Jessie Ware
Jessica Lois Ware (born 15 October 1984) is an English singer-songwriter an… Read Full Bio ↴Jessica Lois Ware (born 15 October 1984) is an English singer-songwriter and podcaster. Her debut studio album Devotion (2012) peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart and produced the single "Wildest Moments". Her follow-up record, Tough Love (2014), reached number nine in the United Kingdom. In October 2017, Ware released her third studio album, Glasshouse, by Island Records. Ware and her mother present a food podcast called Table Manners. Her fourth album, What's Your Pleasure?, was released in June 2020 to critical acclaim, and reached number three in the United Kingdom.
Early life
Ware was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in Hammersmith, London, on 15 October 1984. She was raised in Clapham, London. She is the daughter of Helena (née Keell, usually called Lennie), a social worker, and John Ware, a BBC Panorama reporter, who divorced when she was 10. She is the younger sister of British actress Hannah Ware. Her mother was supportive in her early musical career and Ware considers her to be "her hero", saying "She brought up my sister, brother and me with so much love and fun and always told me I could do anything I want." Ware's mother is Jewish and she was raised in the faith.
Ware was educated at Alleyn's School, a co-educational independent school in Dulwich in South London, followed by the University of Sussex, where she graduated with a degree in English literature. After her studies, Ware briefly worked as a journalist at The Jewish Chronicle, did sports journalism at The Daily Mirror and worked behind the scenes at TV company Love Productions. There, she was a colleague of Erika Leonard, otherwise known as E. L. James, the author of Fifty Shades of Grey.
2009–11: Career beginnings
In the years prior to releasing her first solo album, Ware did backing vocals at live shows for Jack Peñate (who took her on tour in the U.S.) and Man Like Me. Ware said she learned a lot during her time with Jack Peñate: "Performing with him was really good training, because I got to learn all about how other people do it – I was able to perform live without the pressure of being a lead singer. It gave me a taste of what to expect, and it prepared me for what I’m doing now."
One of Peñate's bandmates, Tic, first introduced Ware to SBTRKT; Ware and SBTRKT went on to collaborate on 'Nervous' (2010). She consequently met Sampha, best known as SBTRKT's main collaborator and live member. They created "Valentine" together, which was released on a special edition, heart-shaped vinyl by Young Turks in 2011. "Valentine" was partly inspired by James Blake's song "The Wilhelm Scream" and based on their own personal experiences in love. The music video for "Valentine" was directed by Marcus Söderlund. "Nervous", "Valentine" and an additional collaboration with DJ Joker ("The Vision") led Ware to a record deal with PMR Records. She also featured on Ceremonials, the 2011 album by Florence and the Machine in which her good friend Florence Welch is lead singer.
On 14 October 2011, Ware released her debut solo single "Strangest Feeling" on limited 10" purple vinyl, although the song did not chart in the United Kingdom.
2011–13: Devotion
On 20 August 2012, Ware released her debut album Devotion, which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart. She then released "Running" on 24 February 2012 as the lead single from her debut studio album, Devotion. "110%" was released as the album's second single on 13 April, peaking at number 61 in the United Kingdom. "Wildest Moments" was released as the album's third single on 29 June, peaking at number 46 in the United Kingdom. "Night Light" was released as the fourth single on 24 August.
Devotion was announced as a nominee for the prestigious Mercury Prize that year. Ware toured in the United Kingdom in the early part of March 2013, supported by Laura Mvula, starting with Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Oxford, Bristol and ending in London. The United Kingdom tour was followed by a European tour in the second half of March 2013 and a US tour in April 2013. In the summer of 2013, Ware played many festivals all over the world, and at the end of 2013, Jessie went on tour in the United States again.
