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Jessica Lois Ware (born 15 October 1984) is a British singer and songwriter. She came to prominence following the release of her debut studio album, Devotion (2012), which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart and produced the single "Wildest Moments". Her second studio album, Tough Love (2014), reached number nine in the UK and produced the singles "Tough Love" and "Say You Love Me". Her third studio album, Glasshouse (2017), reached number seven in the UK.
Ware pivoted to a disco-influenced sound for her fourth studio album, What's Your Pleasure? (2020), which was released to critical acclaim, reached number three in the UK, and produced the singles "Spotlight", "Save a Kiss" and "Remember Where You Are". Her fifth studio album, That! Feels Good! (2023), produced the single "Free Yourself" and reached number three in the UK, as well as peaking at number sixteen in the Top Album Sales chart in the US. Ware has received accolades including seven Brit Awards nominations including one for Best New Artist and four for British Female Solo Artist and two Mercury Prize nominations.
In 2018, Ware began co-hosting Table Manners alongside her mother Lennie, a podcast about "family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat", available to online Streaming media.
Ware was educated at Alleyn's School, a co-educational independent school in Dulwich in South London, where she was a schoolmate of Florence Welch, Jack Peñate, and Felix White of the Maccabees. She then attended the University of Sussex, where she graduated with a degree in English literature. One to watch: Jessie Ware Publisher: The Guardian newspaper. Published: 26 February 2012. Retrieved: 27 April 2013. After her studies, Ware briefly worked as a journalist at The Jewish Chronicle, did sports journalism at The Daily Mirror and worked behind the scenes at TV company Love Productions. There, she was a colleague of Erika Leonard, otherwise known as E. L. James, the author of Fifty Shades of Grey.
One of Peñate's bandmates, Tic, introduced Ware to SBTRKT; Ware and SBTRKT went on to collaborate on "Nervous" (2010). She consequently met Sampha, then known as SBTRKT's main collaborator. They created "Valentine" together, which was released on a special-edition, heart-shaped vinyl by Young Turks in 2011. "Valentine" was partly inspired by James Blake's song "The Wilhelm Scream" and based on their personal experiences in love. The music video for "Valentine" was directed by Marcus Söderlund. "Nervous", "Valentine" and an additional collaboration with DJ Joker ("The Vision") led Ware to a record deal with PMR Records. She also featured on Ceremonials, the 2011 album by Florence and the Machine in which her good friend Florence Welch is lead singer.
On 14 October 2011, Ware released her debut solo single, "Strangest Feeling", on limited 10" purple vinyl. The song did not chart on the UK Singles Chart.
Devotion was announced as a nominee for the prestigious Mercury Prize that year. Ware toured in the United Kingdom in the early part of March 2013, supported by Laura Mvula, starting with Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Oxford, Bristol and ending in London. The United Kingdom tour was followed by a European tour in the second half of March 2013 and a US tour in April 2013. In the summer of 2013, Ware played many festivals all over the world, and at the end of 2013, Jessie went on tour in the United States again.
Ware contributed a song for Nicki Minaj's third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014), called "The Crying Game" in which Minaj alternates between "devastating verses and pensive crooning" whilst Ware adds "haunting" and "soulful" vocals to the chorus. Originally, Ware only received a songwriting credit, but she was then credited on updated versions of the album. She also co-wrote the song "New Man" for Ed Sheeran's third album, ÷, and provided background vocals on it and two other songs.
In October 2017, Ware returned to the stage after a two-year absence in anticipation of the release of her third studio album, Glasshouse. Featuring contribution from Francis and the Lights, Ed Sheeran, Cashmere Cat, Julia Michaels and others, it was preceded by its first three singles "Midnight", "Selfish Love" and "Alone". Glasshouse debuted and peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart.
In October 2018, Ware released the single "Overtime", later to be included on What's Your Pleasure (The Platinum Pleasure Edition) in 2021.
Later in 2021, Ware collaborated with Kylie Minogue on the reissue of Minogue's fifteenth studio album, Disco, entitled Disco: Guest List Edition. Their song "Kiss of Life" was released on 29 October 2021. Their collaboration took place after Minogue appeared on Ware's podcast Table Manners in September 2020. In the episode, the pair spoke about writing together. Ware later joked that she had "bullied" Minogue into a duet as the two further discussed a collaboration.
"Free Yourself", the lead single from Ware's fifth studio album, That! Feels Good!, was released on 19 July 2022 following a premiere at that year's Glastonbury Festival. It was produced by Stuart Price. The next single, "Pearls", was released on 9 February 2023, following a teaser posted a few days prior. Ware has teased tracks of various genres including R&B, House music and Soul music, describing the record as "Remember Where You Are" but a "bit more soulful".
On 23 January 2019, Ware announced on her Instagram that she had created a premium kidswear collaboration called "Anyware Kids" launching online and in selected retailers Spring 2019, developed by designer George Reddings. The website officially went live on 31 March 2019.
In 2021, Ware appeared as a guest judge on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK.
In May 2023, it was announced that Ware would be one of the judges for the ITV talent show Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream alongside Alan Carr, Samantha Barks and Amber Riley with Zoe Ball being the presenter. The show followed the search for two up-and-coming musical theatre performers to play the roles of Sophie and Sky in 'Mamma Mia!' in London's West End for its 25th anniversary year.
Ware was also part of the lineup for "Artists for Grenfell" charity single which was released to raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation.
On May 29, 2025, Ware, alongside other British musical acts such as Dua Lipa and Massive Attack, signed a letter urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to "end U.K. complicity" in the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. She has previously posted Instagram stories highlighting the conflict's impact on the children living in occupied Gaza.
Ware is Jewish. In 2021, she discussed her plans to have a bat mitzvah as an adult.
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