Jem (singer)
Birth name Jemma Griffiths
Born 18 May 1975
Penarth, Wales
Genres Trip hop, electronica, pop rock, new wave
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer, DJ, screenwriter
Instruments Vocals, piano
Jemma Griffiths (born 18 May 1975), known by her stage name Jem, is a Welsh singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Penarth, Wales, she began songwriting at an early age. After graduating university in 1996 she worked as a DJ as well as co-founder of record label Marine Parade in Brighton. By 2002 she was focused heavily on writing and singing her own songs, collaborating with various producers in the United States such as Guy Sigsworth, Yoad Nevo, and Ge-Ology to help create what would become her debut studio album: Finally Woken, released on 24 March 2004 through ATO Records. Popularised by singles “They”, “Just a Ride” and “Wish I”, the album garnered generous sales and chart performance in the United States, Canada, Japan and Europe. Jem followed up her successful debut with her second album, Down to Earth, released on 18 September 2008. Jem’s musical style is varied and encompasses genres of trip hop, electronica, pop rock and new wave, with critics often associating her with other female British musicians Dido, and Beth Orton.
Jemma Griffiths was born in Penarth, Wales, a small town near the Welsh capital, Cardiff on 18 May 1975. Jem originally found her passion for singing and songwriting whilst attending Stanwell School. During her early school years she explored her musical interests with the family piano, penning her first song at the age of thirteen. Jem has three siblings, older sister Chloe, (whose photograph appeared on Jem’s first extended play It All Starts Here…), younger sister Georgia, who provided vocals for the Welsh indie/punk band Weapons of Mass Belief alongside brother Justin, who also goes by the name Yestyn, of Glass Pear.
Jemma Griffiths was born in Penarth, Wales, a small town near the Welsh capital, Cardiff on 18 May 1975.
In 2012, Jem returned to producing her upcoming third album Beachwood Canyon. In November, she recorded tracks at the Grand Master Studios, in Hollywood, and originally anticipated a release in Spring 2013. This date was further extended to the fall, until Jem confirmed in February 2014 that whilst essentially being complete with a confirmed track list, unforeseen delays regarding sample clearances had pushed the release into 2014, with earlier announcements being “wishful thinking on her part”.
Jem has also mentioned that she has since been exploring other creative avenues outside of her music, with a strong desire to move into the film industry, she has spent several years writing a screenplay which she describes as being like her “Finally Woken in movie form”. As of February 2014, Jem confirmed that work on her debut film was “finally happening”, and that further information would be due as the year progresses.
In January 2015, it was announced that the album would be released within the year; it was not. In January 2016, Jem published on her Facebook page the first photoshoots of the Beachwood Canyon era and announced the official release of the album for spring 2016.
The first single “Beachwood Canyon” was released on 1 July. On 5 August 2016, the album was released digitally worldwide while vinyl, CD and limited edition bundles were released on August 30.
Discography
Studio albums
Beachwood Canyon
Released: 5 August 2016
Label: Orchid Entertainment
Formats: CD, download
EPs
It All Starts Here… (13 October 2003, US only release)
Single
Year Single Peak chart positions Album
2005 “They” 6 28 15 — 45 8 47 29 47 — Finally Woken
“Just a Ride” 16 — — — — 27 — 89 — —
“Wish I” 24 — — — — 27 — — — —
“24” — — — — — — — — — 98
2008 “It’s Amazing” — — — — 77 — — — — — Down to Earth
“Crazy” — — — 97 — — — — — —
2009 “And So I Pray” — — — — — — — — — —
“I Want You To…” — — — — — — — — — —
2016 “Beachwood Canyon” — — — — — — — — — Beachwood Canyon
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