Lithuanian singer-songwriter Jazzu, born Justė Arlauskaitė, is at a crossroads. After two decades in the music industry, and following a series of acclaimed orchestral concerts across Lithuania, the artist is questioning her path forward, hinting at a potential shift away from the spotlight and a reevaluation of her creative priorities. The conversation, which took place with journalist Ramūnas Zilnys, revealed a candid reflection on artistic fulfillment, motherhood, and the search for new meaning in a career that has already reached significant heights.
Jazzu’s recent performances, including shows in Kaunas and Klaipėda, culminated in a final concert in Vilnius. These concerts weren’t planned, she explained, but arose from overwhelmingly positive feedback after a summer performance with an orchestra – a rare opportunity for any Lithuanian artist. “These concerts were born very unexpectedly, in the summer, when we performed at a festival that will no longer take place with an orchestra, and I received a lot of good feedback from people who are key to me,” Jazzu shared. “I personally felt very good performing with the orchestra all the time, it is a very rare opportunity for any performer, especially in Lithuania.”
The success of those performances sparked a desire to create something grand, but also a recognition of the precedent set by other Lithuanian artists like Monika Liu and Merūnas, who have also embraced orchestral arrangements. “I didn’t want to just repeat what had been done before,” she said. Adding to the complexity, Jazzu had stepped back from her career to focus on motherhood for the past three years, fueling a desire to create something significant for herself. “I wanted to do something grand for myself,” she stated.
A 107-Person Ensemble and a Feeling of Rebirth
Jazzu ultimately decided to proceed with an orchestral collaboration, enlisting the talents of conductor Paulius Lygnugaris and the “Viva” choir. The scale of the project was considerable, involving a total of 107 musicians. “It was a challenging process to gather so many people, to connect them through rehearsals and share ideas,” Jazzu admitted. She found respite from the intensity of the project during a period spent living in Plungė, a town in western Lithuania, where she found peace and inspiration.
“These concerts are a kind of rebirth for me, a very big declaration, because it takes courage and responsibility to manage it and stand at the forefront of it all. At the same time, it is a privilege, so I feel grateful,” she said. However, the question of what comes next looms large. Jazzu openly admitted she isn’t sure if she’ll undertake similar large-scale projects in the future.
Reaching a Peak and Considering a New Direction
“Because when I suppose about it, what am I going to do next year, play with five orchestras? I think that was kind of the peak of my career,” Jazzu pondered. “I’m not talking about big tours, I’m talking about the concept, the fulfillment and the musical part of it. I don’t know what will happen next, because a new album has been released, big concerts have been done. Now I want to rest, and what will happen next, it’s very difficult for me to say, because I’m at a lot of crossroads in my life right now. I don’t know what will happen, I’m changing a lot of things. Will there be those five orchestras? Probably not. Will I perform often? Definitely not. Will I perform differently, in stranger places or in a different form? Yes, but probably very rarely.”
Jazzu’s willingness to openly discuss her internal struggles and career considerations reflects a broader honesty that she often displays on social media. When asked about comments she’d made in recent years about potentially stopping performing altogether, she emphasized the importance of self-awareness. “It is very important to me what I want. That I am grateful and feel needed, that is a fact, that is why I am still here, but at the moment I want different things in life. To be honest, there is a little less space for me and I already see a slightly different direction,” she explained.
A Feeling of Being Outgrown and a Search for Authenticity
Jazzu believes she reached her peak in Lithuania seven years ago and feels constrained by the expectations of the local music scene. “I think I’ve reached the ceiling in this wonderful country seven years ago and I can’t live on inertia. I’m not that kind of person,” she stated. “There is more for me than what has happened here, there will be no more for me. I will not start creating Russian pop, I will not start creating ‘rubbish’ music, I will not start flattering, I will not start creating unstylish music. My second name has always been quality, style, sensitivity. I don’t know if today’s person needs what I can grant. I feel a little alien both to the world and to the Lithuanian context. This is not something sad, tragic or radical.”
The artist acknowledged the impact of life events – the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and becoming a mother – in prompting this period of introspection. “Quarantine, war, the birth of a child told me that I never know anything, and that was the first impulse. If I don’t know anything, how do I accept that uncertainty, as tragedy and fear or as freedom? I am currently choosing freedom, myself, as a priority and asking what I want. I really want to create, I will create here, because this is my base, I don’t know how, I don’t know when, I will definitely create and somewhere else, and now I definitely know, I really require a vacation,” Jazzu concluded.
As Jazzu prepares for a period of rest and self-discovery, the immediate future remains uncertain. She has completed a new album and a series of ambitious concerts, leaving fans to wonder what her next creative endeavor will be. The artist herself admits she doesn’t have the answers yet, but is embracing the freedom to explore new possibilities. The next official update from Jazzu is expected to approach after a period of personal reflection, likely through her social media channels.
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