Jessie Murph is posting through the outrage

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For about two months when she was a kid, Jessie Murph wanted to go to Harvard.

The 20-year-old singer and songwriter expressed her enjoyment of ‘Legally Blonde’ by saying, ‘This is amazing,'” she shares about the Reese Witherspoon law-school comedy that was released three years before her birth. Interestingly, despite being a cheerleading prodigy in small-town Alabama, Murph might have found Harvard’s cheerleading scene a bit surprising since it doesn’t traditionally offer that activity.

She replies with a tilt of her head, pondering the query. ‘It’s likely they do,’ she says, yet clarifies, ‘But it might not be their primary focus. Although you seldom hear about it, they excel in costly sports such as lacrosse, polo, and horse riding. Horseback riding would undeniably be quite exciting too,’ she adds, laughing.

Ultimately, Murph abandoned her ambitions for an Ivy League education and her dedication to cheerleading – although she’s rekindled her interest in cheer more recently. Instead, she redirected her focus towards her initial passion: music. Consequently, rather than planning for her sophomore year, she has just launched her second major-label album titled “Sex Hysteria.” This album, as suggested by its name, has sparked a small internet uproar with the provocative music video for her song “1965” and its hit single “Blue Strips.

Music

On Monday evening, the renowned pop sensation presented a more extensive adaptation of her Coachella extravaganza in Inglewood, marking the start of a series of four concerts.

1965,” a soulful tune reminiscent of Amy Winehouse with a jingle from an old-fashioned soda shop piano, paints a picture of yearning for classic romance. Murph’s voice, tinged with a sultry Southern accent, croons about reliving the past: “We’d visit diners and movies back then,” she sings, “Just holding hands, every touch was heaven-sent.” The song takes a somber turn as Murph admits that her partner might give her a firm slap and acknowledges their age difference: “I would be 20, and it’d be acceptable for you to be 40.” She also reflects on the age gap, stating, “That’s messed up, I know.

In simpler terms, the video accompanying the song contains explicit content and scenes suggesting domestic abuse, sparking accusations that Murph is promoting or glamorizing a form of oppressive traditional female roles at a time when women’s rights are under threat. However, Murph defended her intentions in a TikTok post with 11 million followers, stating that the song itself was a satire, which might suggest she didn’t fully achieve the impact she aimed for.

This week, “Sex Hysteria” made its entry onto Billboard’s album chart at No. 8. The buzz around this release was amplified when Lana Del Rey, a significant influence on Murph who has often faced online controversy, shared a video of herself pole dancing to the song “Blue Strips,” a title that refers to the security feature on a $100 bill sometimes thrown at dancers in strip clubs. This surge of attention has positioned Murph as a strong contender for the best new artist award at the upcoming Grammy Awards in February.

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During the creation of this album, I found myself spending each day for approximately six months consecutively in the studio. My social life took a backseat as I focused solely on my work, constantly working hard without any breaks. However, the process was exhilarating because it allowed me to transform nothing into something remarkable. Now, when I listen to the finished product, it serves as a form of therapy, helping me cope with my emotions. This conversation is taking place at the end of a tiring day promoting “Sex Hysteria”. She’s dressed casually in jeans and a Hysteric Glamour T-shirt, her hair falling loosely around her face.

Despite starting with a track where she connects her songwriting journey to “the mistakes my father made,” the album titled “Sex Hysteria” is actually more light-hearted compared to last year’s “That Ain’t No Man That’s the Devil.” According to Murph, the latter was a means of releasing “a great deal of anger and pain that I needed to expel, even just for my own healing, before moving on to the next stage.” (A representative line from “Dirty” is: “I woke up this morning feeling angry / Flipped a switch, I felt the urge to confront you.”)

In this song, however, she’s expressing her fascination with “whips and chains” in the upbeat tune “Touch Me Like a Gangster”, boasting about a Malibu mansion she claims to have purchased, yet specifying that she doesn’t truly possess it in “Blue Strips”.

She continues, “Not just yet.” She explains that the initial line for her song was simply what popped into her mind while composing. She finds the idea of residing in Malibu shimmeringly attractive, something she’s longed to experience. As a child growing up in the Deep South, her fascination with Malibu may have been sparked by watching shows like ‘Property Brothers’.

Music

For six consecutive weeks, the somber and moody ballad has held the number one spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Warren’s first studio album will be released this coming Friday.

Approximately one and a half years ago, Murph relocated from Nashville to L.A., building a strong presence in the music industry through collaborations such as “Wild Ones,” a duet with Jelly Roll that has over 300 million streams on Spotify, and “High Road,” a No. 1 country radio hit with Koe Wetzel, which earned her a nomination for New Female Artist of the Year at this year’s ACM Awards.

