Living in a Post-Genre World': Ashaine White Breaks Boundaries at the London Jazz Festival

Leila Uddin, BSc Politics, Philosophy and Economics and Adam Brocklesby, BA History  09/12/2024

On Wednesday, 20th November, The Jazz Social hosted Ashaine White as part of the London Jazz Festival. Defined by her distinctive grunge-soul style, White delivered an electrifying set that blurred the lines between jazz, soul, and alternative rock.

For White, this performance was more than a gig; it was a homecoming. Having worked for the London Jazz Festival as a programmer, her return as an artist symbolised a full-circle moment. In a pre-show interview with the Spirit, White explained the roots of her distinctive sound: 'I grew up on soul and R&B… because that was what my mum was into, and also reggae because my heritage is Jamaican. As I got older, I started getting into the edgier side of things.' 

Looking around during the set, the audience were visibly entranced, with songs such as 'All My Wrongs' and 'Meant To Be,' which welcome the listener into a vulnerable side of White, voicing thoughts one might only open up to their closest friends about. 

White explained that her exposure to Rihanna’s darker, pop-esque songs led her to Radiohead, who 'changed her life'. After hearing jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Nina Simone, Ashaine discovered a connection across these seemingly disparate genres. 'The underlying theme to grunge, jazz, and soul is this melancholy, real-life experience and bearing of the soul,' she shared.

'Listening to [Fitzgerald’s and Simone’s] music is educational for me… I still want to make an ‘Ashaine White’ song, but all of these things I’ve learnt bleed into my music.' Ashaine explained that, for her, music serves as both personal therapy and as a means of connection.

The EFG London Jazz Festival, now in its 32nd year, has become Europe’s largest pan-city music celebration. This year’s festival emphasises cultural diversity and artist empowerment. Festival programmer Ash Doherty explained to the Spirit that the event not only honours jazz’s rich history but also champions emerging artists like Ashaine White. 'Ashaine’s music is a prime example of us living in a post-genre world,' Doherty said. 'Jazz is about challenging stereotypes, and Ashaine does that really well.'

The gig also featured tracks from her latest EP, Cause for Concern, including 'Favourite Thing', a tender love song inspired by her current relationship. White joked about the 'cringe' of writing love songs in today’s music scene, but seemed to enjoy singing them nonetheless. 

In her song 'Hotel,' Ashaine reflected on her teenage years under the watchful eye of her Jamaican mother, comparing youthful rebellion with the eventual freedom of adulthood. Her candid storytelling was paired with her mesmerising vocals, the first lyric drawing surprised laughs from the audience: ‘Ash treats this house like a hotel.’

She finished with a cover of 'Here Comes the Sun.’ Before she began, White had warned the audience that we would be singing with her and sure enough, we were invited to join in with the final chorus. 

When we asked her about influences, White told us: 'Jazz is where my voice comes from, soul is where my heart comes from, and grunge is where my punk comes from'. 

Ashaine White uses music to make herself feel better, and wants to use her sound to do the same for others. This is a very punk sentiment. A vocal advocate for causes such as Black Lives Matter, White channels activism into her work: 'As a Black woman, I can’t ignore issues affecting me and others like me. Nina Simone said it best: ‘An artist’s job is to reflect the times.’

Be sure to stream Ashaine White’s new song 'I Sing to Myself' for some musical therapy, and don’t miss the chance to explore the EFG London Jazz Festival next year.