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Jess Locke taught her self to play the guitar as a teenager growing up on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Locke has been writing songs for as long as she has playing music and became fascinated with the process of recording them using old microphones, tape recorders and whatever was lying around.
Even before moving to Sydney, where she became acquainted with the local DIY community, Locke had a hands on, experimental approach to making music that remains, more than a decade after writing her first songs.
A series of early bedroom recordings, along with a tendency to perform in unconventional spaces such as water parks, cemeteries and roundabouts was due to practicality as much as aesthetic preference.
After relocating to Melbourne and finishing an Arts degree, Locke independently released her first full-length album, Words That Seem To Slip Away, which gained her local and national airplay and a growing stream of gig offers.
Locke has since completed both solo and full-band national support tours with Paul Dempsey and The Smith Street Band, plus supports for Julia Jacklin, Tiger’s Jaw (USA) and Into It. Over It. (USA). Locke has undertaken multiple headline tours including international tours to South East Asia and New Zealand.
Locke’s sophomore album ‘Universe’ was released on Pool House / Remote Control in 2017. It received a four-star review in Rolling Stone, was longlisted for the Australian Music Prize and was a triple j feature album. Following a national headline album tour, Locke finished off the year playing at Falls Festival in Lorne.
‘…a songwriter capable of balancing introspective reflection with pop-skewed accessibility’ – ROLLING STONE
‘The simple melody of [Paper Planes] allows Jess’s lyrics to shine through and draw you in’ – RICHARD KINGSMILL
‘…a voice nothing short of revolutionary’ – BLUNT
‘I’m excited to discover the next generation of narrative songwriters and here’s one you definitely have to hear’ – HENRY WAGONS
‘Locke doesn’t just play songs but projects moods’ – RABBIT RADIO
