ofonline fashionistaswho lineup to
critiqueJessieJ’sall-blackensembles.
She’salsowellaware thatmanyare
takenabackby the incongruitybetween
herdemeanorandher image. “In the
sameway that themusicI listen to isn’t
themusic thatcomesoutofmybrain
andmouth, things thatmight looksofter
onotherpeople lookquiteharshonme.
I’vegotastrong jawandIhavearesting
face that is,well,quitesevere,”shesays.
“Add to this thatI’m tall, I’mslim, Ihave
paleskinandI likehavingdarkhair,
andpeoplecanbe takenabackathow
awkwardIam inperson. Idon’tfit ineven
now. I’mnotverygoodatbeing famous.”
Herschedulesaysotherwise.
“Iflya lot, somy frequent-flyer
numbersare thebiggestawardIhave
everreceived,”shesays.Whichmust
meanshe’smastered jet lag, right?“One
of thewaysI’ve found tobeat it is tonever
lookat the time in theplaceI’ve justcome
from. It’salways the time in theplaceI’ve
landed.”
It’sall too tempting to tease this
out intoarevealing lifephilosophy,but
Jessie’sonaroll.
“If I land late, I’ll try toworkout.
Gettingsomeexercise is thebestway
to tireyourbodyoutandget itready to
sleep.Wegenerallyget intoSydney in the
morning, andI try tomakesureIspend
therestof thedaygettingoutandabout.”
Havingvisitedseveral times, she
adds, “Oneof thebest thingsabout
Sydney is theflight in.Once thecaptain
comesover the intercomandsays—and
for thishisEssexaccentdropsaway into
plummyKnightsbridge— ‘Ladiesand
gentlemen,wewillbebeginningour
descent,’ theview isalwaysunbelievable.
Youcome into theairportover theharbor
with its littlebays, thebeaches, andyou
justcan’twait toexplore theplace.”
Oneofherrecommendations is in the
historicRocksareaabuttingtheharborat
thenorthernendof theCentralBusiness
District. “The fact thatyou’vegot the
SydneyHarbourBridge, theOperaHouse
andsomegreatbarsandrestaurantsall
in thesameareamakes itveryunique.
There’snowhereelse in theworldyou
couldbe in thatmoment.”
Ifshehad tonameoneplace in the
city that isanonnegotiable, it lies just
across theharborunder thenorthern
pylonof theBridge.
“LunaPark isanold-fashioned
amusement fair that’s litupbeautifully
atnight,”shesays. “I feelabitbad talking
about itbecause it’saplace the locals
adoreand it’sgotbeautifulheritage
architecturewithaviewacross thewater
that is justbeautiful.There isalsoa
great live-musicvenue there,whichI’ve
actuallyplayed, sodoabitofresearch
beforehandandyoucanactuallycatcha
gigwhileyou’re there.”
AskanySydneysiderhow they feel
about this icon, and they’llusually tell
you itshinesall thebrighter the longer
you lookat it.Much likeJessieJherself.
DAVIDSMIEDT
is aSydney-based author,
journalist and comedianwhohaswritten seven
books.
52
OCTOBER2015
AMERICANWAY
FROMLEFT: JESSIEJ
INCONCERT; INEARLIER
YEARS;WITHHERFELLOW
THEVOICE
COACHES:
RICKYMARTIN, JOEL
ANDBENJIMADDENAND
DELTAGOODREM
“IT’S VERY EASY TO GET WRAPPED IN
YOURSELF IN THIS INDUSTRY, AND
THE VOICE
GIVES ME A CHANCE TO GIVE BACK.”
PHOTOS
J IM DYSON; ITV/REX/REX USA ; COURTESY NINE ENTERTAINMENT CO.
