Jess Mauboy's Pre-Party Jams

“Music can give you confidence to leave your comfortable space and go and be out in the world,” Jessica Mauboy tells Apple Music. “To go and be out in the world, and connect with other music and other people.” The pop artist and actor describes music and makeup in the same way: “armour”. And when it comes to getting dressed up and going out, she knows it’s all about finding your groove. So, she’s compiled a playlist of her ultimate tracks for getting ready for a hot summer night. Though best known for her pop hits, Mauboy grew up surrounded by R&B and hip-hop. “I had such huge influence from my older sisters,” she says. “I loved Sisqó and Nelly, and ‘Waiting for Tonight’ by J.Lo was huge at the time! I remember that so deeply. It felt so colourful. It showed us what summer feels like, what night feels like. It gave off that perfect vibe for getting ready, partying, for that womanly kind of freedom.” Below, Mauboy talks about more of her favourite playlist picks. TLC, “Creep” “It just felt so smooth, it has such a groove and brightness. And it's just a feel-good track. It automatically puts you there: You’re with your friends, you’re in a group, you’re feeling good.” Selena Gomez, “Look at Her Now” “It’s fresh, and it’s so rhythmic, but it has this essence of space. I think it’s really nice when a song can allow you to express a little more. There’s not so many lyrics, but it’s given that space to the listener to find their own colour and find their own story. I think that’s what I first felt when I listened to it.” Baker Boy, “Marryuna" “This is my song! It’s in language and it moves me so deeply. Growing up with the Yolngu language in Darwin, it reminds me of Yothu Yindi. It’s joyous, it makes me happy. Genuinely happy.” Mariah Carey, “Fantasy” “As a young little girl getting so many influences from my older sisters, I had the luxury of choosing the stuff I was driven to. The way Mariah sung in her music videos felt like freedom. The way her voice would soar. I’d just lay there, this 11-year-old, going, ‘Sweet, sweet fantasy baby.’ I was so into myself!” Yothu Yindi, “Treaty” “Hands down, this is my go-to song. ‘Treaty’ was my power song, culturally and traditionally, having grown up in Darwin and witnessed them playing the songs at Brown’s Mart and Mindil Beach Market. Hearing it now, ‘Treaty’ is about life. It says everything about being human, being a person and living and breathing.” Dannii Minogue, “This Is It" “I used to get the tea towels and pull them around, and mum was like, ‘Excuse me, you better put my tea towels back in the drawer!’ We’d all be laughing, and we’d go pick hibiscuses from down the road, put them in our hair and dance around, doing all the moves.”