Jessica Winter - My First Album

Jessica Winter’s debut full-length doesn’t tiptoe onto the stage; it kicks the doors down in sequins and boots. 'My First Album' is as playful as it is poignant, a gloriously chaotic collision of pop maximalism and theatrical flair that feels like a culmination of everything Winter’s been teasing in her earlier EPs. It's sincere, strange, sparkling and entirely her own.

Opener 'Nirvana' sets the tone: layered and restless, full of emotion and melody, it’s a gripping introduction that immediately pulls you into Winter’s glitter-drenched universe. From there, the record leaps from one joyful oddity to the next. 'L.O.V.E.' is a standout, a sugary, sideways pop banger that’s equal parts wink and wallop. 'Feels Good (For Tonight)' plays like a late 90s chart hit reimagined through a funhouse mirror: polished, referential and clever without ever feeling cynical.

On 'Aftersun', Winter channels full Kylie - it's dancefloor fantasy with a knowing smile. Then there’s 'Big Star', which struts with Scissor Sisters swagger, stomping and shimmering in equal measure. Her knack for drama is everywhere. 'Worst Person In The World' is gloriously sassy; 'All I Ever Really Wanted' is a hook-laden earworm built on regret and emotional chaos. 'Wannabe' is another highlight, bold, weird and completely unforgettable.

The whole thing is held together by Winter’s singular vision. Even the more stripped-back moments, like the affirming and slightly theatrical closer 'To Know Her', feel entirely in character. There’s a sense that every melody, synth stab and absurd flourish is placed with intention, but also that she’s having a proper laugh doing it.

'My First Album' is pop made by someone who understands the rules well enough to throw them out the window. It’s a debut in name only: in practice, it’s the fully formed arrival of a true original.