“Lyrics are not just words — they are spells, they are breath, they are what remains when everything else falls away.” - Patti Smith
I work and collaborate with artists to shape lyric, melody, and give weight to the emotional body. Songs that have the gift of catharsis, big guffaws, fat tears, howls at the moon and dancing.
I love the interrogation, the play and giving our inner world, form.
I am available for songwriting sessions, engineering sessions and production sessions. For workshops, check out my facilitation page.
How We Can Collaborate
I am available for sessions in my home studio or at a location of your choice.
Songwriting Sessions: Deep-dive sessions focused on lyrics, melody construction, and emotional resonance.
Engineering & Vocal Production: Utilizing my background as a professional vocalist and vocal coach to capture the perfect performance.
Full Production: Bringing tracks to life using Ableton Live 11, with a focus on soul, jazz, funk, and alternative soul textures.
Note on Workshops: For educational programs, youth facilitation (such as the Noise program), or creative writing workshops, please visit my Facilitation Page.
Songwriting
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Songwriting *
Songwriter & vocal arranger for recording artists,
theatre and multidisciplinary work.
Kav wrote her first single with Agro-Soul outfit BARQ.
BARQ went on to support Kamasi Washington, sell out in New York and Toronto while gaining a cult following for their bold body of work and amazing live performances. BARQ split in 2020 and Jess went on to collaborate with friends Geoff Warner Clayton, Thomas Donohue and Senita Appiakorang to create “Sister Fenix”.
Sister Fenix - A project coloured by the lockdown era, with collaborations happening over zoom and first meetings coming several months into the process. Sister Fenix’s work touches on healing, longing for community and rebellious joy. Releasing their EP “Gentle Life” in 2022 with music video “Benefactor Of Love” and headlining Dublin Pride to celebrate.
In 2024, Jess and Geoff collaborated again creating another body of work at Beekeepers retreat Co. Clare. Exhausted by the abyssmal streaming eco system, Kav refused to release her music through mainstream avenues. Instead, writing a one woman show around her music and giving it life through theatre and performance. “Fermented Dreams” was born which premiered at Dublin Fringe 2024 to a sold-out run.
In August ‘25, Kav headlined The Complex in Smithfield with her six piece band and went on to perform at A.Wake festival and Letterkenny Pride in the same weekend. Kav is finishing and incorporating the “Fermented Dreams” project and working on her new project to launch her next two singles “Maybe I Like The Misery” and “What You Deserve”. Her processes are documented on her Patreon and Substack.
Jess Kav is working on her composition and production skills, supported by the Arts Council Music Bursary. Currently, her music touches on themes of magic, misery, joyous rebellion, rage, love and lust.
Jess has been compared to Brittany Howard, Zach De La Rocha, Janis Joplin, Nadine Shah and…Beyonce.
Tracking For Jess Kav’s song “New Relationship Energy” in Yin Yang Studios, Chiang Mai