Jasmine is a fearless artist whose music is as unflinching as it is tender. Emerging from Manchester’s DIY underground, she has carved out a sound that is both raw and meticulously honed – a balance fully realized in her debut album, ‘You Are The Morning’. A deeply personal manifesto of identity, love, and survival, the record pulses with spirit and the defiant energy of queer resilience. To celebrate its release, UNCLE partnered with Jasmine to amplify its message in Manchester and London through flyposting, ensuring its themes of visibility, solidarity, and defiance resonate far beyond the underground.
At its core, ‘You Are The Morning’ is a testament to resilience. The album brims with raw emotion, weaving together intimate songwriting and expansive production, bolstered by contributions from indie-rock luminaries like boygenius. But beyond the sonics, the record is a rallying cry – a declaration of presence in a world that often seeks to erase. It’s about survival, about finding and holding onto the people who make life worth living. It’s a love letter to the queer community, to trans joy, to the underground scenes that build something beautiful out of struggle. It’s not just music; it’s a movement.
In the interview that follows, we dive deep into the heart of the record. From the songwriting process to the weight of representation, from Manchester’s impact to the transformative power of live performance, nothing is off-limits. This is an artist who isn’t afraid to speak her truth – who, in fact, sees it as a responsibility.
‘YOU ARE THE MORNING’ IS SUCH A PERSONAL AND EMOTIONALLY RICH ALBUM. HOW DOES IT FEEL NOW THAT IT’S OUT IN THE WORLD?
I feel honoured that it is out and reaching people in the way that it is. Queer people around the world are telling me it has resonated with them in a way they haven’t experienced before, and I’ve had older trans women tell me that they wish they had someone like me to look up to when they were transitioning, which means the world to me.
WHAT MESSAGE DO YOU HOPE LISTENERS TAKE AWAY FROM IT?
The importance of solidarity. Queer friendship, mutual aid and international solidarity quite literally saved my life and got me to where I am today. And to those in need, a message of hope: things can and will get better. You will find your people.
YOU’VE SPOKEN ABOUT YOUR SONGWRITING PROCESS STARTING WITH VOICE MEMOS AND STREAM-OF-CONSCIOUSNESS WRITING. HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN A SONG IS “FINISHED”?
I don’t think a song is ever finished. I don’t feel comfortable playing a song the same way twice, it feels gross to me. The songs on the album have already changed.
HOW DID THE PRESENCE OF BOYGENIUS (JULIEN BAKER, PHOEBE BRIDGERS AND LUCY DACUS) SHAPE THE SOUND AND ENERGY OF THE RECORD?
In so many ways. I think it sounds very boygenius in a lot of ways. Julien’s guitar tone, Lucy’s editing and sequencing skills, and Phoebe’s knowledge of the studio and leadership in arrangement were vital aspects. All of their voices really carry the record.
MANY OF YOUR SONGS EXPLORE LOVE AND IDENTITY IN A DEEPLY PERSONAL WAY. DO YOU THINK MUSIC HAS HELPED YOU FIND AND EXPRESS YOUR TRUEST SELF?
Fully. In the words of Avril, I’m a rock chick. But seriously, expressing myself through music and writing has really helped me through my darkest times and helped me process and heal.
DIY MAGAZINE CALLED YOU A “TESTAMENT TO THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANS REPRESENTATION”; DO YOU FEEL A RESPONSIBILITY AS AN ARTIST TO REPRESENT TRANS VOICES IN MUSIC?
Yeah, a massive responsibility. It’s an honour to step into the spotlight as some random Manchester doll and be a voice for trans liberation. The world is so cruel to trans people, especially trans children, trans people of colour, transfeminine people and disabled trans people. It’s honestly terrifying leaving the house in our most deadly year on record, let alone touring internationally as a group of trans women. Those in power stoke more and more hatred towards us as a distraction from the real evils of capitalism, and the consequence is that trans people are being killed in the street more than ever. We are losing our jobs more than ever. We are homeless more than ever. There have been so many direct attacks on trans people in legislation around the world already this year, including Wes Streeting’s ban on trans children accessing puberty blockers (non-trans children are still prescribed them freely). As a consequence, we have seen a huge spike in trans children killing themselves. Edinburgh women’s shelter has started denying trans women escaping abusive partners. Trans women are being raped and murdered in men’s prisons around the world, including here in the UK. These are the real trans issues that should be in the media. We are victims, but instead, we are painted as predators, aggressors and perpetrators. I want to do my bit to change the mainstream conversation.
YOU’VE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT YOUR WORK WITH TRANS MUTUAL AID MANCHESTER. HOW DO YOU SEE THE INTERSECTION BETWEEN YOUR MUSIC AND ACTIVISM?
When your very existence is politicised, you don’t really get much of a choice!
HOW HAS MANCHESTER SHAPED YOU AS AN ARTIST?
Coming here I met my community and fell in love with trans people for the first time, which is what the record is about. So, entirely!
FAVOURITE SPOTS IN THE CITY?
The Peer Hat is a fave of mine — my website is based on that pub.
YOU’RE EMBARKING ON A FULL UK TOUR THIS YEAR. HOW ARE YOU FEELING ABOUT TAKING ‘YOU ARE THE MORNING’ ON THE ROAD?
So excited to meet more of my community, mainly! I love playing live, I love my bandmates, and I love the impact that our shows have had. Trans people have told me they’ve found their chosen families at my shows, others have told me that seeing me has allowed them to accept their own trans identities, others have reached out to say that seeing us out here as a group of trans women has given them hope for their own futures. You can’t make an omelette without cracking some eggs!
THE ALBUM TITLE REPRESENTS NEW BEGINNINGS. WHAT’S NEXT FOR YOU AFTER THIS RELEASE AND TOUR?
There are loads more shows and festivals to be announced. I’m so excited for this year. I’m also hoping to start being able to make a living from music and so have more time to spend with my incredible partners and my chosen family. And of course, I’m constantly writing — really hoping to share more music imminently!
