Jessica Hannah Glynne is a British singer-songwriter known for her powerhouse vocals and soulful pop, R&B, dance, and soul fusion. Glynne was born in Hampstead and raised in Muswell Hill, North London, in a Jewish family. Her mother, Alexandra (née Ingram), worked in A&R in the music industry. The family name was originally Goldstein, but her grandfather changed it to Glynne. She applied for the television show The X Factor when she was 15 years old, but dropped out of the audition process following a disagreement with the producers. She attended Rhodes Avenue Primary School, then attended Fortismere School, where she completed her A-levels in 2008, and took various jobs at a boutique, a fitness centre and a hairdresser’s. After a period spent travelling the world, Glynne worked for a music management company in her late teens and began networking with songwriters and producers, eventually honing her artistry for four years. She rose to prominence in 2014 as a featured artist on the singles “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit and “My Love” by Route 94, both of which reached number one on the UK Singles Chart.
Four: Hold My Hand
Released on 20th of March 2015, “Hold My Hand” is an uplifting pop-soul anthem from Jess Glynne’s debut album I Cry When I Laugh. Co-written with Jack Patterson, Janee Bennett, and Ina Wroldsen, the song draws from Jess’s own anxiety to deliver a warm message of support and reassurance. It has garnered over 490M streams on spotify and over 173M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. It debuted at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart on 29 March and remained there for three weeks, becoming her first solo chart-topper. It also enjoyed international success, reaching No. 86 on the US Hot 100 and earning multiple platinum certifications. The music video, which features Jess and her friends singing in a sun-drenched desert setting, and her live performance at Wembley’s Summertime Ball 2018 further highlight its emotional resonance. In December 2015 the song was shortlisted for “Song of the Year” in the 2015 BBC Music Awards. The song became a staple of Jet2holidays ads in 2015 and onward—leading to mixed reactions. Jess responded with humor, joking that hearing it on a Jet2 flight means a holiday is near, though some passengers jokingly said they’d “smash [their] head against the window” from overplaying.
FYI
- Jess Glynne is the first British female solo artist to score seven No. 1 singles on the UK Singles Chart — a record she snatched from Cheryl (formerly of Girls Aloud), who had five! That means Jess has more UK No. 1s than Adele, Dua Lipa, and even Amy Winehouse.
Three: I’ll Be There
I’ll Be There” is a pop single by English singer-songwriter Jess Glynne, released on 4 May 2018 as the lead song from her second studio album, Always In Between. It was Co-written by Glynne alongside Jerker Hansson, Finlay Dow-Smith, Henrik Barman Michelsen, Edvard Førre Erfjord, and Camille Purcell—and produced by Starsmith and Electric. Upon its release, the uplifting, gospel-tinged anthem topped the UK Singles Chart on 15 June 2018, marking Jess’s seventh UK No.1 single and reinforcing her record as the British female artist with the most chart-toppers. It has garnered over 508M streams on spotify and over 153M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. Critically, the song was praised for its soulful reassurance and vocal strength, with reviews describing it as “soulfully uplifting” and a return to form after a three-year solo hiatus. Lyrically and emotionally, “I’ll Be There” functions as an anthem of unconditional support—offering listeners a heartfelt promise of unwavering presence in moments of loneliness and struggle.
Two: My Love (2024) ft. Alex Wann & Route 94
“My Love (2024)” is a fresh revamp of the original 2014 deep‑house hit, released on 30 August 2024 by Alex Wann, alongside Route 94 and Jess Glynne. The song credits Route 94’s Rowan Jones—the creator of the original track—and Jess Glynne returned to provide new vocals and collaborate in this latest version. It has garnered over 42M streams on spotify and over 1.3M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. According to Songtell, the song centers on love, connection, and intimacy, using repeated lines like “My love and my touch” to evoke warmth and closeness. This track was released under A Positiva/EMI via Rowan Jones Enterprise Ltd., signaling a nostalgic yet fresh twist for a new generation of club lovers. Mixing modern afro‑house and dance influences, this updated version runs about 3 minutes and 4 seconds, slightly shorter than the original. Online buzz around the drop has sparked interest, including posts on r/EDM where fans shared excitement but noted lyrics are still being tracked down.
Awards/Nominations
- Jess Glynne won the BRIT Award for British Breakthrough Act in 2015 and the MOBO Award for Best Female Act in 2014.
- She also earned the Ivor Novello Award for Most Performed Work for “Hold My Hand” in 2016 and took home the MTV Europe Music Award for Best UK & Ireland Act in 2015.
- Jess holds the record for the most UK No. 1 singles by a British female solo artist, with seven chart-toppers as of 2018. More recently, she has continued to receive nominations recognizing her influence and vocal talent across major music award platforms.
Discography
– I Cry When I Laugh (2015)
– Always In Between (2018)
– Jess (2024)
One: Rather Be by Clean Bandit ft. Jess Glynne
“Rather Be,” released in 2014, was a massive breakthrough moment for Jess Glynne. As the featured vocalist on this Clean Bandit track, her soulful and distinctive voice helped the song soar to No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart, where it stayed for four weeks. The song’s global success, including reaching the Top 10 in multiple countries and earning a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, catapulted Jess into the spotlight. It has garnered over 1.5B streams on spotify and over 803M views on it’s Official Music Video on YouTube. The lyrics celebrate deep love and connection between two people. It’s about choosing love and companionship over everything else, highlighting how being together makes life feel perfect and complete. This collaboration introduced Jess to a wide international audience and opened doors for her solo career, setting the stage for her subsequent hits. The critical and commercial acclaim from “Rather Be” gave her credibility and momentum, helping her land record deals and more high-profile collaborations. In many ways, “Rather Be” was the launchpad that transformed Jess from a promising vocalist into a household name in the UK music scene and beyond.
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