You Are The Morning - jasmine.4.t: Review

jasmine.4.t

is a British singer-songwriter who was announced last year as a new signee of the Phoebe Bridgers-led Saddest Factory record label. You Are The Morning follows a trio of singles that dropped last year and features Phoebe Bridgers' entire group, boygenius, on production throughout the record as well as occasional backing vocals from the trio. I was extremely excited for the release of the album after loving all of the singles and this style of indie-folk and singer-songwriter music in general. Delightfully, Jasmine didn't disappoint.

When I say my expectation were high for You Are The Morning I mean it, because the album's three singles are an astounding bunch. Lead single "Skin On Skin" is a wonderfully written tune that's able to convey some unique sensations with the physical descriptions in its lyricism. It's also the moment where I first fell in love with Jasmine's subtle but beautiful singing and when the song rushes into its surprisingly exciting hook it's a perfect moment. 

I didn't anticipate there being another single I liked as much but that only lasted until I heard the next single "Elephant" which may be even better. It does many things just as well from the stunning vocal performance to the level of unique thematic intrigue, to the instrumental that waits just for the right moment to pull it's best punch. It's an astoundingly good song. I also love the third single and title track "You Are The Morning." The song has distant gentle percussion and a title refrain that I've been humming for weeks since I first heard it. Again Jasmine's vocals creak with gentle imperfections that highlight the emotion of everything she says so much. 

The deep cuts are similarly mesmerizing throughout, starting with a pair of great tracks that bookend the record. It starts with "Kitchen" a gentle folk cut that asks some pretty evocative questions in the analysis of feelings of uselessness. Its simple instrumental is touching and so many of the refrains have been stuck in my head despite how understated it is throughout. I also love the closing track "Woman" the album's most direct analysis of womanhood. The declarations it makes are surprisingly confident given how much insecurity and uncertainty Jasmine expresses throughout the album. Through that lens it's a somewhat inspiring way to end the record off with an unwavering confidence in her own femininity despite it all. 

There are even more great lowkey moments in the mix. "Highfield" is one of the quietest tracks here and its gentle sway revolves around tying strong feelings of affection to the physical space the song is named after. Lyrics like "I wish the whole world was Highfield, I wish it stretched right to my door" are mystifying, and the extra instrumentation that follows only works to drive the emotion home. Later on the album "Roan" is a pretty piano ballad that has a kind of rambling old-school folk structure and metaphor-soaked lyrics to match. Even if it isn't one of the most interesting compositions on the record it does feature some of its best writing. 

My favorite deep cut is "New Shoes" which has a similarly sad and gentle demeanor. It's a fascinatingly written song about a partner experiencing romantic hesitation that turns into a plea to them to see things through. It takes an understanding and sympathetic poise that makes the romantic conclusion feel all the more well-earned. The surprise electric guitar that rushes in is one of my favorite moments on the entire album and the outro it concludes with feels like all the raw emotions coming to a dramatic peak. 

Right in the middle of the album there are a few shorter tracks and a shift in style. This is where the record's liveliest songs pop up featuring rock instrumentation and much more background singing. "Breaking In Reverse" features an irresistible chorus with supporting vocals from all 3 boygenius girls. The track has such a propulsive momentum that drives it through its progression and I love all the lyrics about Jasmine's uncertainty with flirty gestures and fear of disillusionment. Finally, there's "Guy Fawkes Tesco Dissociation" which has the most muscle of any song on the album. It's a duet with Phoebe Bridgers that features a full array of rock instrumentation. I wouldn't say the lyrics are any more gleeful but there are some funny moments and the whole song has a more tongue-in-cheek demeanor. 

You Are The Morning is an excellent debut from Jasmine.4.t and marks the first truly excellent album of 2025. Though she exists in the long-running and over-saturated mold of indie and folk adjacent singer-songwriters, it would be difficult to mistake Jasmine for any of her contemporaries, or even any of her idols. While her songwriting is strong and the production from boygenius is perfectly subtle enough to give her space, what really helps this album soar are her fragile, gentle, and creakingly vulnerable vocals. Through that lens, her touching nuance is an exploratory experience all its own and one that's channeled perfectly on numerous album highlights. Despite You Are The Morning being such an early point in Jamine's career, she's already approaching her music with a pinpoint understanding of what makes her artistically unique that many take years to develop. The result is a truly remarkable debut. 8.5/10

For more singer-songwriters check out my review of Ethel Cain's Perverts