63-585: Jessica Lois Ware (born 15 October 1984) is an English singer and songwriter. She came to prominence following the release of her debut studio album, Devotion (2012), which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart and produced the single " Wildest Moments ". Her second studio album, Tough Love (2014), reached number nine in the UK and produced the singles " Tough Love " and " Say You Love Me ". Her third studio album, Glasshouse (2017), reached number seven in
126-468: A normalised rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 85, based on 28 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim". Mike Diver of BBC Music wrote, " Devotion is the sort of sophisticated, soulful pop record that comes along all too rarely, a collection that never hides the heart on its sleeve. Down-tempo it may be, but no listener will come away downcast." He further commented on Ware's vocal, citing that
189-448: A Dream alongside Alan Carr , Samantha Barks and Amber Riley with Zoe Ball being the presenter. The show will follow the search for two up-and-coming musical theatre performers to play the roles of Sophie and Sky in 'Mamma Mia!' in London's West End for its 25th anniversary year. Ware is a UNICEF UK ambassador and travelled with them to Bangladesh, Cameroon and North Macedonia to see
252-450: A Gold certificate for having sold over 100,000 copies, and to date, her best-selling release in the UK. Credits for Devotion adapted from Barnes & Noble . Performance credits Technical credits Sales figures based on certification alone. Valentine (Jessie Ware and Sampha song) " Valentine " is a single by English recording artist Jessie Ware and English keyboardist and singer, Sampha . The single
315-506: A Kiss " in May and "What's Your Pleasure?" in July. The album was met with widespread critical acclaim. In April 2021, Ware announced an expanded edition of the album titled What's Your Pleasure? The Platinum Pleasure Edition with an 11 June release date, along with the release of the single "Please". The reissue features seven additional songs, including singles "Overtime", "Please", and "Hot N Heavy", and
378-413: A backing vocalist for seven tracks on the album, with four of which were released as singles to promote the album. Following her record deal with PMR Records, Ware released her first physical single as a solo artist, titled "Strangest Feeling" on 21 November 2011, further confirming that she was "hard at work" on her first studio album, which was due to release "some time" in 2012. The singer then announced
441-663: A backing vocalist. The album was eventually chosen as the twentieth best album of 2012, and later recognized as one of the 100 best albums of the decade so far by Pitchfork in August 2014. The release of Devotion also helped Ware earn her first nomination for the Album of the Year category at the 2012 Mercury Prize award, as well as other Best Female Artists and Breakthrough nominations at MOBO Awards and BRIT Awards . It also attained commercial success for Ware, becoming her first top-five entry on
504-532: A distribution deal with Cherrytree Records in October 2012, which eventually led to several live gigs for the singer between December 2012 and January 2013, with follow-up tour dates which includes her participation at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival , and Wireless Festival in the same year. "Performing with him was really good training, because I got to learn all about how other people do it – I
567-518: A feature artist. The rapper previously shared with BBC that he was "eager" to work with Ware, having acknowledged the singer since "last summer" and expressing his reason to collaborate. In an interview with The Juice , Ware revealed that she "loved" the rapper and wanted a guest rapper on "Wildest Moments" for the US release of the album. As the singer was at the States promoting and Mayers promoting his record in
630-416: A premium kidswear collaboration called "Anyware Kids" launching online and in selected retailers Spring 2019, developed by designer George Reddings. The website officially went live on 31 March 2019. In 2021, Ware appeared as a guest judge on the second series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK . In May 2023, it was announced that Ware would be one of the judges for the upcoming ITV talent show Mamma Mia! I Have
693-455: A remix of "Adore You", for a total of eight additional tracks. Later in 2021, Ware collaborated with Kylie Minogue on the reissue of Minogue's fifteenth studio album Disco entitled Disco: Guest List Edition. Their song " Kiss of Life " was released on 29 October 2021. Their collaboration took place after Minogue appeared on Ware's podcast Table Manners in September 2020. In the episode,
