Following on from the breezy pop of Slow Down – which peaked at #5 on the National Indigenous Music Chart and garnered a slew of editorial playlist additions on Spotify and Apple Music – the young storyteller now unveils her latest single, Space Between.
Space Between is an amazing example of Jem Cassar-Daley’s range as an artist. Whilst her previous single was clad with jangly guitars and a driving electronic beat, this song borders on its polar opposite – lonesome banjo and minimalist percussion. Yet, Jem’s silk toned vocal still sounds completely at home.
The toned-down production expertly mimics Jem’s vulnerable lyrics. “Space Between is a song all about things being turbulent and unsettled with someone, but not wanting to come down and face the reality of an ending relationship.”
Abroad for the first time as a solo traveller, her inspiration arose from the challenges of being alone in a foreign land. “I co-wrote this song with Danny Hall during my time in London earlier this year. It was my first overseas trip alone, and as much as it was such a transformative and exciting experience, I did at times feel very far away from everything I knew,” confesses the singer-songwriter.
Jem later placed the song in the trusted hands of producer Garrett Kato, with whom she’s worked with extensively on her forthcoming debut album, set for release in 2024. The bitter-sweet sentiment from her time in London is perfectly supported by Kato’s haunting arrangement. “I experienced so much personal growth during this time, and I think this song really captures the complexity of emotion I was feeling.”
In September 2023, Jem was the ambassador for the Spotify EQUAL playlist; a global effort to promote equity for women in music, spanning 180+ countries, from Japan to Argentina, all the way to Poland and the UK. One of the perks – her face illuminating NYC’s Times Square on a massive billboard. The star on the rise has since amassed 6.5M total streams.
She’s showcased at the UK’s The Great Escape, supported Busby Marou and Thelma Plum on nationwide tours and even performed for Triple J’s cult-classic live series, Like A Version. 2024 shows no signs of slowing down, with performances at Sunset Sessions, Party in the Paddock, Port Fairy Folk Festival, as well as opening the stage for both Kita Alexander and Jessica Mauboy on select dates in April.
Jem Cassar-Daley is an artist with immense talent. Her captivating voice has the ability to shapeshift between brooding folk-centric ballads and glittery dancefloor pop. Space Between not only showcases her prowess as a singer but also as a writer, cementing herself as a future star of Australian music.
With thanks to Wildheart Publicity