In my own words, I’ve shifted away from overtly rural elements towards pounding basslines and foggy trap rhythms for this project, with Gucci Mane and Lil Baby joining me as collaborators. However, there’s a certain stylistic haze that emerges, mirroring the blurred boundaries characteristic of country music in today’s streaming landscape.

Bailey Zimmerman, an emerging artist from Nashville who collaborated with Jessie Murph on the rootsy “Someone in This Room” last year, describes her as simply “Jessie Murph,” regardless of whether it’s country, pop, or any other genre. He explains that even though her music might not sound traditionally country, the themes she explores are often relatable to country music.

Similar to numerous individuals of her age group, Murph expressed herself by sharing covers of well-known tunes on the internet. The earliest video on her YouTube channel is labeled “11 year old sings titanium,” and it indeed features a young Murph peering into the camera as she performs Sia and David Guetta’s 2011 hit single, known for its stadium-style rave vibe. At 16 years old, while attending high school in Athens, Alabama, she gained popularity on Instagram and TikTok; subsequently, she signed with Columbia Records and began releasing singles. By 2023, she had released a mixtape titled “Drowning” and collaborated on songs with Diplo and Maren Morris.

In the creation of “Sex Hysteria,” she found inspiration from Patsy Cline, Wanda Jackson, as well as both Presleys – Elvis and Priscilla. Murph shares that her mother once told her that at age 3, Jessie claimed to have been Elvis in a previous existence. Has Jessie ever visited Graceland?

“No, but my mom went there when she was pregnant with me,” she says, widening her kohl-rimmed eyes.

She named the album after the derogatory term “hysterical” used towards women in the 1950s and ’60s, referring to those who were depressed, anxious, or simply experiencing normal emotions. Does she believe that women have more freedom to express themselves fifty years on?

I truly find liberation when expressing my feelings, whether through music or otherwise, without reservations. However, everyone’s unique experiences differ significantly. Just as my perspective is distinct from my neighbor three doors down, so too are the views of people living in different neighborhoods, cities, and countries. I suspect that this diversity in perspectives could lead to challenges in various societies.

In part, the response to Murph’s “1965” has shared similarities with the criticism Sabrina Carpenter faced upon unveiling the cover art for her upcoming album titled “Man’s Best Friend.” The cover image shows Carpenter kneeling before a man who appears to be pulling her hair.

Music

As I eagerly await this Friday’s debut of Part 2 of ‘And So It Goes’ on HBO, let me share with you my personal ranking of Billy Joel’s most memorable tunes:

1. “Piano Man” – The song that made him a household name and still resonates deeply today.
2. “Just the Way You Are” – A timeless love ballad that beautifully captures the essence of true affection.
3. “She’s Always a Woman” – A poignant exploration of the complexities of relationships and the enigma that is women.
4. “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant” – An epic, multi-faceted story told through music, reminiscent of our own lives.
5. “My Life” – A heartfelt reflection on the journey of life and the importance of cherishing every moment.
6. “Movin’ Out (Anthony’s Song)” – A vibrant anthem about starting over and embracing new opportunities.
7. “We Didn’t Start the Fire” – A fast-paced, energetic track that encapsulates the tumultuous events of the latter half of the 20th century.
8. “Tell Her About It” – A catchy tune about the trials and tribulations of love in the modern world.
9. “The Longest Time” – A sweet, simple melody about the joy of being with someone special.
10. “Only the Good Die Young” – A playful ode to forbidden love that showcases Joel’s knack for crafting memorable hooks.

Murph observes that the most peculiar aspect is the hate coming from many women. However, she speculates that some individuals may feel uncomfortable due to her age. Many people first encountered her when she was 16 or 17 and in a different stage of life – something for which she’s grateful she’s changed. She seems to be at a loss. When people meet you at a certain point in your life, they seem to expect you to remain the same. But let me grow and evolve.

This week, Murph commenced a global tour based on her album “Sex Hysteria”, which she showcased with an electrifying performance at Coachella in April. Notably, she incorporated some of her former cheerleading routines into the choreography for the first time during this performance. She plans to revisit Southern California for a concert at the Shrine Expo Hall on September 27th.

She explains, “Some things just feel instinctive for me, while others pose a challenge. Dancing, for instance, is something that I struggle with.

One of her aims for this year: reducing the amount of time she spends on social media. “It can be harmful for your mental well-being,” she acknowledges, despite its significant role in her success. Currently, she’s engrossed in a TikTok discussion about World War III, which has left her feeling anxious. She continues to scroll, expressing concern over the global conflict.

She expresses her concern about how early kids are receiving phones, saying, “It’s quite alarming, don’t you think?” She continues, recalling a YouTube video brought up in conversation, “At that age, I could have shared something questionable like that video. And here I am at 16 with TikTok, sometimes I wonder why I posted some of the things I did.

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2025-08-01 16:43