Spotlight: Jezzle, from Breakthrough to Britain’s Got Talent

When Ben, better known by his artist name Jezzle, joined Sonic Futures' Breakthrough: Release Ready programme, he was balancing two careers; a full-time English teacher and he was writing and releasing music whenever he could.

Like many independent artists, he had the songs and the ambition, but wanted a better understanding of how to build a sustainable career in music.

"I'd reached a point where I knew I had the drive and the songs, but I also knew there was a lot about the music industry that I didn't understand. I wanted to learn from people with real industry experience and give myself the best chance of turning my passion into something sustainable."

Through the programme, Ben was paired with music industry mentor Nic Coaker from Nrthrn Baby, who challenged him to think beyond simply writing and releasing music.

"The biggest thing Breakthrough gave me was practical, actionable steps. Nic encouraged me to think beyond simply writing and releasing music – that's the easy part. Instead, she helped me focus on how I present myself as an artist."

From developing an Electronic Press Kit (EPK) and refining his artist story to understanding release strategies and growing his presence on social media, the programme gave Ben the tools to approach his music career more strategically.

One piece of advice stayed with Ben throughout the programme:

"You have to make yourself discoverable. If nobody knows your music exists, opportunities become much harder to find."

Following Nic's encouragement to post more consistently on TikTok, one of Ben's videos gained over 100,000 views. That single post caught the attention of ITV's casting team, leading to an invitation to audition for Britain's Got Talent.

"Looking back, that really reinforced one of the biggest lessons I took from Breakthrough: putting yourself out there consistently creates opportunities that simply wouldn't exist otherwise."

The audition became even more special when Ben was invited to perform alongside his school choir, bringing together his two biggest passions: music and education. Although the audition didn't progress to the live semi-finals, it remains one of the proudest moments of his career.

"Simon Cowell said it was his favourite audition of the day, so regardless of the outcome, it felt like a really special moment."

Following the release of Don't Lose, originally developed through the Breakthrough programme, Ben created a special charity version of the track featuring his school choir. The project raised money for The Children's Society, while giving young people the opportunity to perform, build confidence and experience being part of a professional music project.

Sonic Futures was proud to support the project by facilitating a new recording session with Chad Rodgers, a producer Ben first met through our Commercial Songwriting Camp, alongside a new music video filmed by Rob Irish Media.

It's a great example of how different Sonic Futures programmes can connect, helping artists build relationships and unlock new opportunities throughout their careers.

Alongside preparing his next EP, Ben continues to balance teaching with his career as Jezzle, while creating opportunities for young people through music.

"Music and education have always been two huge passions of mine, but this experience has shown me that they don't have to be separate. Seeing students grow in confidence, perform in front of thousands of people and realise what they're capable of has been every bit as special as the opportunities it's created for me personally."

Looking back, Ben believes Breakthrough fundamentally changed the way he approaches his career.

"Breakthrough helped me realise that making music and building a music career aren't the same thing. It gave me the confidence to think more strategically, put myself out there and create opportunities instead of waiting for them."