Jessie Ware, 41, Thinks Ageism Still Exists in Music. Why She Pays ‘Less Attention’ to It These Days (Exclusive)

Jessie Ware Credit: Jack Grange NEED TO KNOW Jessie Ware’s sixth album Superbloom blends soulful grooves with confidence and sensuality, reflecting her evolution as an artist Ware gained renewed success with her last two albums and a major tour opening for Harry Styles The singer tells PEOPLE about balancing her music career, motherhood and podcasting with her mom, Lennie, while embracing life at 41 Jessie Ware is hitting her stride. The British vocalist struck gold by shifting into dance music over the past half-decade, and she’s now expanding that sound to call back to the soulful nature of her earlier work alongside self-assured and often quite sexy lyricism on her sixth studio album, Superbloom , out now via Interscope Records. “I've tried to amalgamate everything I've learned from the past five records and bring it all together,” Ware, 41, tells PEOPLE. “I was ready to lean more into soul and groove again, but with more confidence.” Jessie Ware 'Superbloom' Album Cover Credit: Universal Music Group The “Ride” singer experienced renewed career success with her past two albums, 2020’s What’s Your Pleasure and 2023’s That! Feels Good! , due to both the music’s upbeat, playful nature and a major touring slot opening for Harry Styles — where her powerhouse vocals reached tens of thousands of fans. She’s also welcomed listeners of her and mom Lennie’s popular Table Manners podcast into the mix. Ware, a mom of three who’s married to husband Sam Burrows , now feels ready for what’s next: a vigorous promotional cycle and an upcoming tour of her biggest venues to date . “Without sounding arrogant, I just feel confident,” she says. “I'm ready for it all. I also have learned how to appreciate it, that it doesn't necessarily stay around forever, so I'm going to bloody enjoy it.” Ware sat down with PEOPLE to discuss the making of Superbloom , making sure Burrows was alright with the sensual nature of its accompanying music videos, how Table Manners has impacted her career and her thoughts on the state of ageism in the music industry. Jessie Ware Credit: Jack Grange PEOPLE: Your last two albums moved you into a dance music lane and expanded your audience. How did that influence your approach to this record? WARE: Well, I thought I was making a different kind of record. I thought I was making a far more electronic dance record, and it just wasn't really sitting right. I took stock of that, and I was like, it has to get me going first and foremost. Something wasn't gelling when I was writing these songs. And they're perfectly good, but I was ready to invite the listener into my real life a bit more — domesticity and being a mother and a wife, but not apologizing for that and enjoying that moment. Taking longer with the record has meant that I haven't been away from my kids as much. I'm volunteering in the community show, doing the glam backstage. I'm able to experience every aspect, and that's been quite beautiful. Not that I'm an absent f---ing parent, by the way. I'm not Don Draper . The success of the last two [albums], I have had complete autonomy over, so it's only fueled my desire to push myself more and trust myself more. PEOPLE: Sensuality is even more prominent on this record with songs like “Sauna” and “Mr. Valentine,” but you’ve spoken in the past about feeling like a prude in real life. So how do you tap into that side? WARE: It's become now, weirdly, part of my identity. When I was making the video for “ Ride ,” the day before when I was workshopping this idea I'd had where I was like, " James [Norton] is going to be the sexy cowboy.” But when I was actually met with that, and James was like, "Tell me what to do,” I was like, "Oh God, maybe I'm not a dom. Maybe I'm a sub." And it was really terrifying. Then I was like, "F---." It was actually fine. When I feel like I'm going into character, it's great. And I think actually, I'm maybe not as prudish as I once thought I was. Jessie Ware and Sam Burrows in July 2025 Credit: Hoda Davaine/Getty for Emirates PEOPLE: How does Sam feel when he hears your sexy lyrics? WARE: He's not fussed about “Sauna.” That's his least fave. He said, “It doesn't make me want to dance.” I really appreciate his opinion, but sometimes he just doesn't get it. He doesn't get “Sauna,” whereas the rest of the world does. So it's really funny. And he loves the sauna. It's really odd. His favorite is “Mon Amour,” which I think is the campiest. It's this celebratory diva moment, and he's there singing it. You never know what you're going to get with Samuel. PEOPLE: You two have been together since you were teenagers. How do you keep things fresh between having three kids and respective careers? WARE: Well, you get a hot actor in your music video. PEOPLE: To make him jealous? WARE: Actually, I felt very responsible. I'm not an actress, for starters, and I had to ring him up. I was like, "Look, for the ['Ride'] video, it kind of went more raunchy than I thought I would do. And I just wanted to check in." Not apologize, because I think it's art and it's work. I just wanted to acknowledge that made me uncomfortable. He watched it back, and he was like, "Babe, that's really hot." And I thought, "That's a really secure man there, and that's why I love you." PEOPLE: Do you two have a secret that keeps the marriage going strong? WARE: We still laugh a lot. We definitely disagree, but we never let an argument fester. He's the yin for my yang. We're so opposite in so many ways, but we meet in the middle on how we want to raise our kids. And we've got such history. I can't really get away with anything with him, and that's good. I seek so many people's approval so much in my work, and he is so non-judgmental. And that is a really beautiful thing because then I just feel he loves me. Jessie Ware and Lennie Ware in April 2025 Credit: Bruce Glikas/WireImage PEOPLE: You've been doing the Table Manners podcast with your mom, Lennie, for eight years now. Did you ever think podcasting would become such a major part of your life and career? WARE: No. It was meant to be a kind of escape, an outlet, a distraction, some fun, and it still is fun. It's amazing what has happened with this podcast. I'm so lucky, and sometimes I take it for granted when I'm doing three back to back because I've got a New York promo week. But I'm interviewing Chaka Khan , one of my all-time idols, and she's holding hands with my mom. I'm like, wow, we've really built this unique mad situation, and aren't we lucky? PEOPLE: You and Lennie were already really close, but what has the podcast done for your relationship? WARE: It's hard. Sometimes I treat her like a work colleague, because I'm making work decisions, and that's sometimes not fair when it's your mom. We don't ever talk about the podcast when we're not working. We actually avoid it, so she can be a grandma, she can be a mom. I think [the podcast is] a beautiful way of reminding me how special she is when other people delight in hanging out with her. I have a fantastic mom. I mean, she's at some inspirational women's lunch at the moment. I'm like, "You do you, Lennie." And she gets her branding deals. It's bonkers. She's a 74-year-old social worker. PEOPLE: Have you ever tried getting one of your podcast guests to collaborate on music? WARE: I got Colman Domingo on [the song “Automatic” from Superbloom ] through having him on the podcast, and created this gorgeous relationship together. When I see an opportunity, I'll take it. PEOPLE: This phase of your life seems so fruitful between the success of the music and the podcast as well as motherhood. Did you ever think this was how your life would look at 41? WARE: No. I mean, in my dreams, but I didn't know what a f---ing podcast was 10 years ago. I love the job satisfaction that I get. It's a rollercoaster being a musician, and it changes every time you put a record out. But also the challenge of that, I seem to be able to accept each time, even if I'm more of a shadow of my former self. I love my life. I don't mean to sound smug. I love it. I appreciate that I'm a businesswoman. I appreciate that I'm a creative. I appreciate that I'm a mother. I take none of that for granted. I want to celebrate that I've been able to make that happen while still living an incredibly normal life. People don't take paparazzi photos of me. They never recognize me. I can get into my sequins and my feathers and step into this role, which I love and enjoy. I also can step out of it, and be backstage for Sweeney Todd , doing the community show. PEOPLE: There was a time not very long ago where it seemed like female pop stars expired after 35, but yourself, Lily Allen, Beyoncé, Kylie Minogue and more are making their best material and hitting their stride after that point. Do you feel like ageism is less of a concern than it maybe once was? WARE: Ageism is still, I think, an issue in some spaces, but I think that I pay less attention to it. I still think it's a bit ageist in radio. And sexist. Not every radio. But I do think it's changed. Also, the people that I was looking at and inspired by were the people that had longevity — Annie Lennox , Sade , Whitney Houston , Chaka. It didn't feel like there was a shelf life on them, their music and what they could give. Probably because it was led by the vocals and the song. And so whilst I really enjoy the pop elements of my shows, I think first and foremost, I'm a singer, and that hopefully will stand the test of time. But I'm still going to have fun in pop. PEOPLE: What do you hope fans take away from hearing this album? WARE: I hope they take away the romance and delight and luxuriate in this feeling that I have tried to create. I've really tried to create an album where you listen to the full album. I just want them to feel like they're transported to another place that feels kind of hopeful, and celebratory and divine. Read the original article on People