Jasmin Jet tells us about winning Greene King’s Untapped Competition: ‘It didn’t feel real!’
The Falkirk singer won the huge prize at Greene King Untapped's Live London final last month.
By Nick Reilly
Last month saw Greene King Untapped – the pub giant’s very own nationwide music competition– reach its conclusion with a huge night at the George in London Bridge. From across the nation, bands and solo artists came together alike for the chance to win £10k and a session at the prestigious Metropolis Studio. Oh, and the small matter of a mentoring session with Eurovision legend Sam Ryder.
But there could only be one winner and that was Jasmin Jet, a pocket-rocket soul powerhouse from Falkirk who deservedly took home the prize after blowing away a judging panel that included Ryder and McFly star Danny Jones with her talent.
And as Jasmin tells Rolling Stone UK, it’s just the start of her story…
How are things, Jasmin? Have you come down back to earth yet?
Honestly no, I haven’t! I still can’t believe it personally, and it’s all thanks to my mum. I’m not a huge competition person, but she told me to do the initial heat in Scotland said we’d go out, watch the other acts and just have a drink and something to eat. It was never my intention to get past the first heat and I didn’t expect to win at all.
What was that feeling like when they read out your name as a winner?
It was pure shock. I was just so emotional and none of it felt real! It was an amazing day, and to meet people like Sam Ryder and Danny Jones was unbelievable.
And more even impressive when you met your guitarist in London just a day before…
Yeah! I couldn’t bring my whole band down, but I’d gone to London in 2021 for a competition with Scottish Young Musicians where I won best vocalist of the year and the prize was to go to Trinity Laban for some coaching. I met some amazing musicians and one of them was my friend Miles. It was his friend who ended up playing with me and he was just great!
But your mum is a big driving force…
100 percent. I’ve always liked music but when I was eight my mum saw that and recognised that and put me into theatre and that really helped shape everything that I know now and across all of my career, no matter what it’s been theatre or dancing or piano or guitar songwriting. She’s always been there and definitely that rock that keeps pushing me forward. But not in a dance mom’s type of way, definitely more in a very nurturing way.
Who are your musical inspirations?
My first idol was absolutely Etta James and I remember being obsessed with soul and women like Aretha Franklin and Tina Turner too. But I have an absolute obsession with Queen and Freddie Mercury’s showmanship. And more recently, I’m a huge fan of RAYE and Olivia Dean and a Scottish singer called Joesef. It’s all very varied!
You’re from Falkirk. What’s the music scene like there?
It’s not always the best and I found myself going to gigs in Edinburgh and Glasgow as soon as I turned eighteen. It’s a shame because there’s some really good venues but we don’t get people coming there. I performed at a local festival where Ash and The Darkness played, but we really need small venues to allow artists to keep pushing forward too.
That’s why I found the Greene King Untapped competition so important, because it was driving young people back into the pubs and watching live music. We need to champion smaller grassroots venues and artists just as much as we do with bigger names.
And of course Greene King donated £20k to the Music Venue Trust…
I thought that was amazing. That kind of act helps keep a lot of these venues alive.
Finally, you’re heading to Metropolis Studios for a recording session as part of the prize. Excited?!
SO excited. It’s been a bucket list studio for me alongside Electric Lady in New York and Abbey Road. It won’t feel real until I’ve stepped foot in there. I can’t wait to work with Sam because we had a brief chat at the after party and he was lovely. I’m going to take in all my songs that I’ve made so far and I’ll definitely be vlogging the whole experience as well. I’ll need to make sure that I get it all on camera[SL2] !
Live music lives on in Greene King pubs past the summer and they’ll be going big again next year bringing back Greene King Untapped. Sign up for updates here Live at your Local at Greene King Pubs.