Jazzy Heath has had a year she won’t forget.

A graduate from the University of Gloucestershire, the singer-songwriter did what some people only dream of doing, uprooting her life and moving to Japan in January 2019.

In that time Jazzy has experienced all the country has to offer, from the food and drink to the sights and of course, karaoke.

She has also spent the time in Tokyo working on her new album ‘World Of My Own’, which was released at the end of December.

“I spent so much time creating it and then double that time releasing it, so it’s safe to say that my album means a lot to me,” said Jazzy.

“This album is like my child, my pride and joy. It’s been my entire world for the last year and a half and it’s been one of my main motivators.”

Jazzy began writing and recording the album whilst living in the UK, in a converted old-fashioned ambulance which she nicknamed “the Bee Mobile”.

The album was finished a week before she flew out to Japan, but Jazzy admits she took her time over the release.

“I spent just over six months creating, writing, producing and overall making the album but releasing it has nearly taken a year!

“I want people to think of this album as like my biography but in the form of music. It touches on subjects like my passion for animal rights and saving the planet, and my deeper personality.

“There are also themes about simply being a tough cookie with an unapologetic-ness for being who I am.”

The album title and artwork, says Jazzy, is inspired by Alice in Wonderland, one of her favourite stories – as a self-confessed Disney obsessive one of the perks of her home in Tokyo is the short trip to nearby Disneyland.

The album was officially released on Monday 23rd December, with Jazzy releasing live versions of her songs on her YouTube channel in the build-up to the release.

2020 will see Jazzy return to the UK and Gloucestershire for a few months – “I’m so over the moon to see my family and friends again!” she said.

The new year also marks the beginning of a “rebrand” for Jazzy, and whilst she doesn’t give too much away, she explains her thinking behind the change.

She said: “Honestly, it’s been something I’ve been thinking about even while I was making the album.

“The rebrand is partly going back to feeling the need for more simplicity.

“I felt that having my name on my main creative project is just too personal. I know that lots of musicians use their own name and it’s a very done thing, but it’s just not for me anymore. I feel like I can branch out more creatively if I go under a new name and image.

“I wanted to release the album and then rebrand because I wanted to end this current project with something really meaningful to me. I want to feel I have consolidated this chapter properly.”

For Jazzy, the rebrand will also see a move away from her pop roots into different genres.

And she hopes that this year will mark an exciting new chapter in her life.

She added: “Life has felt complicated and fuzzy at times in this last year, especially with a big move across the world. There were some serious challenges and tests that came along but it has taught me that life is as complicated as you make it.

“I feel like 2019 was my year for learning, now I’m ready to put it all into action! Watch out 2020!”