2012 saw the release of Locke's debut EP, Skins, which was released via Lesstalk Records in January of that year. This year also saw Locke touring internationally for the first time, playing a string of shows in South East Asia; as well as the year she relocated to her current residence of Melbourne. A collection of demos, her first new material since moving, was released under the name "2013" in January 2013. In 2014, Locke released a collection entitled "Z Sides" of previously-unrecorded songs; which was also distributed independently via a run of 100 handmade CDs. A lo-fi live recording, entitled "Live at the Old Bar," was also released as a free download via Locke's Bandcamp page.
In September 2014, Locke announced a crowdfunding campaign to get her debut studio album, Words That Seem to Slip Away, released on vinyl. The project was successfully funded; and the album was released via Art as Catharsis/Lesstalk in March 2015. The album's lead single, "Change the Sheets," was accompanied by Locke's first-ever solo music video, which was filmed in Sydney.
In 2016, Locke released a new single, "Paper Planes." The single was later revealed to be the first song lifted from Locke's second studio album, Universe. Prior to its release on Pool House Records, two further singles were released in mid-2017: "Better/Bitter" and the album's title track. 2017 also saw Locke join The Smith Street Band as an auxiliary live member; providing guitars and backing vocals. She had previously appeared on the band's 2017 album, More Scared Of You Than You Are Of Me, as a guest vocalist.
Winner
Jess Locke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Most of the time I'm not anything
You're only a winner when you're winning
Most of the time I'm not in the competition
Call me a dreamer 'cause I'm sleeping
It's more like a nightmare
But it's better than the real thing
You're only a winner when you're winning
Most of the time I'm not in the competition
But it's better than the real thing
It's better than the real thing
It's better than the real thing
It's better than the real thing
It's better than the real thing
The lyrics of Jess Locke's "Winner" are straightforward and full of insight. The song is about the acceptance of one's limitations and the realization that life doesn't always have to be about winning. The first lines, "You're only a singer when you're singing, most of the time I'm not anything," show that the identity we create for ourselves is often tied to a particular activity or a winning streak. The emphasis on the word "only" drives home the idea that we are not our professions or our achievements.
The next lines affirm this sentiment, "You're only a winner when you're winning, most of the time I'm not in the competition." The catchy phrase encapsulates the pressure that society puts on individuals to always be triumphant, to always compete, and to always come out on top. However, this message has a small twist, as the artist acknowledges that sometimes staying out of the competition is a choice that can be much more beneficial for one's wellbeing.
The bridge of the song highlights the idea of escapism, where Locke sings "Call me a dreamer 'cause I'm sleeping, it's more like a nightmare, but it's better than the real thing." The lyrics shed light on the realities of life, where sometimes it's better to find comfort in dream-like fantasies than face harsh truths. There is an almost peaceful acceptance in the song, that it is alright not to always win, that it's okay to take breaks and that sometimes, sleeping and dreaming can be one's refuge.
Line by Line Meaning
You're only a singer when you're singing
I only feel like a musician when I'm actively making music.
Most of the time I'm not anything
I feel directionless or purposeless outside of my music.
You're only a winner when you're winning
Success in music is fleeting and makes me feel like a winner only temporarily.
Most of the time I'm not in the competition
I feel isolated from the music industry and mainstream success most of the time.
Call me a dreamer 'cause I'm sleeping
I often daydream or imagine success in music, even when sleeping and dreaming.
It's more like a nightmare
These dreams can be more stressful and anxiety-inducing than pleasant.
But it's better than the real thing
Sometimes these fantasies of success are more enjoyable than the reality of the music industry.
It's better than the real thing
The imagined success feels more positive than the reality of striving for it.
It's better than the real thing
The song repeats this idea to emphasize the appeal of dreaming and imagination over reality.
It's better than the real thing
The song repeats this idea to emphasize the appeal of dreaming and imagination over reality.
Writer(s): Chris Rawsthorne, James Morris, Jess Locke
Contributed by Owen I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.