In 2022, UK saxophonist Jasmine Myra released one of the year’s finest debuts. A blend of meditative melodies, contemporary jazz arrangement, and intuitive improvisation, Horizons was a uniquely confident and acclaimed entry into the British jazz scene. Yet, when it came time to record her follow-up, Myra found herself doubting her abilities. “I felt a lot of pressure after Horizons was well received, like, what if it was a fluke?” she tells Apple Music. “I just had to start writing again, follow my ear and see what came out.” Reuniting with producer Matthew Halsall, Myra began composing and found that what emerged were complex, fiery compositions that placed her own playing front and center. Rather than shying away from her impostor syndrome, the six tracks of Rising are consequently some of Myra’s most direct works to date. They range from the sweeping strings of “From Embers” to the intricate saxophone soloing of “Still Waters” and the ebbing instrumental interplay of “Knowingness.” “It feels like my phoenix moment, rising up in confidence and self-assurance,” Myra says. “This is a hopeful album, full of trust rather than uncertainty.” Read on for her in-depth thoughts on the album, track by track. “Rising” “This was one of the first tracks I wrote for the album, and it feels like a bridge from the soundworld of Horizons. I was listening to a lot of Makaya McCraven at the time and was really taken by how light and intricate his writing for strings is, which is why this opens with a harp and guitar, creating a spiritual opening and calm headspace for the rest of the record to unfurl from.” “Still Waters” “One of the themes of this album is finding confidence and self-possession, so I wanted to write a track that would challenge me to solo and place myself at the forefront, especially since most of Horizons splits melodies across all the instrumental parts. I love writing for my band, but I realized I need to assert myself more. When it came to soloing on this, they were an incredible support, bringing the best out of my playing.” “Knowingness” “The title of this track is very important to me. It reflects the feeling of trusting in the uncertainty of our future and knowing that the journey we’re going on will be OK, rather than worrying about where we are headed. The music reflects this mood, starting out calmly before building to a sense of excitement in the crescendo of a fantastically huge bass clarinet solo from Arran Kent.” “Glimmers” “When I first started making music as a student in Leeds, I was really into hip-hop and jazz fusion and artists like Soweto Kinch. As I developed, I moved more into contemporary jazz, but I’m really proud of this track because it still has that hip-hop feel and embraces where I came from. It’s a tune that emerged from the process of me following my ear and trusting it to the extent that I didn’t feel confined to a particular musical box.” “From Embers” “This song takes its name from the image of the phoenix rising from the embers and from my feeling of wanting to move onwards and upwards with my music. The energy feels quite dark and anticipatory, before it builds into an orchestral beauty with these gorgeous string flourishes played by a quartet. I’m really proud of the track, and it acts as the perfect setup for the final number.” “How Tall the Mountains” “The title of this song comes from a Chinese proverb: ‘No matter how tall the mountain, it can never block the sun.’ It’s a sentiment that really resonates with me, meaning that no matter your adversity, you will still have hope and be able to get through. It ties into the energy of the record as a whole, which builds to reach the sonic release of this track, ending on a real party feel with the outro. I’m really proud of this one—it is the perfect positive note to finish on.”