Jessie Reyez on the Meaning of ‘Paid in Memories,’ Creating a Spanish Album, and Taking a Stand as an Artist
The artist speaks with LOS40 in the middle of her tour, which crosses several cities in the United States and Canada, as well as various venues in Europe
Voices like Jessie Reyez’s (born 1991 in Toronto) are heard once and never forgotten. The Colombian-Canadian singer rose to fame with “Figures” (2016), offering the world a unique style and becoming one of the most compelling voices in R&B today, with a tone that brings to mind none other than Amy Winehouse.
Reyez released her debut EP Kiddo in 2017, earning the Breakthrough Artist of the Year award at the 2018 Juno Awards. Her second EP, Being Human in Public (2018), won R&B/Soul Recording of the Year at the 2019 Junos and earned her a Grammy nomination in 2020. That same year, she released her debut album Before Love Came to Kill Us, which peaked at No. 13 on the Billboard 200 and surpassed 1.2 billion global streams. In 2022, she dropped her second album, Yessie, which received critical acclaim and a 2023 Polaris Prize nomination.
Throughout her career, Jessie has collaborated with top artists like Eminem, Calvin Harris, Karol G, Dua Lipa, Lewis Capaldi, and Sam Smith, and she co-wrote the global hit “One Kiss.” She’s won five Juno Awards and toured with Sam Smith in 2023.
Now, after releasing her latest album Paid in Memories (2025), we caught up with her while she’s touring extensively across North America, performing in iconic venues from Brooklyn’s Paramount Theatre to the Fillmore in Silver Spring and Miami Beach. Many of her shows are sold out, including dates in Austin, Seattle, and Portland. The tour covers major cities across the U.S. and Canada, culminating with multiple performances at Toronto’s Massey Hall in December.
Jessie Reyez performs live on stage during day two of Lollapalooza Brazil at Autodromo de Interlagos on March 23, 2024 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Buda Mendes/Getty Images,
On Paid in Memories and collaborating with Lil Wayne and other major names
Q: First of all, you recently released your latest album, Paid in Memories. I wanted to ask you what the title of the album means to you and what it represents for you personally.
Jessie Reyez: For me, it’s pretty much a life well lived and also a reminder that as much money as you have, if you get to the end of your life and you don’t have great memories, it was a life wasted. And I feel like I’ve been very, very fortunate in my being well-paid in memories in my life.
Q: I also wanted to ask you how was the songwriting and the creative process. I saw that you collaborated with Lil Wayne, Big Sean, Ari Lennox… Could you tell us a bit more about that?
Jessie Reyez: The idea that “closed mouths don’t get fed” is very real. If you don’t ask, you won’t receive. Some of those I reached out on my own, even before this album, just to show love, build the relationship, and offer if there was anything I could contribute. I think Wayne was working on a project at the time when I reached out and I was like, “Hey, I’m actually a songwriter first. If there’s any hooks you need…” And that’s how we first got in contact. A lot of the features on the project came very fluidly. Sometimes you really have to search it out, and sometimes it just comes and lands in your hands from the sky. That’s kind of what it felt like for this project.
Rosalía and C. Tangana: Jessie Reyez’s Favorite Spanish Singers
Q: You’re bringing your show to Spain in September, and I was wondering — do you listen to any Spanish artists? Do you have a favorite?
Jessie Reyez: Well, fuck. I’m sure you know what I’m going to say. Rosalía is fucking killing it, man. I just love how she’s very much herself and has been dominating since she popped out. Also, you guys have a very prolific writer out there who works with a lot… I’m gonna fuck up his name. It starts with a C. C period… Da…
Q: C. Tangana, maybe?
Jessie Reyez: Yeah! And he writes a lot too, right?
Q: Right, yeah.
Jessie Reyez: Yeah, very, very talented.
Q: Do you listen to him?
Jessie Reyez: Yeah, some of his stuff. I did a deep dive because I heard he was a really dope writer.
Q: And would you like to work with Rosalía or C. Tangana?
Jessie Reyez: Yeah, why not? Imagine. Do you want some cake? Hell yeah, I want some cake! That’s like asking someone if they want a great thing. They seem like great artists, so yeah, it would be dope.
