Interview: Spark

Photographed by Ellis Scott, Styled by Lulu Wentworth

Spark, otherwise known as Jess Morgan, is an 18-year-old Walthamstow born popstrel making music that centres around her clear and sassy vocals and bold electropop synths. After graduating from the same BRIT school that has produced such names as Amy Winehouse and Adele and signing to 679/Warners, plus a tour with Diana Vickers and Pete Wentz on the way, there's the weight of expectation on her little shoulders. Surely there's no stopping her? Alison King speaks to her about touring with the big names and working with the coolest...

What would you like the people reading this to take from this interview?

The other day on twitter I wrote something so for the people that didn’t see that I’ll just say it again: Don’t say you’re gonna do it, fucking do it and say it’s done. Too many people sit around saying ‘I’m gonna do this and I’m gonna do that’, don’t say you’re gonna do it, fucking do it and say it’s done.

How important is Twitter to you?

I think it’s nice to have a conversation with your fans and for them to know me. I’m all for the ‘Je ne sais quoi’ of an artist but it’s very easy to be portrayed in a way that isn’t real. It’s nice to have somewhere where you can talk to people directly so I like to ‘keep it real’ I guess. And it’s so easy to give out information really quickly, if you have a gig - It’s up, if you post a video- It’s up, people can just get it instantly.

You signed to 679/Warners earlier this year, how did that come about?

I toured with Marina & The Diamonds earlier this year, which was obviously incredible. I was in School in May and I finished on the 11th then I went on tour with Marina the next day and it was a head fuck. I remember on the first day of tour I stood side-stage watching her after I’d performed; I’d only had one gig in Brighton before that which was to about ten people and this gig was like eight hundred people! I was just standing there stunned with my manager Jess and said “I was in school yesterday’ and she looked at me and was like “I know!”

Did you feel thrown in at the deep end?

Yeah I did, but I jumped in. I knew what I had to do and so it was I diving in headfirst. It’s difficult and there were nerves but that was mainly it, I’ve built up confidence and what I do on stage I’ve learnt from each time. If it works I’ll do it again, if it doesn’t then I don’t!

You went to the BRIT school where many big names in music have started out, how does that affect the way people think of you?

I went there because I was in a school that didn’t do music very well and I just wanted to do music, I knew nothing else about it. I auditioned, got in and had the most amazing two years but it’s not as if the head of a record company comes in and picks out his ones. Everyone who has come out of BRIT and been successful has had a completely different story. Leona Lewis went to BRIT and ended up on X Factor, she’s incredibly talented but it still took something else to get her where she is.

So how were you discovered?

It’s funny because I go on about BRIT not being this platform but it does actually have a part to play in my story. In the first week of BRIT there was an audition for a girl band for Island records and I was a singer/songwriter at this point, I was just a girl with a guitar and I wasn’t going to audition and every girl auditioned, but when they said “anyone else?” I went in on the off chance saying “Guys, I don’t want to be in a girl band but if you want I’ll sing you a song” and they said “Yeah” so I sang one of my songs, and after a while I completely forgot about it. Then they got in touch with Dougie, he was at Universal publishing at the time but moved over to 19 and introduced me to Jess who’s now my manager and who’s pretty bloody perfect.

And now you’re going on tour with Diana Vickers…

Yes! I’m pretty bloody excited!

And Pete Wentz?

He’s got a new project called Black Cards, playing Glasgow, Manchester and London and I’m flying to Glasgow straight after CMJ, which is kind of unreal

It is your first time at CMJ, what’s the plan while you’re over there?

Obviously the next single ‘Revolving’ is being released on Neon Gold so I’m meeting up with Lizzy Plapinger and Derek Davies and I’ll be working with The Knocks in the studio which I’m very excite about. I can’t wait to see them perform and Samuel as well, so I’m really looking forward to it a lot. I think me and The Knocks will be working on a few songs I’ve got but we might write a little ditty when I’m over there too, who knows!

Five years from now what’s the dream full stage set up?

I think the more music being played live, the bigger the sound and the better for everyone. If it was a big venue I’d want a massive band then it would look aesthetically better as well as filling the place with that massive sound. I might have to bust a few moves with some dancers, I don’t really dance but there are some songs where I think to myself “Actually I could bust a few moves to this one!” I don’t know… I can’t really imagine it happening because it’s a dream so I half dream then I get to the point where I’m saying to myself “Don’t be silly!” I just like to keep some balance, positive thinking is obviously the key but my feet are firmly on the ground.

What writers have you started working with on your debut album?

I have been working with some incredible writers: Paddy Burn, Niall Breslin, Alex Reid and Emma Pears, they’re all so lovely. I think if you’re gonna write a song with someone you have to have a good relationship with them. I put a lot of myself into my songs so having that good relationship with them just goes hand in hand with what comes out of it, a good relationship equals a good song.

What’s the writing process?

I have never sat down once and thought ‘I want to write a hit’ I sit down and can write a song in ten minutes. By the time I’ve got to the end of the first line, the second line is in my head just like that. It’s just the fastest and most natural thing in the world for me, it’s like rhyming and it’s easy.

When did you write your first song?

I wrote my first song when I was twelve and it was called ‘Butterflies’ It was just me and my guitar, but you’ll never hear it!

What artists or songs have inspired you?

‘Fast Car’ by Tracy Chapman is one of my favourite songs because it’s just a story from start to finish. It’s really long but when I was younger I would just listen to it on repeat over and over. I used to play it and sing it all low like Tracy Chapman does. I think music in general has different meanings though, that song for example really means something to me but then of course there’s songs like Beenie Man’s ‘Dude’ or ‘Dutty wine’ where you just want to dance around!

What does Style mean to you?

Whether you like it or not the way you look affects everything, personally if I look better I feel better. For some artists though it’s definitely a way to have an alter ego where they can step out of themselves and into this costume and they’re able to perform as amazingly as they do. For me it’s the most boring answer: I like vintage, I like jumpsuits, I like leather and denim and just being comfortable. I’m pretty firm knowing what I like and dislike but I’m pretty open to trying things out. When I go on stage, I just want to give a good show and the more comfortable I feel the more I enjoy it and the more everyone else will enjoy it. Everyone’s looking at me so whatever I’m giving out everyone else is taking from it. There are no excuses, the audience is never going to say, “It’s OK, she was just having a bad day” when you go on stage you perform and that’s exactly what I’ve chosen to do.

‘Revolving’, the second of her firecracker pop singles, is released on November 15th on Neon Gold Records. It comes with some brilliant remixes from Monsieur Adi, Warrior One and Ramadanman.




Revolving (Ramadanman Refix) by Spark (sparkthemusic)