Rarely does an artist begin their career in one country, only to uproot and start fresh in another. Yet, this is exactly what Jesca Hoop did (yes, that's Jesca with one 'S'), when she decided to move from Los Angeles to Manchester, leaving her past behind her for a new life in the UK.

Already lauded in America by Tom Waits as one of her homeland's best songwriters and vocalists, Hoop rode the acclaim of her debut, Kismet, to begin the transition overseas, leaving the bustling confines of LA for the rainy metropolis of Manchester. And thus far, according to the singer, things have never been better. “It had been one-and-a-half years since my debut record, so it was time for a new record and some new scenery,” explains Hoop. “More specifically, in the New Year I made a decision to move to Manchester. I wanted to start and finish the record while I was still in LA as an independent artist and make my debut here in the UK as an independent artist. This comes with loads of challenges, as one might suggest. As such, it was a challenge to pull together the dough to make the record and to fund the campaign for instance, but we did and I’m here. It’s amazing.”

The new record, titled Hunting My Dress, was released at the end of November, and already the plaudits here are singing the same praises Tom Waits did last year. Finding space between Kate Bush and more modern chanteuses like Bat For Lashes or Dimbleby and Capper, Hoop weaves together ripe melodies dripping with an eerie, haunting brooding and woven through with her sultry vocals that could compete with anyone else practicing the craft at the moment. Every track is a modern ghost story, told by someone who sounds as if she's lived each phrase, bloody, beaten and stronger for it.

Consequently, Hunting My Dress is significantly more ambitious than Kismet, a development Hoop intended, as better vocal work and instrumental accompaniment is apparent on each song, showcasing a talent that Manchester is lucky to inherit. “Vocal harmony is a theme for me, generally,” says Hoop. “This record wouldn’t be complete without the harmonies. The harmonies were all written and recorded spontaneously in the recording process. Still, I wanted to make a record with very few ingredients and to create a lush sound with a sparse production. I wanted to take more control and be more decisive. This means I needed to enter the project with a clear vision and like minded collaborators, which I feel I did in LA before coming to Manchester. I wanted to dive in and express as fully as i possibly could. I wanted my growth to show, and I feel it has.”

Still, Hoop is another artist who has benefitted from the recommendations of more established acts, and with Hoop is was none other than the aforementioned Tom Waits, one of modern music’s greats. Waits acted as a mentor to Jesca in Los Angeles, working with her as she was developing and subsequently promoting Kismet, as well as translating that success into moving towards Hunting My Dress. His influence, among others, is worn with grace, as the way Hoop treats vocals showcases a great care, something that Tom Waits patented years back. “Tom and his wife Kathleen were the first mentors I had in this field of work,” reveals Hoop. “I hadn't any examples of how to make a go of a career in music. They taught me that the first thing you do is, simply, say it is so. Kathleen was the first person to address my work in music as my career. It was incredibly validating to hear that coming from a mentor and taught me to address my own self with belief and to expect great things in return.”

In between unpacking boxes and getting acquainted with Manchester’s thriving art scene, Hoop is hitting the road, with frequent stops in London to promote the new record, independently distributed through all fine record shops, including the folks at Rough Trade. In the UK, Hoop plays a slightly more stripped down set than she would in LA, with shows featuring a trio, a line-up that puts her vocals to the forefront even more than usual. “I have been playing in a trio,” says Hoop, “and it is a slightly stripped version of the songs as recorded. Yet, it’s still full, emotional, fun, expressive, intimate, human and accessible. But it's always hard to describe the live show, as I’m not a sales person. I’m just a musician. I’d rather just sing the songs and let them sell themselves, as they do of course.”

Jesca Hoop plays the Jazz Cafe on 5 February