This month's Emerging Artist is a brilliant bassist-cum-singer/songwriter who's performed on several continents, and is set to blaze her own trail.
Hot on the heels of recent single release "Remains", Jess Baker — frontwoman of Ugly Ozo — spoke with Isle of Wight Radio about her start in music and hopes for the future.
Hi Jess, first off – how did the name ‘Ugly Ozo’ originate?
It's a bit of a nerdy story actually!
I was watching a documentary about UFO experiences in America, and there was this one guy who said the alien came down and introduced itself as 'Ozo'.
It stayed in my head for a while... and I just put 'ugly' in front of it!
When did you first discover you had a passion for music?
I've played guitar since I was nine years-old when I got my first (pink) acoustic guitar.
I've only been writing songs since around 2019 or 2020, and earlier this year I was approached by a label called Strong Island Recordings and asked if I wanted to release a song with them.
What happened to the earlier, unreleased tracks that you recorded?
It started off as a psychedelic instrumental project, and I've still got some footage of that in the archives.
I used to have a fear of singing, I was really shy and self-conscious, and never wanted to be around a microphone.
As I got further along, I realised I needed to confront this — I had something to say, so I dug deep and found it in me to (sing in public).
Having experienced that, do you now find, conversely, you're more confident behind a mic than in daily conversation?
I think so — I've played so many shows now that I just step into a different version of myself.
I don't feel any embarrassment, whereas in person I feel very timid.
You’ve recently released debut single ‘Remains’, what’s the ethos behind the track?
I went through something really traumatic in 2020 and it reflects on the betrayal and injustice of that.
The song came (to fruition) because I was writing about the feelings I went through following that event.
It's an angry revenge song and I'm really proud to have made something from that difficult place.
I hope people will hear it and feel empowered.
For anyone who hasn’t heard your music before, how would you describe it?
I've coined this term "Doomgaze" because I think my music is kind of grungy and I like to make things a bit spooky as well.
I like to write things that are almost like Halloween tracks.
You’ve got strong links with Lauran Hibberd, what were the origins there?
We had mutual friends on the Isle of Wight music scene, and everyone sort of knows each other over here.
She needed a bass player and I just happened to be there to step in for one show.
I never anticipated it going any further, but four years later we've toured Australia and North America and played at Wembley Stadium!
She's my best friend and I feel very lucky to be part of her journey.
In terms of live performances, did it take a while to get used to those massive stadiums?
It feels like the best place for self-expression at this point.
I've been playing gigs since I was a lot younger and that's really helped with the gradual transition to bigger venues or stadiums.
Through playing with Lauran it's transitioned into my own project and I'm much more confident now.
How much has Platform One (music college in Newport) helped you?
Yeah, they've definitely helped a lot.
It forced me to be in situations I would have been uncomfortable in and helped me come out of my shell.
They also encouraged me to front my own band and I never did it while I was there, but it helped me to do that afterwards.
Can you tell us a little bit about your musical links with your sister Boo Baker?
I get to boss her about because she's in my band!
She writes as well, but we're yet to get our heads together and collab on a track.
She's my quality control — I send her my demos and she'll be brutally honest!
You’ve got some UK headline shows coming up, how can people get tickets for those or find out more?
On November 12 I'll be playing at Portsmouth's Edge of the Wedge and then one in London at the end of the month at the SEBRIGHT Arms.
Anyone who'd like to come along can find details online.
It feels really nice to have my name in the big writing on the poster now!
You performed your first Isle of Wight Festival set this summer just gone — how was the experience?
We played on the Kashmir stage which was really fun.
It was the first festival we've done and was a 40-minute Saturday night slot, so I got my biggest wings on and planned the whole thing out.
We've had a lot more venue shows this summer but next summer hopefully we'll do more festivals.
Do you have any plans for an EP or LP?
I'm in the process of putting together an EP, and will be releasing my next single this winter.
The goal for next year is definitely to release the EP.
Are there any venues or events you'd love to do?
It would be so cool to do Glastonbury, Reading or Leeds.
Alexandra Palace would be a dream venue, not even as a headline, just a support would be sick.
For anyone interested in finding out more about Ugly Ozo, how can they go about that?
On all my social media it's "Ugly Ozo", and I've got a link in my Instagram bio that takes you to everything including show dates and links to streaming.
Previous Emerging Artists of the Month
November 2022: Josh White
December 2022: Phoenix Lopes
January 2023: Meg Rasmussen
February 2023: Ben Stubbs
March 2023: Tink Beadle
April 2023: Luna Carina
May 2023: Jay Eatwell
June 2023: The Optimists
July 2023: Amy Joliffe
Jan 2024: Olivia Cure
March 2024: Ruby
April 2024: Jazah
June 2024: The Pill
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