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#1733085269126756-485: A remix to the third single " Wildest Moments " with guest verses from American rapper A$ AP Rocky and a new song, titled "Imagine It Was Us", which was released as the sixth and final overall single from the album. The latter two tracks were later included on the United States edition of the album, released on 16 April 2013, a day after the album's re-issue date in the UK. Except for the fifth track "No to Love", which
819-509: A slightly different track list, omitting the latter track while including a remix version of " Wildest Moments ", which features American rapper A$ AP Rocky . Upon its release, Devotion received critical acclaim from various critics for its "sophisticated, smooth and sensual" production, further citing the album as a "uniquely soulful masterclass". Ware's vocal performance also received positive remarks, with music critics praising her being "faithful to melody over melisma" and her background as
882-523: A song for Nicki Minaj 's third studio album, The Pinkprint (2014), called "The Crying Game" in which Minaj alternates between "devastating verses and pensive crooning" whilst Ware adds "haunting" and "soulful" vocals to the chorus. Originally, Ware only received a songwriting credit, but she was then credited on updated versions of the album. She also co-wrote the song " New Man " for Ed Sheeran 's third album, ÷ , and provided background vocals on it and two other songs. In October 2017, Ware returned to
945-582: A teaser posted a few days prior. Ware has teased tracks of various genres including R&B , house and soul , describing the record as " Remember Where You Are " but a "bit more soulful". In May 2023 Ware was announced as a judge on the ITV reality competition series Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream , following the search for lead performers in Mamma Mia! on the West End for its 25th anniversary year. Ware will be joined on
1008-762: Is Jewish and she was raised in the faith. Ware was educated at Alleyn's School , a co-educational independent school in Dulwich in South London, where she was a schoolmate of Florence Welch , Jack Peñate , and Felix White of the Maccabees . She then attended the University of Sussex , where she graduated with a degree in English literature. After her studies, Ware briefly worked as a journalist at The Jewish Chronicle , did sports journalism at The Daily Mirror and worked behind
1071-407: Is a "boomy, earthy beats" epic ballad that sings about the strength of friendship, with lyrics such as "From the outside/Everyone's always wondering why we fight/Why do we fight?" and Ware's vocal being a "balancing act" between "gorgeous, bell-like" synths and chiming piano chords. The song was among the "most festival-ready songs-- big hooks, bigger drums" produced by Kid Harpoon for the album. It
1134-604: Is produced together with BenZel, the production duo composed of London post-bass producer Two Inch Punch and mega-producer Benny Blanco who Ware previously worked with on the single "If You Love Me"; Benzel are also executive producers of the album. Ed Sheeran co-wrote the song "Say You Love Me". Ware played the Wilderness Festival (7–10 August 2014); a pair of additional dates at Berlin Festival 2014 (6 July 2014) and Sopot Gulf of Art (26 July 2014) that year. Ware contributed
1197-758: The Mercury Prize for Album of the Year. Devotion (Jessie Ware album) Devotion is the debut studio album by British singer-songwriter Jessie Ware . It was released in the United Kingdom on 20 August 2012 through PMR Records and Island , and later on 16 April 2013 through Cherrytree and Interscope in the United States. Production for the album came primarily from Dave Okumu of alternative rock band The Invisible , alongside house Record producer Julio Bashmore and Kid Harpoon with contribution from Wilma Archer, fellow UK musician and collaborator Sampha and Hassan Hamandi, while Ware co-wrote most of
1260-478: The Top Album Sales chart in the US. Ware has received accolades including seven Brit Awards nominations including one for Best New Artist and four for British Female Solo Artist and two Mercury Prize nominations. In 2018, Ware began co-hosting Table Manners alongside her mother Lennie, a podcast about "family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat", available to online streaming platforms . Ware
1323-586: The UK Albums Chart , her first to receive a Gold certificate and to date, her best-selling release. The album was also her first entry on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at number seventy-nine for one week, while being her first and only top-ten album to date on the Belgium Albums (Ultratop Flanders) chart, peaking at number eight. It also received a Platinum certificate in Poland, where it peaked at number thirteen on