Q: Do you have a favorite song?
Jessie Reyez: Hold on, because I’m not the best with titles… but I’m better with melodies. Was it the “Hentai” one? Hentai — I love that song. It’s so well written. So controlled. It’s easy, in my opinion, to make a very powerful song if you have a lot of energy. But to execute something of that caliber, with that level of delicacy… It takes a certain mastery. They definitely accomplished it with that song. It was beautiful and very, very delicate.
Her First Spanish Album: The Idea Behind It
Q: Speaking of collaborations, I’ve seen you work with Latin artists like Karol G and Eladio Carrión. Are you thinking about collaborating with anyone else from the Latin music scene anytime soon?
Jessie Reyez: To be honest, I really want to make my first full Spanish project. But — Sí noto que la mayoría de estas entrevistas son en inglés porque el español es lo que aprendí de chiquitica, pero solo lo hablo en casa, en la calle con mi familia y relajada. Pero para trabajar y crear, suelo hacerlo en inglés porque estudié en inglés. Cuando hago canciones, hablando así, de forma fluida, sale como agua. Pero crear en español me lleva más de tiempo, mientras que en inglés las letras salen más rápido. Lo difícil es que la emoción siga siendo poderosa. Entonces, cuando escribo en español, el proceso se acelera un poco menos y por eso me toma más tiempo que con un proyecto en inglés. Pero, si Dios quiere, algún día el mundo lo verá.
Q: So you’re now working on a Spanish album?
Jessie Reyez: Not officially. What I’m saying is: maybe one day, the world will see it. Maybe one day. ¡Vamos a ver!
Q: And do you feel like you have different creative identities when you speak Spanish versus English?
Jessie Reyez: You know what’s funny? I didn’t perceive much of a difference until I started working more and meeting more people. When I speak Spanish, especially in Colombia, the culture is very sweet. Y en inglés, en Toronto o California, no tanto, no es lo mismo. Y siento eso cuando cambio de idioma. Algunas personas dicen: «Dios, eres tan dulce cuando hablas español, no pareces así cuando hablas inglés». Pero eso hace que salga más mi calidez. Me hizo reír, no sabía que eso era así, pero creo que es una opinión objetiva que he escuchado de otros
From a writing perspective, when you translate a lyric from Spanish to English, if you speak both, you notice that it can get a little thick. Latin culture is very romantic, full of passion. A lot of Americans aren’t like that. So when you translate a passionate Spanish lyric into English, it can come off cheesy. But what I find beautiful is that in Spanish, you can explore emotions so tremendously — real, sincere passion — without hesitation.
Jessie Reyez at Billboard Women In Music 2024 held at YouTube Theater on March 6, 2024 in Inglewood, California. Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images
Q: So do you feel like you need to switch languages to express that artistic perspective?
Jessie Reyez: No, I don’t think I need to switch. You’ve seen it — people listen to music in languages they don’t even speak. If the music is good, it transcends. It’s the vibration, the feeling that hits. But if I’m able to do it in Spanish, it’ll just be another weapon in my arsenal. Another skill I can flex, another ingredient I can add. I don’t need it, but it’s something I’d love to do.
Q: If you do end up releasing a Spanish-language project, how would you want it to be? What would you want it to represent?
Jessie Reyez: The truth. The truth has always been my North Star — talking about the human experience from my perspective. That’s what my music has always meant: my truth. Sonically, that’s a different story. There’s so much I love from the Latin world. In English, I’ve been able to sit in this genreless identity. So, God willing, if the Spanish project ever sees the light, it might have a bit of cumbia, a bit of reggaetón, a bit of salsa… who knows?
Working with Karol G, Eminem, and Her Favorite Latin Artists
Q: Who are your favorite Latin artists right now?
Jessie Reyez: I love throwback music. I love Carlos Vives — his songs paint memories from my childhood, you know? Juanes, Alquimia… a lot of old stuff.
Q: Speaking of Colombia and artists, you collaborated with Karol G on the “Ocean” remix, which became a big hit. How was it to work with her?
