In “Everything Is Not What It Seems,” The One Named Jasmine unravels hidden truths and reclaims her story. Through cinematic soundscapes and fearless honesty, she transforms pain into power, reflection, and rebirth.
1. The title of your EP, “Everything Is Not What It Seems,” suggests a theme of hidden truths and duality. What inspired that concept, and how does it reflect your own journey of self-discovery?
For the majority of my life I’ve felt that everyone else has put a mask on me to frame me in a way that’s either comfortable for them to digest or frame me in a way that’s fits the narrative they want to spread about me. People never got to know me because someone was always rushing and fighting to get ahead of me and my story with false information. They never wanted me to be seen. They wanted to crush me and dim my light.
I’m no longer asking for permission to be seen and I’ll never let anyone take my power. I’m ripping the masks off, clearing out the fog and stepping into reality as a confident fully realized woman. The target you placed on me is really the mirror reflecting your own personhood. I am allowed to grow and exist whether you like it or not.
2. You’ve described this project as “a collection of truths I uncovered when I stopped pretending things were okay.” Can you tell us about a particular moment or song that marked that emotional turning point for you?
I won’t share too much as it’s deeply personal and maintaining my safety is my highest priority, however, I will say that therapy has helped me see myself in ways I didn’t know were possible. It helped me to see myself and distinguish between what I can control and what other people are doing to have control of me. The cycles I went through were bigger than me and my understanding of them.
3. Your sound fuses R&B, alternative, and indie influences in a way that feels both cinematic and deeply personal. How did you approach production and songwriting to balance vulnerability with boldness?
Whenever I approach music I have a goal and intention in mind. It doesn’t matter what the beat sounds like, how I connect with it is what’s important—that’s how I ended up blending genres. I knew that I wanted this EP to be a snapshot of what happens during the healing journey, so out of all the songs I recorded, I selected the ones that I felt were the most authentic for this project but kept the theme of resiliency.
5. You’ve been performing since a young age — even taking the stage at Carnegie Hall as a teen. How has your evolution as an artist shaped the confidence and honesty we hear on this project?
When I was younger I approached music as a chore, whereas now I approach music as a transformative art form. The older I get and the more life experiences that I have I realize that media is powerful enough to create real change in people’s lives. Where I once sang out of ignorance, I now sing from a place of experience.
6. If listeners could walk away from this EP with one feeling or realization, what would you want that to be?
I want listeners to feel like they can do and be whoever they want.
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