2014–16: Tough Love
The new album, Tough Love, was released on 6 October 2014. Ware began writing the album earlier that year. The album peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart, becoming her second top ten album. "Tough Love" was the first single to be taken from the new album and released on 3 August 2014. "Tough Love" was compared to "Prince at his minimalist '80's best" by Pitchfork. "Tough Love" is produced together with BenZel, the production duo composed of London post-bass producer Two Inch Punch and mega-producer Benny Blanco who Ware previously worked with on the single "If You Love Me"; Benzel are also executive producers of her new album. Ed Sheeran co-wrote the song "Say You Love Me". Ware played the Wilderness Festival (7–10 August 2014); a pair of additional dates at Berlin Festival 2014 (6 July 2014) and Sopot Gulf of Art (26 July 2014) that year.
Ware contributed a song for Nicki Minaj's third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014), called "The Crying Game" in which Minaj alternates between "devastating verses and pensive crooning" whilst Ware adds "haunting" and "soulful" vocals to the chorus. Originally, Ware only received a songwriting credit, but she was then credited on updated versions of the album. She also co-wrote the song "New Man" for Ed Sheeran's third album ÷ and provided background vocals on it and two other songs.
2017–18: Glasshouse
n October 2017, Ware returned to the stage after a two-year absence in anticipation of the release of her third studio album Glasshouse. Featuring contribution from Francis and the Lights, Ed Sheeran, Cashmere Cat, Julia Michaels and others, it was preceded by its first three singles "Midnight", "Selfish Love" and "Alone". Glasshouse debuted and peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart.
In October 2018, Ware released the non-album single "Overtime."
2019–present: What's Your Pleasure?
Ware's What's Your Pleasure? was released on 27 June, 2020, after being pushed back from its initial release date of 5 June. The first single from the album, "Adore You", was released in February 2019. This was followed by "Mirage (Don't Stop)" in November. The next single from the album, "Spotlight", was released in February 2020.
Other work
Towards the end of 2017, Ware launched a podcast, produced with her mother, called Table Manners for Acast and Island Records about "family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat", featuring a new guest each week on the show. The first episode became available on 8 November 2017 and featured British singer-songwriter and friend Sam Smith. The show has since entered its fourth season, including guests such as Ed Sheeran, Randy Jackson, Nigella Lawson, Sandy Toksvig, Daniel Kaluuya, Paloma Faith, George Ezra Annie Mac and Kylie Minogue .
On 23 January 2019 Jessie announced on her Instagram that she had created a unique premium kidswear collaboration called "Anyware Kids" launching online and in selected retailers Spring 2019, developed by award-winning designer George Reddings. "Designed specifically to grow with your child, the oversized boxy shapes and simple minimal styles, are seasonless and gender-equal." The website officially went live on 31 March 2019.
Philanthropy
Ware is a UNICEF UK ambassador and travelled with them to Bangladesh, Cameroon and North Macedonia to see the work they are doing there to help children who have fled violence. On 15 November 2014, Ware joined the charity group Band Aid 30 along with other British and Irish pop acts, recording the latest version of the track "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa.
Ware was also part of the lineup for "Artists for Grenfell" charity single which was released to raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation.
Personal life
Ware shared a flat with Felix White of The Maccabees and is friends with Adele. In August 2014, she married her childhood friend, Sam Burrows, whom she had met at school, on the Greek island of Skopelos, where the couple had previously become engaged. On 15 April 2016, Ware revealed that she was expecting her first child. On 8 September 2016, Ware announced the birth of her daughter who was born three days prior.
She supports the Labour Party and endorsed Jess Phillips as leader in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.
Early life
Ware was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in Hammersmith, London, on 15 October 1984. She was raised in Clapham, London. She is the daughter of Helena (née Keell, usually called Lennie), a social worker, and John Ware, a BBC Panorama reporter, who divorced when she was 10. She is the younger sister of British actress Hannah Ware. Her mother was supportive in her early musical career and Ware considers her to be "her hero", saying "She brought up my sister, brother and me with so much love and fun and always told me I could do anything I want." Ware's mother is Jewish and she was raised in the faith.
Ware was educated at Alleyn's School, a co-educational independent school in Dulwich in South London, followed by the University of Sussex, where she graduated with a degree in English literature. After her studies, Ware briefly worked as a journalist at The Jewish Chronicle, did sports journalism at The Daily Mirror and worked behind the scenes at TV company Love Productions. There, she was a colleague of Erika Leonard, otherwise known as E. L. James, the author of Fifty Shades of Grey.
