Jazmin Bean – singer-songwriter – is ready to express themselves visually and emotionally in their debut record – Traumatic Livelihood.
The rise to cult stardom has been a blur for singer-songwriter Jazmin Bean – but that has not stopped them from crafting and creating a beautifully polished modern-pop debut album – Traumatic Livelihood. They hit the ground running with their 2019 EP – Worldwide Torture – and have since built themselves from the ground up and curated a community of devoted fans. Intertwining the world of vulnerability, trauma, and fantasy, they have created a world laced with infectious pop. Solidifying themselves as a memorable name in the upcoming wave of young musicians emerging onto the scene, Jazmin is hitting the world hard with this debut, bearing all in the release up to it.
Dedicated fans of the singer have been waiting for what feels like a lifetime for this debut – and Traumatic Livelihood is almost in their hands – ready to be streamed and digested. Jazmin describes the record as: “Theatrical and emotional…but it is also euphoric in a way.” The build-up to the release has been linked and surrounded by aesthetically pleasing music videos, each mirroring Bean’s expressive appearance through the media of extravagant makeup and outfits. If anything, the record mirrors Jazmin’s personality and appearance seamlessly: it is an insight into their mind and what has occurred to them.
“With this album, I have been trying to go into the studio with nothing in mind, I never go in with a full song because I like to work from scratch as there is so much room to explore my emotions then,” they say delving into the recording process for Traumatic Livelihood. Emotions are rooted deeply in this record: the passionate expression of the inner turmoil and vulnerability they have faced throughout the recording process seeps out of each song individually. They say: “Most of the time I am feeling something very intense, and this was the best way to get it all out.” The record deals with every emotion on the scale – the highs and the lows. A specific emotion explored is resentment and remorse – especially within their latest single, ‘You Know What You’ve Done’, a perfectly cut slice of alt-pop pixie-dream realness. Bean describes the song as: “About feeling remorseful, vengeful and getting payback on a lover who did not take accountability,” it is evident Jazmin felt a dire need to explore and release the emotion in their art. When asked what the song means to them now, Jazmin says: “I do not share the same opinion with this song anymore now that it is out, I just felt like at the time I needed to release this pent-up spite I had.” Carrying on, they say: “I needed to purge all of the vengeful and remorseful energy to forgive, I was being bitchy rather than emotional I think,” they laugh. Bean sings: “I do hope your past will always be a burden,” the hatred is looming and blossoming – it is raw and an open look into the mind of Jazmin and how they deal with trauma.
‘Piggie’ takes a different form to the rest of the songs on the album – a rawer, more grungy hitting track which showcases the genre-bending abilities of Jazmin Bean. The track explores themes of innocence and consent as Travis Barker (Blink-182 drummer) flares his stylings across the track. Jazmin chants: “Wow you’re so mature for your age,” as the track transcends nineties grunge-rock-inspired rhythms. Discussing this song, Jazmin says: “Nothing else on the album sounds like Piggie, it was one of the first songs we wrote for the album and at first I did not think we would put it on the tracklist, but it is there! It allows me to bring my two projects, the Worldwide Torture EP and then the album, it shows my growth from pure rock to more modern-pop rock.” ‘Piggie’ goes hard on the album – showcasing their ability to be angsty in a rock melody way rather than in a lyrical format like in ‘You Know What You’ve Done’.
Discussing the anticipation building up to the record’s release, Jazmin bares all: “I am super excited. It feels almost unreal that it is even coming out because I have overcome so so many hurdles getting it out into the world and it is almost here.” The excitement beams from their face as they talk about Traumatic Livelihood and what it means to them as an album. “It is well obviously an album about dramatic and tragic events, but it is full of lively sounds, and stacked with upset happy pop references,” Jazmin explains when identifying the concept and themes behind the record. Adding on, they say: “The title merges these two themes,” it is most certainly an album which explores highs and lows, peaks and drops, happiness and despair.
Traumatic Livelihood includes hit after hit, and Jazmin states: “I am most excited for people to hear the title track,” as they beam with an excited grin. Their expressions whilst talking about their debut record shows how much this album means to Jazmin – it has been a long time coming. The title track – ‘Traumatic Livelihood’ – repeats: “I can do anything I want,” and is laced with passion and determination, intertwined with a modern pop influence. Adding in abruptly before the optic of conversation shifts, they say: “Oh! Also Stockholm Butterfly!” This track appears the rawest and most personal on the record – it seeps with vulnerability. If you want to get to know Jazmin on a deeper level, ‘Stockholm Butterfly’ is the track to start with. The Melanie Martinez sonic influences peers through the track as Bean looks back on their traumatic past as a child and teenager and calls out those who exploited their vulnerability and youth. “That sweet child inside of me,” mirrors the longing Jazmin misses from their childhood – yearning to be innocent again despite the trauma faced.
Defining success for any artist – especially those new to the scene and emerging with their debut record like Jazmin Bean can be a trying task, yet Jazmin words it perfectly. “Having respect from people who you think are cool has made me feel so successful. Chasing awards and stuff, I do not know, I feel like the end outcome is never as big as you want it to be, but having respect from peers however is success to me,” they say. Their peers will be proud of this record: it is a tight-knit and cohesive collection of songs.
Bean ends a summarising statement about the entire recording, writing and releasing process for Traumatic Livelihood: “This album has had so much thought put into it. Worldwide Torture was a scrapbook of ideas, this record was a beautiful journey.” The excitement exudes from the singer-songwriter: the journey has been tiring yet worth it. Traumatic Livelihood will cement Bean into the industry and allow them to wedge their creative and beautifully crafted visual world into the stratosphere.
