Hailing from Croydon, Jaz Karis’ warm, honeyed vocals and confessional songwriting has positioned her firmly in the conversation of artists elevating a homegrown RnB sound. The culmination of her life’s work thus far, debut album ‘Safe Flight’ is testament to Karis finessing her craft and playing the long game. And this is her crossover moment. “The quality in songwriting and production is a level up from what I would’ve expected from myself,” Karis says about her creative evolution. “Compared to my first album, the EPs and other stuff I’ve put out, this is very adult and grown up.”
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Jaz Karis grew up immersed in creative disciplines, taking ballet, tap, jazz, and street dance lessons from the age of five. Piano lessons and her involvement in the church choir soon followed. Even as a child, her talent was apparent: Karis innovatively used a Barbie toy with a built-in recording device to capture loops and write songs for school talent shows. These experiences planted the seeds of a lifelong passion that would eventually lead to a coveted place at the prestigious BRIT School, during which Karis completed a stint as a studio receptionist, where she exchanged hours behind a desk for precious recording time.
In 2017, Karis released her first EP ‘Into the Wilderness’. The project quickly became a favorite among R&B enthusiasts, with tracks like ‘Sunrise’ and ‘Sugar Don’t Be Sweet’ showcasing her ability to craft melodies both timeless and fresh. Continuing to refine her artistry on pandemic project ‘Dear Jaz’, Karis has collaborated with peers Mahalia, Kojey Radical, and more recently Tone Smith, on songs that move between breezy afro-house and after-hours soul – all while maintaining the emotional core of her music. Likewise, her live performances are often stripped back, allowing her melismatic vocals to take center stage; delivering each song like sermon, creating an authentic connection with her audience.
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In search of inspiration, Karis ventured to Los Angeles to record much of ‘Safe Flight’. It’s a song cycle that conjures images of languid days on Sunset Boulevard, and thrilling first dates set against a backdrop of neon lights. Much of the early catalyst for the album came when Karis was journeying to and from. “I feel a lot more creative in the air, so I like to write when I fly,” she says. “I researched why and apparently the altitude makes you more creative. I would never buy Wifi on a plane, that’s my time for myself.”
Surveying what she calls her “quarter-life crisis”, Karis reflected on the creative abandon she had recording callow songs like ‘Petty Lover’, compared to the self-awareness she’d gained with maturity, which sometimes limited her expression. “From a creative standpoint sometimes you miss that little burst of passion, anger or pettiness, because it makes for a great song,” she laughs.
Overcoming destabilising thoughts and doubts about her trajectory, Karis leaned into her intuition and found clarity in the shifting tides of perspective. “Sometimes our brains can be our biggest enemies. I just try to keep going forward and be proud of what I’ve done. In life there’s highs and lows, you have to go through the lows to appreciate the highs.” With the release of ‘Safe Flight’, Karis is ready to branch out and embrace international acclaim. One thing remains clear: her talent, drive and authenticity will guide her flight.
