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.
Taking in Water
Jessie Ware Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A piece of gold at the bottom of the blue
Too heavy to swim,
But too beautiful to lose
Holding my breath
Diving down to give you air
I never knew
The colors that surround you
(Wake up wake up) Holding on forever to keep you
(Wake up wake up) Keep you from slipping too deep
(Wake up wake up) If you want to escape, you don't need to
(Wake up wake up) Just look for me
I'm taking in water for you, my love (Just look for me)
Pulling you out, I'll take the blue (Just look for me)
I'm taking water, my breath, I remember (Just look for me)
I'm taking water for you (Just look for)
You picked up the light
The spectrum back to turn to white
Too bright to be seen
I wish that beautiful boy was me
Never alone
The sky's a different shade of grey
Making you glow
The colors dance around you
(Wake up wake up) Holding on forever to keep you (Wake up wake up)
Keep you from slipping too deep (Wake up wake up)
If you want to escape, you don't need to (Wake up wake up)
Just look for me
I'm taking in water for you, my love (Just look for me)
Pulling you out, I'll take the blue (Just look for me)
I'm taking water, my breath, I remember (Just look for me)
I'm taking water for you (Just look for)
Treasures are lost on the bed
And you buried down in your soul
Buried down in your soul
(Wake up wake up) Holding on forever to keep you (Wake up wake up)
Keep you from slipping too deep (Wake up wake up)
If you want to escape, you don't need to (Wake up wake up)
(Wake up wake up) Just look for me
I'm taking in water for you, my love (Just look for me)
Pulling you out, I'll take the blue (Just look for me)
I'm taking water, my breath, I remember (Just look for me)
I'm taking water for you (Just look for)
(Just look for me)
(Just look for me)
(Just look for me)
(Just look for me)
Taking in Water by Jessie Ware is a deeply emotional ballad about the lengths someone is willing to go for the person they love. The singer is completely enamored with someone, so much so that they wish they could be them. They liken their love to a piece of gold on the bottom of the blue, too heavy to swim but too beautiful to lose. The singer is willing to dive down and give their love air, even if it means taking in more water, and is entranced by the colors that surround the object of their affection.
The chorus is a plea to keep their love from slipping too deep and to look for them when they need help. The singer is determined to take in water for their love, to pull them out, and to take the blue. The color blue is often associated with sadness or melancholy, so could be seen as taking away or helping their love overcome their sadness. Ultimately, the song is about a deep love and the lengths someone is willing to go to support and care for their partner.
Line by Line Meaning
I wish I was you;
I wish I had your beauty and value
A piece of gold at the bottom of the blue
I wish I was a treasure hidden away in the depths of the ocean like you
Too heavy to swim,
You are too precious to lose, but too heavy to carry without being submerged under water.
But too beautiful to lose
You are too valuable to part with, too precious to lose.
Holding my breath
I am waiting for you, anticipating your every move.
Diving down to give you air
I am diving into your depths to give you strength, to sustain you.
I never knew
Until now, I never realised how valuable you are to me
The colors that surround you
I never knew the beauty that envelops you.
(Wake up wake up) Holding on forever to keep you
I am holding on tight to never let you go.
(Wake up wake up) Keep you from slipping too deep
I won't let you get lost in the abyss.
(Wake up wake up) If you want to escape, you don't need to
If you feel lost, all you have to do is look for me.
(Wake up wake up) Just look for me
I will always be there to guide you
I'm taking in water for you, my love (Just look for me)
I am willing to sacrifice everything for you, even if it means taking in water.
Pulling you out, I'll take the blue (Just look for me)
I will do whatever it takes to bring you back to the surface, to bring you the happiness that you deserve.
I'm taking water, my breath, I remember (Just look for me)
I am suffocating myself to give you breath. And, I will remember everything until the end.
Treasures are lost on the bed
Valuable things are sometimes hidden away in unexpected places.
And you buried down in your soul
You, my love, are valuable, hiding away in your own soul.
(Wake up wake up) Just look for me
I am always here to help you find your way, just keep looking for me.
(Just look for me)
I am your beacon, your lifeline...just keep searching for me.
(Just look for me)
I am always here to guide you, just keep searching for my light.
(Just look for me)
I will always be here for you, just keep looking for me.
(Just look for me)
I will always be your support system, your safe haven. Just keep looking for me.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JESSICA WARE, THOMAS EDWARD PERCY HULL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
fyncie
This woman is incredible!!!!!!!!!!! Gives me tingles every time!! WOW! <3
John Doe
Jessie, you just blow my mind off!!! You are one of the BEST SINGERS EVER!!! To hear you live is something I have to say "Thank You" for!!! There´s not even ONE song of yours I wouldn´t love!!! I hope you visit Hamburg, (Germany), one day, so I will be there, with a Girl, just to enjoy the evening and get a lovely time by Hearing your voice! THANK YOU Jessie!!! D!
Mirela Vasile
She's amazing! I can't believe she's this good!
Christine
I can only imagine her finally collab-ing with Sam Smith... The universe will explode with emotions. FEELS EVERYWHERRRE
daisy shaw
I need to see her live
JAH GIVING TREE
I am totally into his album its fresh and original
lisafrommars1960
She's amazing. I love this artist. I can't get enough.
tawanda Jerry
She sounds awesome live
Megan Stanaford
I love this song.
jnuttsdotcom
I heard this song on a dubstep mix and had to have the original song. Girl you got a real voice. You can sing which says something today. There is nothing but you music, passion, and soul. I am buying this album for sure!!!!!