard to listen to myself sometimes, so I need to keep it moving and make it different all the time. I have a new album coming out this year, which is totally different from what I’m known for. I started the album as one thing, and it morphed into another by itself. I was just going with the artistic flow and took it as a sign that I needed to go there. I am very interested in seeing the response! I have so much more music in me. I already feel like I'm working on my next album in my head right now, and I can’t wait to see where that takes me. I’m not opposed to any genre of music; I feel them all, but I‘m going to try to make the next album in a very specific color and with a particular feel and mood and not go outside the lines …now that’s something I haven’t tried before!

When fans listen to a JES record in 2026, what do you hope they feel when it ends?

I would like them to come away feeling like they know me even more. I want the record to take them on an emotional rollercoaster, something we can experience together. I want it to feel personal, like I made it for them. I want them to be happy, sad, laugh, cry, and feel all the emotional colors of the rainbow! It should be an acknowledgment of everything we’ve all been living through, especially with how unpredictable life has been these past few years, and to let them feel supported. It’s like saying, it’s okay, I’ve got you, and we’re going to be alright together, and there's still some hope.