Jade talks new music, "Angel Of My Dreams," Little Mix, and her exciting journey as a solo artist.
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00:00All right, this is your Odyssey check in live from the Hard Rock Hotel, New York. I am here
00:07with Jade. Everyone clap. So how long did it take for you to nail down what solo Jade
00:18would be? Were you envisioning it for a long time? Did you never think of it until the
00:22group went on hiatus?
00:24Oh, I think I kind of thought about it a bit, like when the group was beginning to like,
00:29yeah, begin the hiatus, we kind of talked about what the rollout was. And in doing so, I
00:34was like, okay, I got to start thinking about who I am. But I really did need, well, it's
00:40been like two and a half years since then. So I needed that time to evolve and become my
00:45own artist. Yeah, yeah.
00:47Did you ever think, well, I'm not gonna do anything unless it's with the girls?
00:52No, I think I definitely, you know, it was bittersweet, like letting go of that chapter of
00:57my life because I loved Little Mix so, so much. Like, you know, I'm the biggest fan and
01:03fangirl of the group. So, yeah, it was definitely sad when it ended. But I think, you
01:09know, it's a new beginning and, you know, like everything in life changes good. And so
01:14once I got into writing, that felt really liberating. And now I'm ready. Yeah.
01:20Well, this lead single, Angel of My Dreams, you did what you set out to do, I think, like
01:25you immediately sound like your own artist.
01:29Oh, thank you.
01:30For sure. At the beginning, you know, I'm kind of like, oh, this is Little Mixie. And
01:33then the beat drops and then you hear the and I'm like, oh my gosh, this is not Little
01:37Mixie. This is Jade, you know?
01:39That's good. Yeah, that's what I was going for. I think with, especially with Angel of
01:42My Dreams, that song is essentially about my kind of experience in the music industry.
01:47So that slow opening is almost like that beginning of my career where everything's
01:52like, oh, this is so magical.
01:54And then you get propelled into the industry.
01:56And that's what I wanted the song to feel like.
01:58Totally. I mean, it came across perfectly.
02:00What was like the the final piece of that song puzzle to come together?
02:06Maybe something you were held up on that finally clicked?
02:10Well, actually, I think so.
02:12The sample in it is a sample called Puppet on a String, which is by Sandy Shortz, a
02:16very old Eurovision Song Contest song from like the 60s.
02:20And that goes like, I wonder if one day that did it.
02:23And originally that was the chorus was me singing that.
02:27And then we rewrote a chorus to go on top of it.
02:29And that's where the came into it.
02:33And so, yeah, it probably did sound quite different initially, but the kind of chaos
02:38of it was always there.
02:40Yeah, you know, we knew that's what we wanted to do.
02:42Slow down the tempo, speed it up, bring it back down, pitch up vocals.
02:46Like I wanted it to feel like there was a lot going on.
02:50But it all seamlessly goes together and it feels very big.
02:54I love it. Thank you.
02:55So being a part of a group for as long as you were, does that make you for like a
02:59solo album? Does that make you want to have a lot of features or have no features?
03:04You're like, just me.
03:06Yeah. I mean, to be honest, when I've been writing this album, like I've not thought
03:10once about this is to write with someone else.
03:12So this is yeah. Like you say, I just sort of wanted to write just for me.
03:17And create a music that felt just like my sound and then think about collabs after.
03:23But I definitely have like a wish list of people that I'd love to work with, whether
03:27it's on the record or outside of it.
03:29Yeah. Yeah. And outside of Perrie and Leigh-Anne, is there anyone you confide in in
03:36the industry to like kind of like as a soundboard to play some early stuff for that
03:40gives you advice or anything?
03:42So I'm Anike, who is actually, you know, I wrote with on the album.
03:48He's a really good friend of mine.
03:49He was one of the first people to kind of take me under his wing and be like, let's
03:53figure out together who you want to be.
03:55He's been really helpful for that.
03:57And also, I suppose my partner has been really helpful.
04:01He also came from like a group and then became a solo artist.