2009–11: Career beginnings
In the years prior to releasing her first solo album, Ware did backing vocals at live shows for Jack Peñate (who took her on tour in the U.S.) and Man Like Me. Ware said she learned a lot during her time with Jack Peñate: "Performing with him was really good training, because I got to learn all about how other people do it – I was able to perform live without the pressure of being a lead singer. It gave me a taste of what to expect, and it prepared me for what I’m doing now."
One of Peñate's bandmates, Tic, first introduced Ware to SBTRKT; Ware and SBTRKT went on to collaborate on 'Nervous' (2010). She consequently met Sampha, best known as SBTRKT's main collaborator and live member. They created "Valentine" together, which was released on a special edition, heart-shaped vinyl by Young Turks in 2011. "Valentine" was partly inspired by James Blake's song "The Wilhelm Scream" and based on their own personal experiences in love. The music video for "Valentine" was directed by Marcus Söderlund. "Nervous", "Valentine" and an additional collaboration with DJ Joker ("The Vision") led Ware to a record deal with PMR Records. She also featured on Ceremonials, the 2011 album by Florence and the Machine in which her good friend Florence Welch is lead singer.
On 14 October 2011, Ware released her debut solo single "Strangest Feeling" on limited 10" purple vinyl, although the song did not chart in the United Kingdom.
2011–13: Devotion
On 20 August 2012, Ware released her debut album Devotion, which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart. She then released "Running" on 24 February 2012 as the lead single from her debut studio album, Devotion. "110%" was released as the album's second single on 13 April, peaking at number 61 in the United Kingdom. "Wildest Moments" was released as the album's third single on 29 June, peaking at number 46 in the United Kingdom. "Night Light" was released as the fourth single on 24 August.
Devotion was announced as a nominee for the prestigious Mercury Prize that year. Ware toured in the United Kingdom in the early part of March 2013, supported by Laura Mvula, starting with Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Oxford, Bristol and ending in London. The United Kingdom tour was followed by a European tour in the second half of March 2013 and a US tour in April 2013. In the summer of 2013, Ware played many festivals all over the world, and at the end of 2013, Jessie went on tour in the United States again.
2014–16: Tough Love
The new album, Tough Love, was released on 6 October 2014. Ware began writing the album earlier that year. The album peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart, becoming her second top ten album. "Tough Love" was the first single to be taken from the new album and released on 3 August 2014. "Tough Love" was compared to "Prince at his minimalist '80's best" by Pitchfork. "Tough Love" is produced together with BenZel, the production duo composed of London post-bass producer Two Inch Punch and mega-producer Benny Blanco who Ware previously worked with on the single "If You Love Me"; Benzel are also executive producers of her new album. Ed Sheeran co-wrote the song "Say You Love Me". Ware played the Wilderness Festival (7–10 August 2014); a pair of additional dates at Berlin Festival 2014 (6 July 2014) and Sopot Gulf of Art (26 July 2014) that year.
Ware contributed a song for Nicki Minaj's third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014), called "The Crying Game" in which Minaj alternates between "devastating verses and pensive crooning" whilst Ware adds "haunting" and "soulful" vocals to the chorus. Originally, Ware only received a songwriting credit, but she was then credited on updated versions of the album. She also co-wrote the song "New Man" for Ed Sheeran's third album ÷ and provided background vocals on it and two other songs.
2017–18: Glasshouse
n October 2017, Ware returned to the stage after a two-year absence in anticipation of the release of her third studio album Glasshouse. Featuring contribution from Francis and the Lights, Ed Sheeran, Cashmere Cat, Julia Michaels and others, it was preceded by its first three singles "Midnight", "Selfish Love" and "Alone". Glasshouse debuted and peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart.
In October 2018, Ware released the non-album single "Overtime."
2019–present: What's Your Pleasure?
