Jessica O’Donoghue

“A mercurial talent, Jessica has created songs with real depth. Listening to the album is a full-bodied experience: theatrical and intimate, operatic and haunting, raw and urgent, at once dark and contemplative and inspiring. It’s pop music with a difference.” – Ashleigh Wilson (Arts Editor at The Australian)

“Hypnotic, powerful and haunting. The vocals remind me of Sarah Blasko, soaring with an unrestrained strength. The production has so much depth, and a uniquely raw edge that keeps me completely captivated. It’s safe to say that I’m a fan.” – Delia Bartle (Indie Shuffle)

More than a decade has passed since Jessica turned her back on an opera career to pursue eclectic musical experiences bound only by imagination. Her projects ranged from pop music, particularly with the Sydney band CODA, to jazz, cabaret, musical theatre, Renaissance music and (yes) contemporary opera. Her many collaborators include Nick Wales, Jane Tyrell, Jared Underwood, Bree Van Reyk and Alyx Dennison. She has performed in festivals and venues around the world including VIVID Festival, Sydney Festival (Opera House), Adelaide Festival (Adelaide Festival Centre), Melbourne International Arts Festival (Malthouse), Movimentos Festival (Wolfsburg), Georgetown Festival (Penang), and multiple festivals around Europe (Luxembourg, Stockholm, Ludwigsburg and Ludwigshafen) while continuing to pursue fresh ways to tell stories through music.

Jessica’s creative ambitions have culminated in her debut EP Emerge, a remarkable statement of intent from a singer confident in her own sound. It was recorded and produced in Sydney by Neal Sutherland, an ARIA-award winning artist who has worked closely with the likes of Bertie Blackman, Jack Ladder, Sarah Blasko, Megan Washington, Josh Pyke, Julian Hamilton (Presets) and Sophie Lowe.

After the successful release of her first single ‘Parachute’, Jessica is heading down to Canberra to celebrate the release of her second single ‘Flow’. The ‘Single Launch Party’ is at Smith’s Alternative on Friday 10th February and she will be performing with Neal Sutherland and special guest (and local Canberra muso) Pheno (Jess Green).