04:05So it was it was good to have him to bounce off for like inspiration and advice.
04:12I know I've spoken to people like at events, like whether it's like one of the
04:16Spice Girls or like Kylie.
04:20And, you know, people like get it that I've experienced something similar or that
04:25understand what it's like putting yourself out there, because it's quite vulnerable,
04:28especially when you've been in a band for so long.
04:31Yeah. And to then come out of that and then create what you think is your own sound.
04:37It's yeah, it's big.
04:39It's a lot. It's important to me to get it right.
04:41So, yeah, any advice is welcome.
04:43So just to be clear, you you played the album for the Spice Girls.
04:47Oh, my God. No, don't quote me on that.
04:49OK, I wish.
04:51Oh, my God, I wish.
04:53No, I'd love to play music for them.
04:55I think, you know, I've I've seen Mel say quite a few times like out and about and
05:00she's always so, so lovely at like giving advice or being like, are you feeling ready
05:05for it? I saw it like I think it was a Vogue Ball or something a year ago.
05:10And yeah, she's always just so lovely, so lovely.
05:15And that goes a long way.
05:17Yeah. In your long career, was there ever a song you were like very, very invested in
05:23and maybe you wanted it to get the single treatment and it didn't or you just wanted
05:30it to go a little bit? OK, you're ready to go.
05:32Go tell me. Tell me.
05:33I'll tell you. It's Wasabi.
05:34It should have been a single just as for Wasabi always.
05:38I will never shut up about it and I'll probably put it in my set when I do my own
05:41shows. I love it.
05:43Watch in 10 years from now, it's going to blow up on TikTok again.
05:46Imagine. I mean, it kind of did, though.
05:48It kind of did. Like, well, after it was out a few years later, it started trending on
05:52TikTok. I was like, I told you, I told you.
05:56So I'll never shut up about that one.
05:58But there's always some that slip through the net.
05:59You know how it is. You can't have every song as a single.
06:02So this was a single, but it still upsets me to this day.
06:06I really was very passionate about Touch.
06:09I just felt like it should have been a number one in the U.S.
06:12Yes, it should have been.
06:13It really should have. I think it was.
06:17I don't know what went on with that whole thing.
06:18I think it was a bit of like miscommunication and crossed wires of like, what was this
06:23first thing? What was the second?
06:25Because Touch definitely deserved more, especially over here.
06:28And we saw that reaction.
06:30You know, we toured with Ariana Grande at the time on a Dangerous Woman tour.
06:34And every time we performed Touch, it went off and we knew it was special.
06:38We were like, this is going to be huge for whatever reason.
06:42It didn't quite happen.
06:44I mean, let's be clear, it did well.
06:46But that is a perfect pop song.
06:48Like, it really is perfect.
06:49I remember Charli XCX, when I did an interview with her a couple of years ago, she was
06:53like, that's one of the best pop songs ever.
06:55And I was like, period.
06:56And that's flattering coming from Charli XCX.
06:58The queen of pop, yeah.
07:00She's phenomenal.
07:01How has things changed with you and Perrie and Leigh-Anne now that they're like
07:07being selfish and doing the mother thing?
07:09I know.
07:10Are they talking about like Bluey and Peppa Pig all the time?
07:13And you're like, I'm exiting the group chat or?
07:16No, I think, well, they definitely have their own baby chat and I'm not in it.
07:20And I'm like, that's fine.
07:23So, yeah, they've got their own thing going on there.
07:25But no, I actually adore those kids.
07:28And, you know, I'm all for baby and children updates.
07:33They're family, you know, so any updates are welcome.
07:36You're auntie.
07:37Yeah, I am.
07:38I'm the cool auntie.
07:39Yeah.
07:39So, yeah.
07:40But I think it's really great actually seeing them navigate, you know, motherhood
07:44and career. Like, I think they balance that so well.
07:47And why shouldn't you still be an amazing pop star and have children at the same
07:53time? I think they're queens.
07:54And when we did our tour together and watching them with those babies on the
07:58road, I was just like, wow, good for you.