Ware's What's Your Pleasure? was released on 27 June, 2020, after being pushed back from its initial release date of 5 June. The first single from the album, "Adore You", was released in February 2019. This was followed by "Mirage (Don't Stop)" in November. The next single from the album, "Spotlight", was released in February 2020.
Other work
Towards the end of 2017, Ware launched a podcast, produced with her mother, called Table Manners for Acast and Island Records about "family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat", featuring a new guest each week on the show. The first episode became available on 8 November 2017 and featured British singer-songwriter and friend Sam Smith. The show has since entered its fourth season, including guests such as Ed Sheeran, Randy Jackson, Nigella Lawson, Sandy Toksvig, Daniel Kaluuya, Paloma Faith, George Ezra Annie Mac and Kylie Minogue .
On 23 January 2019 Jessie announced on her Instagram that she had created a unique premium kidswear collaboration called "Anyware Kids" launching online and in selected retailers Spring 2019, developed by award-winning designer George Reddings. "Designed specifically to grow with your child, the oversized boxy shapes and simple minimal styles, are seasonless and gender-equal." The website officially went live on 31 March 2019.
Philanthropy
Ware is a UNICEF UK ambassador and travelled with them to Bangladesh, Cameroon and North Macedonia to see the work they are doing there to help children who have fled violence. On 15 November 2014, Ware joined the charity group Band Aid 30 along with other British and Irish pop acts, recording the latest version of the track "Do They Know It’s Christmas?" at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill, London, to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa.
Ware was also part of the lineup for "Artists for Grenfell" charity single which was released to raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation.
Personal life
Ware shared a flat with Felix White of The Maccabees and is friends with Adele. In August 2014, she married her childhood friend, Sam Burrows, whom she had met at school, on the Greek island of Skopelos, where the couple had previously become engaged. On 15 April 2016, Ware revealed that she was expecting her first child. On 8 September 2016, Ware announced the birth of her daughter who was born three days prior.
She supports the Labour Party and endorsed Jess Phillips as leader in the 2020 Labour Party leadership election.
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
Jessie Ware Lyrics
0208 What's left to say? Free to follow Maybe some day, same…
110% "Carving my initials on your forehead" Now if you're never …
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes A dream is a wish your heart makes When you're fast…
Adore You I've never been so sure Wait, if you want to you…
All on You (All on you) She'd hang on every word, if you'd list…
Alone Oh oh oh ooh, oh oh oh ooh Take the weight…
Beautiful People I wake up in the morning and I ask myself "What…
Begin Again I work all night, I do my thing Just killin' time,…
Champagne Kisses Who's fault is this That I'm crazy about you You are in…
Cruel Oh-oh-oh-ah... If I told you What you said before Would you…
Desire (Ooh, ooh) (Ooh-ooh-ooh) (Ooh, ooh) You're my desire And th…
Désiré ooh, ooh, ooh oh ooh, ooh, ooh oh You're my desire And this…
Devotion Used to feel so close to me Everything happened so…
Eyes Closed The future already has happened Mixing chemistry with magic …
Finish What We Started Wanna be closer than close Baby you already know I want you …
First Time How could we be so close but miles apart? 'Cause something…
Freak Me Now Baby, keep heating me up Oh, no, don't you go cool…
Free Yourself Free yourself Keep on moving up that mountaintop Why don't y…
Hearts Put on a brave face Act like an earthquake didn't come…
Hello Love I don't know where you were Don't know what became of…
Hot n Heavy Where did you come from? How do you move like that I've…
If You "Carving my initials on your forehead" Now if you're never…
Imagine It Was Us I should know better than to wait for you If I…
Impossible (Ha ha) (Ha ha) Something tells me, you're making quite the…
