For Jessie Murph, music has always been more than a career—it’s been a safe space, a refuge from the chaos of the world. “It was always my safe space,” the 20-year-old singer-songwriter shares with PEOPLE during an exclusive interview. “When things got loud or overwhelming, music was my first go-to.”
Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, and Alabama, Murph was surrounded by music from a young age. “The first instrument I learned was the ukulele,” she remembers, laughing. “Then, my grandparents had this old keyboard, and I’d play on that, learning covers on YouTube.” Her early days were marked by a mix of influences, from the soulful Adele and Amy Winehouse to the catchy beats of Drake, all of which shaped the unique blend of genres that defines her sound today.
A self-described “genre-blender,” Murph never wanted to fit into just one box. She notes, “I never want to just be one genre.” Instead, her music blends elements of country, pop, and hip-hop, a fusion that reflects her diverse upbringing and wide-ranging musical tastes. It wasn’t long before Murph started posting videos of her covers to TikTok and YouTube, where she quickly gained traction. Her own songs followed, and the rest, as they say, is history.
In 2021, Murph was signed to Columbia Records, a pivotal moment in her young career. “It was during Covid, and everything was remote,” she recalls. “I was Zooming with people from my bedroom, and when I met with Columbia, I just knew it was a great fit.” The exposure she gained through platforms like TikTok and YouTube gave her the opportunity to connect with fans worldwide and, eventually, make her mark in the industry.
Her debut album, That Ain’t No Man That’s The Devil, released earlier this fall, marked a milestone for the rising star. The album is a reflection of Murph’s journey—one that isn’t afraid to embrace raw emotions and personal struggles. When asked about the themes behind the album, Murph explains, “Anger was one of the biggest themes. A lot of built-up anger around men in my life, things I’ve seen, and things I’ve experienced. I just had to get it all out.”
The album’s title was inspired by one of her tracks, “Son of a Bitch,” which encapsulates the album’s emotional intensity. “I knew the title was something special,” she says, smiling. “It just felt like it was the right fit.”
Murph’s career has already featured collaborations with some of country music’s biggest names. Her track “Texas” with Maren Morris, in particular, holds special meaning for Murph. “I’ve always been a huge fan of hers,” Murph admits. “When I found out she was down for the song, I was so excited. It felt surreal, like a dream come true.”
Although Morris is known for her outspoken views on country music and her decision to step away from the genre’s more commercial side, Murph hasn’t discussed this aspect with her collaborator. “I was really quiet around her because I was just in awe,” Murph recalls. “But she’s such a sweet person, and she was so encouraging. She told me, ‘If you ever need anything, I’m here.’ It meant a lot.”
Another standout collaboration for Murph came with Jelly Roll on the track “Wild Ones.” Murph describes the experience as one of her most fun and unexpected. “I met Jelly Roll at his show in Arkansas, and we sang ‘Simple Man’ by Lynyrd Skynyrd together. It was so random, but so much fun,” she recalls. “When I wrote ‘Wild Ones,’ I thought it would be such a crazy combination of sounds, and he was all in.”
For Murph, the most valuable lesson she’s learned from her collaborations is the importance of staying true to herself. “Both Maren and Jelly Roll are so authentic, and that’s something I really admire. They’re real people, and that’s what inspires me,” she says. “You can tell how grateful they are for everything they have, and that’s something I strive to be like.”
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