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#17330852691261386-612: The UK Singles Chart , respectively. As of June 2020, both singles, along with "Running" are among Ware's most successful singles in the UK, placing in her top five biggest hits in her native country. In addition, "Wildest Moments" became Ware's biggest hit in Belgian, peaking at number three on the Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders chart for two weeks, as well as one of her only songs to receive a Silver certificate by BRIT so far. During
1449-455: The spacetime continuum itself. Yet Jessie Ware's debut album is saved by one fact: for all her album's poise and restraint, dance music clearly runs through this 27-year-old south Londoner 's veins. Throughout Devotion you're never told to sit up and pay attention. Instead it quietly works its magic, a genuinely individual statement by an artist who didn't expect to become a pop star, but might struggle to stop it happening anyway – after all,
1512-433: The "slinky, sultry '90s -style" house track that joins "the charge of disco revolution." It was co-written by Ware, Bashmore, Brey Baptista, Dave Corney and Jimmy Napes , with the latter most known for his work with musician duo Disclosure and fellow British singer-songwriter Sam Smith . In addition, "Wildest Moments" received another remix with guest verses by American rapper A$ AP Rocky, making it her first song to have
1575-412: The 2010s single "Nervous". She would go on to consequently meet fellow British musician Sampha , most known as SBTRKT's main collaborator and live member, and together the duo worked on " Valentine ", which was released on a special edition, heart-shaped vinyl by Young Turks on 2011's Valentine's Day . An accompanying music video for the collaboration was directed by Marcus Söderlund , and released on
1638-478: The 2011 album by Florence and the Machine in which her good friend Florence Welch is lead singer. On 14 October 2011, Ware released her debut solo single "Strangest Feeling" on limited 10" purple vinyl, although the song did not chart on the UK Singles Chart . On 20 August 2012, Ware released her debut album Devotion , which peaked at number five on the UK Albums Chart . The album's lead single " Running "
1701-526: The Polish Albums Chart. Six singles have been released from Devotion to further promote the project, starting with " Running " on 24 February 2012, with " If You're Never Gonna Move " and " Wildest Moments " followed en suite prior to the album release in August 2012. The latter two singles became a breakthrough success for Ware, earning the singer her first two top-fifty entries on the UK Singles Chart . " Night Light " and "Sweet Talk" were released as
1764-444: The UK. Ware pivoted to a disco influenced sound for her fourth studio album, What's Your Pleasure? (2020), which was released to critical acclaim, reached number three in the UK, and produced the singles " Spotlight ", " Save a Kiss " and " Remember Where You Are ". Her fifth studio album, That! Feels Good! (2023), produced the single " Free Yourself " and reached number three in the UK, as well as peaking at number sixteen in
1827-458: The United Kingdom in the early part of March 2013, supported by Laura Mvula , starting with Cambridge, Manchester, Glasgow, Birmingham, Oxford, Bristol and ending in London. The United Kingdom tour was followed by a European tour in the second half of March 2013 and a US tour in April 2013. In the summer of 2013, Ware played many festivals all over the world, and at the end of 2013, Jessie went on tour in
1890-467: The United Kingdom, Ware sent the track to the rapper for a collaboration, eventually received an email with Mayers' verses just before the deadline to turn over the project. Prior to the album's release in 2012, Ware released her first solo single "Strangest Feeling" on 14 October 2011, which was later included on the iTunes deluxe edition only. The singer then released the lead single "Running" on 24 February 2012, along with an accompanying music video for
1953-424: The United States again. Ware's second album, Tough Love , was released on 6 October 2014. Ware began writing the album earlier that year. The album peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart , becoming her second top ten album. "Tough Love" was the first single to be taken from the album and released on 3 August 2014. "Tough Love" was compared to "Prince at his minimalist '80's best" by Pitchfork . "Tough Love"
Jessie Ware - Misplaced Pages Continue
2016-591: The United States, Ware eventually released a US-exclusive eponymous extended play for "If You're Never Gonna Move" on 15 January 2013. Prior to the extended play's release, the singer had shows at New York venue The Box on 10 December, and later at Los Angeles ' Bootleg Bar on 13 December 2012, respectively. She later embarked on a six-date concert beginning on 14 January 2013 at the Sinclair in Cambridge, Massachusetts , booked by Marty Diamond at Paradigm, to further promote