Jessie Reyez: Great. She’s great. I was so happy to contribute. Just another example of taking something from my life and putting it in music, and having people resonate with it. So many people have told me, “I fell in love to that song” or “We used it at our wedding.” That makes me so happy. I keep supporting her — she’s dope. Her charity work, her community presence, what she stands for — it’s beautiful. I love that video where she’s skiing — that shit is genius. I loved it.
Q: Now that she’s doing an album that really highlights her Latina, Colombian identity… You’re also half-Colombian — would you like to do something in that line?
Jessie Reyez: Pronto. Si Dios quiere, si está en mi destino, será, ¿no?
Q: Love to see it. Alright, so — you’ve also worked with Eminem, another hip-hop icon. How was that experience for you?
Jessie Reyez: Surrealista. Casi no podía creer que lo iba a conocer. Estaba muy nerviosa. Nunca he estado tan nerviosa como en ese momento, solo dos veces en mi vida, y tuve la oportunidad de trabajar con personas a las que admiraba desde niña. Él fue uno de los dos que me pusieron nerviosa. Recé para que me saliera bien porque en ese momento ya no escribía mucho. Mucho de lo que hago está en el aire, pero en ese momento, a veces escribía las letras y rezaba para que sonara bien, especially with him in the room. But it went really, really well — hence why we’ve worked more than once. He’s great.
Q: What would you say you got from working with him on that song, and what do you think you brought to it?
Jessie: Oh man, just essence. Essence and truth and — fuck — budget. Important as well, yeah. Especially ’cause that was early on. This guy really, really opened up a platform — like, he just, he helped. You know, it was early on in my career, and anyone that showed me love — like, it’s easy to say, “Oh this shit is dope,” when everyone’s saying it’s dope. It doesn’t take risk for someone to do that. But early on in someone’s career? He just… he bet on me. He was like, “She’s gonna be maybe sick. I want to work with her.” And it was just great.
Her Perspective on the Migrant Community Crisis in the US
Question: Recently at one of your shows, you spoke about empathy, especially considering what we’re currently witnessing in the U.S. with the migrant community. Other artists have spoken out as well. I wanted to ask, if you’re comfortable, what’s your perspective on that?
Jessie: I think my perspective is… I share the same sentiment that a lot of children of immigrants feel, which is: people are very quick to judge because they’re not in other people’s shoes. It’s very, very easy to judge when you haven’t experienced it — or when you haven’t had family members experience what it means to have a government turn its back on you. What it means to have a government view your pursuit of a more peaceful life for your family as something fundamentally illegal — when it’s essentially just a line on the ground. A line on land that didn’t even belong to them originally.
And it’s hard not to feel that with anger. But sometimes, when you elicit more empathy, there’s more room for conversation and the opportunity to teach — as opposed to just argue. You know what I mean? And that’s not to say it’s anyone’s responsibility to be a fucking teacher to people who walk around believing ignorant political narratives. I don’t think it’s anyone’s job. But I do think the more we do that, the more we can slowly change minds and get more people on the side of empathy, so they can understand that people aren’t fucking criminals. A lot of the time, people are just looking for better lives for their families.
To be honest, this is my own personal story: my father came from Colombia, but when they arrived, it was in Canada — because it was easier to get papers there. Originally, they went to the United States. When we applied for papers in the U.S., my parents waited — if I’m not wrong — more than 16 years. If we had been in Colombia, or anywhere that didn’t offer good opportunities, or was dangerous… if we were escaping persecution or if my parents were concerned about my safety — imagine someone in that position.
If you’re lucky enough to be born in a country with more opportunities, good for you. But imagine if you weren’t. Imagine you had to wait 16 years. And you’re in danger. You’re gonna tell me your family wouldn’t exhaust every option? That they wouldn’t try whatever they could to seek safety? To find a better life?
People say, “Do it the right way.” There are people trying to do it the right way. 16 years is insane. And people think it’s easy — but it’s not. I think it takes conversations, and it takes creating space so people can actually pause and think: “Fuck, if I was in those shoes, how would I act? What decisions would I have made?”
And now that I’m not in those shoes, now that I’m in a position of privilege — in a position to help — what am I going to do? Who am I going to advocate for? Who am I going to judge? And who am I going to extend a hand to help?
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