In Your Eyes There were butterflies moving in the light They were justifi…
Keep On Lying Always have you right here to follow Keep your hands over…
Kind of...Sometimes...Maybe If Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers Baby I…
Last of the True Believers If we are driving through the streets, past all the…
Lightning (Oh-oh-oh, ah-ah-ah, ah-ah, ah, ah-ah-ah) (Oh-oh-oh, ah-ah-a…
Love to Love No I never, make it better? I'll say whatever 'Cause I…
Meet Me In The Middle Meet me in the middle, Tell me something That could change m…
Midnight You're special Yours truly You pull me deep into my deepest …
Midnight Caller (Huh, huh, huh) (Huh, huh, huh-uh-ah-ah) (Huh, huh, huh) (Hu…
Mirage Last night we danced And I thought you were saving my…
Never Knew Love Like This Before As we cuddle by the fire And lying on the floor I…
Night Light Here in the dark, it's funny how I never feel…
No to Love Who says no to love? Who says no to love? (Who…
No To Love (George FitzGerald Remix) Who says no to love? Who says no to love? (Who says…
Ooh La La Everyday, everyday, everyday I look For your car, to pick me…
Overtime What you say? Are you ready for the night to be…
Pale Blue Light Lost dreams, fantasies Is all we're ever made of Burning mem…
Pearls La-la-la La-la-la La-la-la-la La-la-la La-la-la La-la-la-l…
Pieces A reason to live, reason to love You gave me them…
Please I want a place Where golden moments last forever Face to fac…
Read My Lips Ooh, ooh ooh ooh, yeah Ooh, ooh ooh ooh If you wanna…
Remember Where You Are The heart of the city is on fire Sun on the…
Running Your words alone, could drive me to A thousand tears All the…
Running (Disclosure Remix) You lift my heart up when the rest of me…
Sam One, two, three Sat inside a railway station Drinking a cup…
Save a Kiss High anticipation It's an emotional trap Don't know how you …
Say You Love Me Say you love me to my face I need it more…
Say You Love Me (Alexander Adair Remix) "Say You Love Me" Say you love me to my face I…
Say You Love Me (Gorgon City Remix) Say you love me to my face I need it more…
Selfish Love Baby, let's be honest about this There's only room for one…
Shake the Bottle (Ooh-ah) (Ah-ah) (Ooh-ah) (Ah-ah) (Ooh-ah) Jimmy lies, Jimm…
Share It All Could you share it all with me? And I'll share it…
Slow Me Down Maybe I ask a little too much I can take all…
Something Inside Dreamy haze come blind me To take me where the tide…
Soul Control Can't take my eyes off of you tonight You're moving like…
Spotlight Ain't enough to say that I think of you Words…
Stay Awake Wait For Me Quarter to three, thinking of you, thinking of me If I…
Step Into My Life Look into my eyes When we're together, ain't nothin' better …
Still Love Me Say you love me to my face I need it more…
Strangest Feeling And your starve us now You light up for me You didn't…
Swan Song Lose yourself in the glow, Rise and fall, breath in slow. Oh…
Sweet Talk I thought you knew, I had to stay away from you I…
Sweetest Song You're always in my head It never stops The melody repeats N…
Taking in Water I wish I was you; A piece of gold at the…
That! Feels Good! Mm, that feels good That feels good (that feels good) Do it…
The Kill You tell me I should run But then you tell me…
The Way We Are This is where we are We've been gazing at the stars It's…
These Lips It's gonna take two, two hearts Two hours, two more I'm tell…
Thinking About You You won't see me crying Crying over you You don't see me…
Til the End Don't tell me I've been dreaming When you're standing there …
Tough Love It's a really good sign that you hope my mind…
Valentine So will you never be my lover or my valentine Never…
Want Your Feeling I should've told you my secret But now I'm 'fore the…
What You Won I guess you wonder where I've been I search to find…
What You Won't Do for Love I guess you wonder where I've been I search to find…
What's Your Pleasure Ooh, ooh Ooh, ooh I can tell we've got potential Is this l…
Where You Belong The heart of the city is on fire Sun on the…
Wildest Moments You and I, blurred lines We come together every time Two wro…
You (All on you) She'd hang on every word, if you'd list…
You & I It's getting late for me But it's too early for you I…
Your Domino What can I say? What can I do? If it's alright I'd…