2079-537: The album release's week, "Taking in Water" was released as a free promotional single on the same physical release date of the album, with "Night Light" serving as the fourth single on 25 September 2012. The song achieved moderate success in Ware's native country, peaking at number ninety-five on the UK Singles Chart for a week. "Sweet Talk" was then released as the fifth single on 21 January 2013, but eventually became uncharted, while
2142-407: The album tracks' lyrics. The album was re-released under the title " Devotion – The Gold Edition " on 15 April 2013 in the United Kingdom, containing a bonus disc with four tracks, including a new single, " Imagine It Was Us " and "Valentine" – a previously-released collaboration with musician Sampha in 2011. One day later, this version was released in the United States under its original title with
2205-474: The album's fourth and fifth single, with the former becoming Ware's third top 100 entry on the UK Singles Chart upon its release. With the reissue of the album taking place on 15 April 2013 in the United Kingdom, "Imagine It Was Us" was released as the sixth and final single from the album, attaining minor success on both the UK Singles Chart and French Singles Chart . To further promote the album, Ware signed
2268-505: The extended play. The singer eventually announced the US release date for Devotion on 18 March 2013, along with the follow-up tour dates that "culminate" with her gigs at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival , and later at the 2013's Wireless Festival . "Wildest Moments" was then serviced to radio as the first official single in the States for the singer on 3 June 2013. Devotion received widespread acclaim from music critics upon its initial release. At Metacritic , which assigns
2331-490: The groove is in her heart". Devotion attained commercial success for Ware upon its initial release. By debuting at number five and sold 9,319 copies in its first week, the album was her first top-five entry on the UK Albums Chart , and at the time, her highest charting release. It was later surpassed by the No. 3 peak of her fourth studio album What's Your Pleasure? (2020). The album eventually became her first release to receive
2394-427: The iTunes deluxe edition, two acoustic versions of " Running " and " Night Light " recorded at The Agnieszka Osiecka Music Studio of Polish Radio , and a remix to "Running" created by UK electronic duo Disclosure . The album was later re-released in the United Kingdom under the title The Gold Edition , which saw the addition of the previous Disclosure remix for "Running", her 2011 collaboration "Valentine" with Sampha,
2457-477: The only new song from The Gold Edition , titled " Imagine It Was Us ", was released as the sixth single overall on 12 April 2013 to minor commercial success, barely missing out the top 100 of the UK Singles Chart while becoming her only entry on the French Singles Chart , peaking at number one-hundred and forty-eight. Following her signing deal with Cherrytree Records for further promotion activities in
2520-432: The pair spoke about writing together. Ware later joked that she had "bullied" Minogue into a duet as the two further discussed a collaboration. " Free Yourself ", the lead single from Ware's fifth studio album, That! Feels Good! , was released on 19 July 2022 following a premiere at that year's Glastonbury Festival . It was produced by Stuart Price . The next single, " Pearls ", was released on 9 February 2023, following
2583-754: The panel by Alan Carr , Amber Riley , and Samantha Barks , with Zoe Ball as host. Towards the end of 2017, Ware launched a podcast, produced with her mother, called Table Manners for Acast and Island Records about "family, food and the art of a good old chit-chat", featuring a new guest each week on the show. The first episode became available on 8 November 2017 and featured British singer-songwriter and friend Sam Smith . The show has since entered its tenth season, including guests such as Ed Sheeran , Randy Jackson , Nigella Lawson , Sandi Toksvig , Daniel Kaluuya , Paloma Faith , George Ezra , Annie Mac , Paul McCartney and Kylie Minogue . On 23 January 2019, Ware announced on her Instagram that she had created
Jessie Ware - Misplaced Pages Continue
2646-407: The production of " 110% " and Wilma Archer co-producing the eleventh track "Something Inside". Fellow UK musician and collaborator Sampha and Hassan Hamandi also contributed to two songs from the deluxe edition of the album, namely "Strangest Feeling" and " What You Won't Do for Love ", with the former being released digitally on 14 October 2011 and the latter being premiered on 22 May 2012. Sampha
