The word “multihyphenate” may ring true for a lot of artists, but no other term suits Deena Lynch more. As musician Jaguar Jonze, the 34-year-old debuted in 2019 with the song “You Got Left Behind.” Described as “an Eastern cowgirl howling at the rising sun,” Jaguar Jonze may be a vagabond, but her western-meets-fantasy world enriches her alternative rock and art pop sound. As visual artist Spectator Jonze, her style is equally stark: multicolor portraits of people and pets alike. And as photographer Dusky Jonze, she captures intimate shots in black and white, powerful even when lacking color.
Underlying these endeavors is Lynch’s desire to express her artistry, which is both mythological and autobiographical. While her first two EPs are packed with tales of heartbreak and isolation, her first album BUNNY MODE (2022) ushered her into the spotlight. The record was heavily cathartic, focusing on the abuse she faced as a woman of color in the music industry. With that release also came the burnout as portrayed in her following EP, victim impact statement. In 2024, after a long fight for justice and getting diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Lynch had no choice but to step back and recalibrate.
But this year, Lynch is ready to play her musician card again. After a two-year hiatus, Jaguar Jonze boldly returned with two singles: “Naked” in May and “HALF DEVIL” in July. Following the release of “HALF-DEVIL,” Jonze chatted with EnVi to talk about what’s going on, what’s changed, and what’s next for the singer-songwriter.
A Happy Never After
“HALF DEVIL” is a collaboration between Jaguar Jonze and Taiwanese American singer-songwriter KIRE. The two met in 2023 and quickly bonded after discovering their shared background. “We really connected on this ‘third-culture kid’ aspect where we were part of, yet not really part of, many different cultures,” she mused. Jonze was born in Yokohama to a Taiwanese mother and a white Australian father. “I think we immediately understood each other, […] because we’ve always kind of been on the outside of our communities.”
With this sentiment in mind, “HALF DEVIL” was conceptualized. Both Jonze and KIRE lure listeners into their worldview in which “good” and “bad” are never neatly boxed. Over gnarly guitar riffs and a percussion-forward arrangement, the two refuse to play into the dated expectations placed upon them. “Whatcha gonna do if I did it? / Whatcha gonna do if I kissed you? / Whatcha gonna do if I loved you? / Is it enough for ya?” they sing in the chorus. Once a source of alienation, this ambiguity is now something they fully embrace. It’s hard to miss in the visualizer, too. Donning an angel costume, Jonze sits in the black volcanic sands of a northern Bali beach, the full moon a distant witness. She is firm against the opaque seas, content with being someone who isn’t easily defined.
Adding East Asian influences to her repertoire is nothing new to Jonze, but “HALF DEVIL” is her first song in both English and Mandarin. Jonze didn’t grow up speaking any Mandarin — and her mother wouldn’t speak to her in the language until she’s better — so she’s studying it whenever she can. Collaborating with KIRE greatly supported this cause, as he helped her pronounce the song’s Mandarin lines in the booth. The recording session was also memorable due to KIRE’s pet cats in the studio, which Jonze loved, but is highly allergic to.
“They were really sweet cats, too,” she lamented.
Redefining Jaguar Jonze
Jonze’s early 2020s was defined by stories told through vibrant blank canvases and performing onstage with her dress on fire. But “Naked,” her first comeback of the year, strips those away. Opting for a more subdued, industrial production, the song focuses on Jonze’s sultry declaration of self-empowerment. “There’s no time to fool around / So I’m ready to get down / Bare my soul and wear it proud,” she sings. And the music video, which takes place in an abandoned building, features Jonze in her barest. Trapped beneath a translucent chrysalis, she crawls out of her former self and carries with her a new energy.
Though this transformation may seem jarring for long-time listeners, it didn’t happen overnight. “I knew that [‘Naked’] was entering a territory that I hadn’t really put out publicly before,” she admitted. “At the same time, my evolution to the artist that I am now has been happening for a long time.” She’s now more assured, certain of her own identity. Gone are her days of battling her inner and outer demons against a vermillion void.
