London-based singer-songwriter Jewelia shares moving snapshot of our time with single ‘Is This World Mine’, accompanied by a socially conscious music video. Art pop reminiscent of MARINA and Kate Bush, with dreamy vocals, ambient/lo-fi elements, Billie Eilish bass and anthemic chorus, ‘Is This World Mine’ is about feeling powerless when faced with the challenges of the New Twenties - be it racism, climate change, coronavirus or violence against women. 

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“‘Is This World Mine’ is a song about feeling dislocated from reality. The pandemic has changed the world forever, and even when we go back to normal, the residue of these changes will stay with us. And all the other issues of modern society, which were momentarily overshadowed, will still be there.” 

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In 2020, a time where many artists struggled with inspiration, Jewelia found a way to force creativity by challenging herself to write, record and share with her fans a song every month. Born from this challenge, ‘Is This World Mine’ was written as a reflection upon what was a turbulent year.

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"What originally sparked me to write ‘Is This World Mine’ was a news story in October 2020 that another boat carrying refugees capsized in the English Channel. Two children, aged five and eight, as well as two adults died. What shocked me most was the volume of heartless comments I was seeing online, it left me with a feeling of dread. I had this sudden urge to do something, anything, coupled with the realisation that there is not much that us, common people, can do to influence the big scheme of things. In the end, I turned to the one thing I know to do best: I wrote a song.”

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In a world where roughly 2% of music producers are women, Jewelia proudly self-produces her own songs. Furthermore, ‘Is This World Mine’ was mastered by Cicely Balston of AIR Studios, one of two women engineers nominated for the MPG Mastering Engineer of the Year award in 2021. The song was mixed by Niko Battistini (MARINA, Charlie XCX, Maisie Peters, Ed Sheeran).

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The video, filmed in lockdown, includes stock footage of world events, environmental catastrophe, protest movements and empty streets in the midst of a pandemic, interspersed with shots of Jewelia singing against a dark background and in an industrial-looking environment.

The hopeless feeling of the song is countered by a hopeful glimpse in the last chorus, where images of nature, wildlife, and love of all kinds are cut in, the message being that even in difficult times, we must remember that the world is full of beauty and wonder.

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