2709-448: The record's most classically " pop " song, which finds Ware pleading "Don't keep me with the kisses, there's never any there when I need," and hints at a " Whitney Houston -like belt , but keeps it constrained" within the song's "chilly" synths line, "stuttering" drum machine shuffle and "gentle, neon-lit" Rhodes piano riff. Meanwhile, the album's fourth track "Still Love Me" contains "growing loop" of effects and instruments that recalled
2772-491: The same day via the Youtube channel of Young Turks. Along with "Nervous", "Valentine" and "The Vision (Let Me Breathe)", another collaboration with DJ Joker , led Ware to a record deal with PMR Records in the same year. The singer was also featured on Ceremonials , the 2011 album by British indie rock band Florence and the Machine , in which her good friend Florence Welch is the lead singer, having contributed and credited as
2835-410: The scenes at TV company Love Productions . There, she was a colleague of Erika Leonard, otherwise known as E. L. James , the author of Fifty Shades of Grey . In the years prior to releasing her first solo album, Ware did backing vocals at live shows for Jack Peñate (who took her on tour in the U.S.) and Man Like Me. Ware said she learned a lot during her time with Jack Peñate: "Performing with him
2898-532: The singer "never stretches for an out-of-reach note; she never gives her songs over to hyperbole or bombast," eventually cited her as "here, now, and superb" next big thing. Tim Jonze of The Guardian wrote, "Sophisticated, smooth and sensual, in the wrong hands Devotion could easily have been a footnote in the New Boring movement, that vibrant strain of youth culture that has already given us Emeli Sandé , Adele and Bruce Springsteen concerts that wrestle with
2961-437: The singer, both her and Bashmore were inspired to create "110%" after seeing Big Pun in a "yellow PVC suit" while sitting on a throne in a hip-hop magazine. It was followed by "Taking in Water", a "powerhouse" pop ballad with "soul, passion and intelligence" that recalls the "great" influence from Whitney Houston. With "Imagine It Was Us", the album's only new song on its re-issue edition, Ware offers her "most fun" tune with
3024-548: The single "Overtime", later to be included on What's Your Pleasure (The Platinum Pleasure Edition) in 2021. Ware's What's Your Pleasure? was released on 27 June 2020, after being pushed back from its initial release date of 5 June. The first single from the album, " Adore You ", was released in February 2019. This was followed by "Mirage (Don't Stop)" in November, " Spotlight " in February 2020 and then " Ooh La La " in April, " Save
3087-466: The stage after a two-year absence in anticipation of the release of her third studio album, Glasshouse . Featuring contribution from Francis and the Lights , Ed Sheeran , Cashmere Cat , Julia Michaels and others, it was preceded by its first three singles " Midnight ", " Selfish Love " and " Alone ". Glasshouse debuted and peaked at number seven on the UK Albums Chart . In October 2018, Ware released
3150-410: The title of her first full-length album to be Devotion , which was scheduled to be released on 20 August 2012. The album contained eleven tracks on its standard edition and four additional tracks on its iTunes deluxe edition, and was released on a singular jewel case version. A 2-disc version was released exclusively in Poland on 4 December 2012, with an additional bonus CD containing four tracks from
3213-441: The track. It eventually received a physical release on 4 April, along with a remix version by Disclosure. "110%" was then released as the second single on 13 April 2012, while third single "Wildest Moments" was released on 29 June 2012 and its accompanying remix by Star Slinger on 5 July. Both singles eventually became the highest-charting singles from Devotion in their native country, peaking at number forty-one and forty-six on
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#17330852691263276-525: The work of her previous collaborator SBKTRT, while "No to Love" is a song that contains " grungy guitar loops , ADD beats , and rap verse from a Flight of the Conchords sound-alike" The album's ninth track, "110%", is a "gorgeously restrained summer smash" and " bubbly , even-keeled house " song Ware co-wrote with producer Bashmore. Originally contained a distorted sample from late Puerto-Rican / American rapper Big Pun 's song "The Dream Shatterer", it
3339-558: The work they are doing there to help children who have fled violence. On 15 November 2014, Ware joined the charity group Band Aid 30 along with other British and Irish pop acts, recording the latest version of the track " Do They Know It's Christmas? " at Sarm West Studios in Notting Hill , London, to raise money for the 2014 Ebola crisis in West Africa . Ware was also part of the lineup for " Artists for Grenfell " charity single which
