JES, born Jes Brieden, has built a multifaceted career as an acclaimed American songwriter, vocalist, DJ, producer, radio host, and label founder. Raised in New York City, she gained traction as a sought-after dance music singer during the mid-2000s electronic surge, supplying her commanding vocals to Motorcycle’s 2004 club phenomenon “As the Rush Comes.” That breakthrough secured a contract with Tiësto’s Black Hole Recordings and launched a sustained solo run that produced notable singles such as “Imagination” (2007), “Awaken” (2011), and “Hold On” (2017).
During her early years she sharpened her abilities while absorbing New York City’s dense musical environment. After settling in Los Angeles she connected with the city’s emerging underground electronic and dance circles, writing original material that included “Starchildren,” which appeared on German DJ Paul van Dyk’s Politics of Dancing compilation. Rising visibility brought a stream of collaboration offers, culminating in the Gabriel & Dresden partnership that yielded “As the Rush Comes” under the Motorcycle name. The track dominated international clubs before achieving mainstream crossover, prompting JES to sign with dance music figure Tiësto’s Black Hole Recordings.
Her first album, Disconnect, arrived in 2007 on the label—distributed domestically by Ultra—and delivered another success with “Imagination,” which reached number one on the Billboard Radio Airplay Chart. That year also included a collaboration with Tiësto on “Everything,” featured on his Grammy-nominated album Elements of Life; she performed the song with him throughout his 2008 tour and served as opening act.
She reappeared on the charts in 2011 with the summer anthem “Imagination,” co-wrote and sang two tracks on BT’s Grammy-nominated These Hopeful Machines, and in 2013 joined Cosmic Gate for “Flying Blind” while reuniting with BT on “Letting Go,” solidifying her standing among electronic dance music’s most requested collaborators.
In 2015 she established her own imprint, Intonenation Records, to preserve artistic direction and champion new EDM talent. The label’s debut single, “Hold On” with Shant & Clint Maximus, earned a Grammy nomination. The year 2017 brought further activity, including the Cosmic Gate collaboration “Fall into You,” which energized club floors, and the announcement of an upcoming alternative and pop EP.