For the next Jaguar Jonze release, discord is key. Just like how the organic flourishes amid the artificial in “Naked,” Jonze finds beauty in things that seem to contrast each other. She also applies this to the sonic direction of her upcoming record. “I think you’ll hear a lot of industrial pop elements come through. The use of dissonant guitars or something that feels a bit rough, abrasive, […] grating. I love a bit of discomfort in my music,” she chuckled. “I wanted to have fun with my music, and give myself permission to just… yeah, be playful. Naturally, that means that it is a little bit more pop-leaning.”
Finding Refuge in the Waters
When interviewed, Jonze was in her hotel room in Manado, Indonesia. Her visit to the city was for something she’d been focusing on while recovering in private. After a pool incident that led to her SLE and FND diagnoses, Deena Lynch had to live in a different time and space from the able-bodied folks around her. Seizure episodes, endless fatigue, and loss of autonomy became her new normal. “When you have so much taken away from you, every pillar that is underneath who you are as a person… it’s very destabilizing,” she recalled.
One day, her neurophysiotherapist recommended an activity she’d never thought of doing: freediving. He thought moving underwater would be easier for her than on land, even if it wasn’t entirely painless. Eventually, Lynch relocated to Bali and started taking freediving lessons in Nusa Penida. Here, aside from re-familiarizing herself with the very space that turned her life upside down, she met Callum Chaplin, a British filmmaker.
Thus Resurfacing was born. Released on April 22, the short film was both proof of Deena Lynch’s self-rediscovery journey and the ground zero of Jaguar Jonze’s new era. “Having that film sometimes is, like, the best explanation to save myself energy,” she joked. “But not only that, it was really meaningful in that time to still be able to create, because I wasn’t able to do it in the ways that I knew how.” She may have lost the dexterity of her fingers, but participating in the production helped her redefine her ability to create.
“In the water, I felt weightless,” Lynch continued. “ A lot of the burning and chronic pain that was in my body everyday lightened a little bit. And then I was able to move, just gently. Even if it wasn’t the most coordinated, there was a little bit of hope gained.” What was merely a rehabilitation process soon became an inseparable part of her. Eventually, Lynch participated in the 2025 AIDA Freediving World Championship in Cyprus and became the ninth deepest female Australian freediver of all time. And the event she came to Manado for — the 2026 AIDA Manado Depth Competition — also bore fruit for her, as she came on fifth place overall among the female participants.
Confidently Looking Ahead
“Through this sport, I’ve had to learn the art of balance, which is also what I really struggled with prior to becoming sick. That’s how I led myself to being sick,” Lynch confessed. Freediving means a lot to Lynch, but with her chronic illnesses in mind, she can’t overdo it. Too much of the sport can lead to physical flare-ups, along with the stress from prolonged exposure to the waters.
To achieve this balance, Lynch adjusts many aspects of her life. Moving to Bali was essential to her recovery and eventual return to music. Now that she lives closer to nature, she’s able to have morning and evening walks with her dog. She also has more access to fresh produce, which makes a huge impact on her wellbeing. After briefly losing her independence, Lynch realizes how important it is to keep herself in good health.
So, what’s next in the world of Jaguar Jonze? For Lynch, it’s figuring out the stability of her artistry and her health. It’s been a long time since she last came back as Jaguar, so a lot of things are still up in the air for her. What’s certain is she can no longer do things the way she used to — especially considering the harsh demands of the music industry — and that’s okay. “I have to maintain and uphold my boundaries, and protect what’s important to me now,” she said. “I just hope that I could continue existing as an artist and putting myself out there, but doing it on my terms.”
Her recovery would be incomplete without community support. In her personal life, Lynch is surrounded by supportive friends and family who took care of her during her lowest. And as Jaguar, her fans (appropriately called Cubs) are a constant presence. From her years of advocacy to her gradual return, their grace and kind words are never-ending. “In a time where I feel so isolated and disconnected, it’s really the community of Cubs that linked arms with me and carried me through it all,” she said. “I think it can be so challenging to navigate this industry with chronic illnesses. But hold on to the people that see you. [The people who] don’t need you to scream to support you.”
Indeed, no howling has ever been necessary when her tenacity is more than enough.
Keep up with Jaguar Jonze on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
For more interviews with up-and-coming creatives from the Asian diaspora, check out our exclusive with chandol, a Korean American singer-songwriter.