3402-569: Was able to perform live without the pressure of being a lead singer. It gave me a taste of what to expect, and it prepared me for what I'm doing now." In the years prior to releasing her first solo album, Ware did backing vocals at live shows for Jack Peñate (who took her on tour in America) and Man Like Me. She "learned a lot" from Jack Peñate during her time. It was musician Tic , one of Peñate's bandmates, who first introduced Ware to UK electronic producer SBTRKT ; whom in turn collaborated with Ware on
3465-464: Was also credited as a collaborator on "Valentine", a song released previously on 14 February 2011 with Ware. The song was partly inspired by James Blake 's song " The Wilhelm Scream " and based on both Ware and Sampha's own personal experiences in love. Devotion opens with the eponymous album track, a "dark and dense" song that hints at "passion's underbelly" with deep bass hit that portraits sonic signature by Okumu. The second track "Wildest Moments"
3528-678: Was born at Queen Charlotte's Hospital in Hammersmith , London , on 15 October 1984. She was raised in Clapham , London. She is the daughter of Helena (née Keell, usually called Lennie), a social worker, and John Ware , a BBC Panorama reporter, who divorced when she was 10. She is the younger sister of English actress Hannah Ware . Her mother was supportive in her early musical career and Ware considers her to be "her hero", saying "She brought up my sister, brother and me with so much love and fun and always told me I could do anything I want." Ware's mother
3591-401: Was followed by the first single "Running", which saw Ware "slinks and sighs" over a yacht-rock groove, "explodes at a key moment, then backs off again for an affecting conclusion", gaining comparisons to that of Sade for her "poised and pure" voice over "drums echo" and "repeated guitar lick" which gave the song a "lovely, sultry" sound. The eight track of the album "Sweet Talk" is hailed as
3654-497: Was later changed following a dispute over the used sample, and eventually led to Ware re-titling the song to "If You're Never Gonna Move." The track remains all but unchanged, save for altering that loop into a similar voice laying down the line "coming on a mission like a warhead." The song was described as a "sugar rush dance-floor gem", with "bubbling" synth bass and "quicksilver" percussion that sees Ware singing about "a girl trying to get him off his throne and dance." According to
3717-482: Was really good training, because I got to learn all about how other people do it – I was able to perform live without the pressure of being a lead singer. It gave me a taste of what to expect, and it prepared me for what I'm doing now." One of Peñate's bandmates, Tic, first introduced Ware to SBTRKT ; Ware and SBTRKT went on to collaborate on "Nervous" (2010). She consequently met Sampha , then known as SBTRKT's main collaborator. They created " Valentine " together, which
3780-433: Was released on 24 February 2012. " 110% " was released as the album's second single on 13 April, peaking at number 61 in the United Kingdom. " Wildest Moments " was released as the album's third single on 29 June, peaking at number 46 in the United Kingdom. "Night Light" was released as the fourth single on 24 August. Devotion was announced as a nominee for the prestigious Mercury Prize that year. Ware toured in
3843-447: Was released on a special edition, heart-shaped vinyl by Young Turks in 2011. "Valentine" was partly inspired by James Blake 's song " The Wilhelm Scream " and based on their own personal experiences in love. The music video for "Valentine" was directed by Marcus Söderlund . "Nervous", "Valentine" and an additional collaboration with DJ Joker ("The Vision") led Ware to a record deal with PMR Records . She also featured on Ceremonials ,
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#17330852691263906-648: Was released to raise money for the families of the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and for The London Community Foundation . In August 2014, Ware married her childhood friend, Sam Burrows. They have three children. Ware is Jewish. In 2021, she discussed her plans to have a Bat Mitzvah as an adult. Ware has been nominated for several awards, including seven Brit Awards nominations, four of them being for British Female Solo Artist . Her albums Devotion and That! Feels Good! were also both shortlisted for
3969-467: Was written and produced solely by Okumu, Ware co-wrote most of the album tracks' lyrics. Production for Devotion came primarily from Dave Okumu of alternative rock band the Invisible , whom produced twelve out of fourteen original recordings used for the album. Fellow British house record producer Julio Bashmore and singer Kid Harpoon also co-produced along with Okumu, with Bashmore handling solely
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