Jaguar Jonze

An artfully enigmatic pop singer/songwriter, Jaguar Jonze crafts moody, literate anthems that bring to mind a canny mix of Nick Cave, Angel Olsen, and Portishead. Emerging in 2018, Jonze first garnered critical acclaim for her twangy, atmospheric singles “You Got Left Behind” and “Beijing Baby,” included on her debut 2020 EP, Diamonds & Liquid Gold. She picked up a J Awards nomination that year and returned in 2021 with the Antihero EP.
Born Deena Lynch in Yokohama, Japan, to a Taiwanese mother and Australian father, she migrated to Australia at age six. Growing up, she purportedly endured a rough childhood marked by family dysfunction, as well as physical and sexual abuse. She eventually overcame her early circumstances, exploring music as well as drawing and photography. Based in Brisbane, she worked for several years in artist management, aiding the careers of bands like the Jungle Giants, Confidence Man, Orphans Orphans, and Last Dinosaurs. She also issued two albums as Deena before stepping away from the business to refocus her creative energy.
In 2018, she released her debut single as Jaguar Jonze, “You Got Left Behind,” which showcased her dusky sound. A year later, she returned with the equally atmospheric track “Beijing Baby.” In 2020, Jonze competed for the right to represent Australia in the Eurovision Song Contest with her song “Rabbit Hole.” That year, she also released her debut EP, Diamonds & Liquid Gold, which brought together all of her previously issued singles. It helped earn her an Australian J Awards nomination for Unearthed Artist of the Year. In April 2021, Jonze returned with her sophomore EP, Antihero. The set found her co-producing alongside longtime bassist Aidan Hogg, with additional production by John Congleton. ~ Matt Collar