JACOTÉNE – BIO ‘I used to think people could read my mind. I want the world to know what I’m trying to do here – now I’m going to show them.’ At 19, JACOTÉNE, real name Chelsea Jacotine, has already created a bidding war, signed to a record label off the strength of one track, and moved to the other side of the world. She knows exactly what she’s doing, now it’s time for the rest of the world to take note; an idea she plays with in her debut EP; Untitled (Read My Mind). Over six tracks, JACOTÉNE introduces herself as both a contemporary artist to be reckoned with, and an indelibly timeless artist; you can hear that her formative years were steeped in the storytelling of Lauryn Hill and the vocals of Amy Winehouse. In her latest single, the soul spiked R&B Why’d You Do That? JACOTÉNE is battle ready. ‘It’s a confrontation song’ she explains, ‘sometimes it’s easy to forget that humans can be shady.’ Born and raised in Melbourne, music was a constant soundtrack to JACOTÉNE’s childhood. At church, singing fuelled her sense of faith and spirituality, and at home, the sounds of legendary artists constantly filled the space. ‘When I think of my childhood, it’s always a Sunday morning. Mum’s cooking a chicken curry. Church is at 11. We’re listening to Lauryn Hill on the CD player.’ Her debut EP, released in June was recorded in Miami during some of her first ever studio sessions, JACOTÉNE says the weather made her feel at home, while the distance from home fuelled a sense of creative self discovery. ‘I was going through so much change, the EP is me trying to make sense of it.’ Stop Calling, produced by Grammy-winning producer J Moon (Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys) is an empowerment anthem that speaks to the irresistible nineties R&B she grew up on, while tender ballad Forgive Me explores the tension between her whirlwind successes as a singer and the cost that growing up so quickly had on her close friendships. Striking in its soft simplicity, Stronger could easily be about falling in love, but charts a different kind of relationship. ‘I need you to come and make me stronger / I need you to show me the way’ she pleads, with urgent staccato delivery. The song was dedicated to JACOTÉNE’s family; a way of staying connected from the other side of the world. Family has always been a hugely important part of the musician’s life. At just seven months old, she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia. ‘I think for me, it’s important to not ignore that step of my journey,’ she says. Though she was too young to remember much more than annual hospital checkups, she’s acutely aware of the enduring impact the trauma had on her family, and the strength of their bond. Despite her deft ability to write great love songs; the EP is striking in JACOTÉNE’s ability to mine everything from faith to friendship. Earlier this year, JACOTÉNE moved to London and wrote Leave Me the day she landed. An ethereal choral arrangement nods to her years spent in church choirs, while her rich, soulful vocals demonstrate a bolder, more confident iteration of JACOTÉNE. ‘I went out with my best friend the night before I left, and I had this question in my mind; why would I leave you and this world when it is so perfect? The song is about saying goodbye, and coming to the realization that she will always be there, like my family will.’ Soon to be released, A Thousand Heavens continues JACOTÉNE’s long goodbye, ‘Sometimes, I just need to know you are there’ she sings, her voice both melancholy and full of power. Family is intrinsic to JACOTÉNE’s artistry. Both of her parents instilled an early and eclectic love of the greats—Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Michael Jackson. Singing quickly became a way of life and she’d belt out Boney M’s Daddy Cool and Alicia Keys’ Girl On Fire to anyone who would listen, not quite realising how powerful her voice was. It was her mother who first suggested she take singing lessons in 2014. By 2022, while still learning to master her own voice, JACOTÉNE’s music school held an online showcase during lockdown. It was there that the artist-in-waiting met her now-manager. He’d only witnessed her sing one song—a stripped back rendition of the Fugees’ Killing Me Softly—but he recognised a star in the making. That same year, JACOTÉNE entered Unearthed High, a seminal competition for new artists in Australia hosted by national radio station Triple J. JACOTÉNE had been writing songs her whole life for fun, so setting foot in a recording studio for the first time didn’t feel daunting—it felt like a natural extension of the artist she already was in private. Her first single, I Need Therapy, showcased her powerhouse vocals, lyrical prowess, and a maturity far beyond her years. She went on to beat hundreds of thousands of hopefuls and win the competition. In less than three years since that pivotal moment, JACOTÉNE has signed a major deal with Sony, and performed her first European tour, which the young artist took in her stride. ‘I fully relax when I’m on stage. I don’t know why. It’s almost like it’s a release..it’s a different energy, it’s a free energy,’ The run included opening shows for the likes of Tems and Pa Salieu, as well as being selected to play at CHANEL’s annual Métier’s d’art show. ‘Life is good in CHANEL’ she quips. ‘I was contemplating whether to buy a pair of sunglasses just before I got signed. I did it, because whenever I see CHANEL I think, one day I’m gonna be on their billboards. Then I got asked to perform, it was such a special show, if I could redo any moment, it would be that one’. It’s clear JACOTÉNE’s time truly is now. Can you see what she’s doing here?