Jasmine Myra - Where Light Settles (Album) + 10 Questions

Picture Credit: Emily Dennison

Jasmine Myra returns with Where Light Settles, her third album for Gondwana Records, and easily her most expansive and emotionally assured work to date. Building on the foundations of Horizons and Rising, the Leeds born composer and saxophonist deepens her cinematic blend of jazz, contemporary folk and ambient orchestration into something both intimate and widescreen.

Recorded live over five days at The Nave Studios in Leeds with a 15 piece ensemble, the album centres around themes of duality, beauty and hardship, fragility and resilience, light and shadow. Myra describes the music as an attempt to make sense of life’s bittersweet transitions: “Pain is unavoidable… but you don’t grow or learn about yourself or the world around you without it.”

That emotional clarity runs through the record’s nine compositions. Strings, harp, flute, vibraphone and layered percussion move with a quiet precision around Myra’s restrained alto saxophone, creating music that feels deeply textural and cinematic without ever becoming overstated. There are echoes of soundtrack composers such as Dustin O'Halloran and Hans Zimmer, alongside the spiritual warmth associated with the wider Gondwana orbit.

Nature also plays a central role in shaping the album’s atmosphere. Inspired by landscapes across North Wales, the Lake District and the South Downs, Where Light Settles carries an unmistakably autumnal feel, windswept, reflective and full of movement. Tracks like “Some Rain Must Fall” and “Likeness and Shadow” capture that balance between delicacy and intensity, while “In An Instant”, featuring tenor saxophonist Matt Carmichael, adds another luminous dimension to the record’s palette.

The album also marks Myra’s first self produced release, with Matthew Halsall contributing as producer. The result is a body of work that feels remarkably cohesive, understated in places, but emotionally vast.

For listeners already drawn to Jasmine Myra’s immersive sound world, Where Light Settles feels like a defining statement. For everyone else, it’s the perfect place to begin.

Jasmine Myra sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

I think my love for music began as a child. I was often encouraged by my parents to explore music through both listening and learning to play instruments. Music has always been important to me because of that, but it was when I started learning saxophone (at the age of 14) that I realised that I wanted a career in music.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

I love Fabiano do Nascimento’s music. It would be a dream to collaborate with him in the future and I think our music would blend well. I am also influenced by Felbm and Floating Points and would love to collaborate with them one day.

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

Currently I am working towards the release of ‘Where Light Settles’ and touring later in the year. I have some ideas in mind for when I start writing again and working towards the next project, but for now my upcoming album is my main focus.

4. How would you describe your sound?

I would describe my sound as contemporary Jazz, with elements of Spiritual Jazz and Folk.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

It’s difficult to give just one answer for this. The first thing that springs to mind is my show at London Jazz Festival back in November. I am super proud of this one for a number of reasons; first of all it was our first performance of tunes from Where Light Settles live with the full band, which included a string quartet. It was so wonderful to perform that music for the first time and see the audiences reaction, and I felt so proud of all the hard work I had put in leading up to that moment. 

Picture Credit: Amber Derrick

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

My advice would be always be true to yourself. Don’t focus too much on the music that those around you are making, or music that you feel you ‘should’ be making. Think carefully about the styles of music that bring you joy and that you feel a connection to, and through doing that you can make music that is true to you. This way you will hopefully find the most fulfilment and will create something that is special and unique.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

I recently came across a South African band (who was performing at Cape Town Jazz Festival on the same day as us) and I think it was genuinely one of the best live performances I have ever seen. They are called BCUC. I am probably late to the party, but if you haven’t come across them I would recommend giving them a listen, and try to see them life if you can!

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

Mingus Ah Um (which has always been one of my favourite Mingus albums, and one that I’ve come back to). What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye. Black on Both Sides by Mos Def. Amoroso by João Gilberto (this is a great one to start the day).

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I like gardening, reading, I also like to go camping and spend time in nature, cooking. Recently I have also taken up crochet.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

This is a good question. I need to make sure I have a lot of saxophone reeds in the studio. I usually go through quite a few during recording, trying to find the best ones in a pack.

Also coffee haha. Being in the studio is always such a fun experience but definitely requires caffeine, for me anyway.

And comfy clothes. I want to make sure that I feel relaxed when recording and am fully focused on my playing and the music.