08:01That's great. Not for me.
08:06You know, I love how you use your platform for good.
08:09You're very open and honest and you seem, you know, like just the equality, the
08:17any political stances, all your charity work.
08:20It seems like you really are on the right side of history with stuff.
08:24Do you feel like you're doing enough?
08:26Is there any initiatives you want to be a part of moving forward?
08:30And that's really lovely to say that, actually.
08:33And I feel like, well, maybe it's just my personality, but I always feel like I'm
08:39not always doing enough.
08:41But I do think just for me, I think it's important as a as an artist in the pop
08:47industry, you have to be vocal about certain things.
08:50You can't just keep quiet or brush something under the rug.
08:53I think, you know, I've always been quite outspoken about things I feel passionate
08:57about, whether that is like social issues or allyship or any sort of political
09:03injustices. I think I'm aware that we have and I have like quite a young, a young
09:09fan base who need that inspiration or need to feel brave enough to speak out when
09:14things aren't right. So, yeah, I don't think that I'll ever stop.
09:19Things for the future, I think, you know, the goal maybe would just to be
09:24continuing working with different charities.
09:28You know, I don't know.
09:30We'll see. I just always try and educate myself more on things that are happening
09:34in the world so I can form the right opinion and say the right things.
09:39Little Mix was always very, you know, women power, feminist.
09:45Do you think more of those topics will now that you're a solo artist, do you have
09:48different kind of freedoms where that'll find its way into the music or you like
09:53keeping it separate?
09:54Yeah, maybe. I think now as a solo artist, I can maybe say even more, you know, and
10:01I can be even more outspoken on the things I feel passionate about.
10:04I think in the band, yeah, we had this like girl power thing and I think that was so
10:08special. And I do miss that a bit.
10:11We have got some girl bands like Floor, they're incredible.
10:15I think it's so important to have girl bands in the industry because what they stand
10:19for is like togetherness, like sisterhood.
10:24And so I think, you know, they're essential in the pop world.
10:28But yeah, for myself, I think, yeah, I think I can do you can do more on your own.
10:34It's not just about and I think in the band, it's not just about you.
10:38So you can't say certain things or, you know, you don't want to speak for everyone.
10:43So now on my own, I can do that.
10:45For the solo stuff.
10:47Tell me who you've linked up with writer wise.
10:50I believe what's the dude's name that did Sabrina Carpenter's Espresso?
10:56He's one of the people.
10:57No, so Steph Jones, who wrote Espresso is who I did Angel of My Dreams with.
11:02OK. But Mike Sabbath, I would say is probably one of the main producers on the album.
11:06He did all the rare records.
11:08OK. And how did all that come together?
11:10Was just a friend of a friend or people you've been wanting to?
11:14Well, I did a lot of sort of like speed dating producers and writers in L.A.
11:20just to kind of find my own people.
11:22Obviously, in the band, there was such a like formula in the same team.
11:25So I tried to push myself with new people.
11:28But Mike, I'd known for years.
11:30We wrote Wasabi together.
11:32So I was like, it has to be Mike.
11:36And we did. We hit it off straight away again.
11:38And I mean, we wrote Angel the first writing day together.
11:41So that was good.
11:43Pablo Bowman, I wrote Angel with, too.
11:48I've known him for years, but they have there are new people on the album
11:52and producers like Circuit, who is incredible.
11:55I've written with Ray on this album.
11:57And as we know, she's one of the best artists of our generation.
12:01And so, yeah, I've collabed with quite a few old and new.
12:05I think that's good to get that balance.
12:08And I've written with Tove Lo.
12:10I hope that's how I say her name.
12:13And she was brilliant.
12:15Yeah. And so, yeah, I think this record has been about like pushing myself
12:19to work with new people, which has then helped me become a better artist.
12:23Awesome. Well, like I said, the song's great.
12:26We can't wait to hear the album before we wrap.
12:28I'll throw you one curveball.
12:30Go on. If you were if you were going to get married,
12:33it's not even really a curveball.
12:35If you were going to get married tomorrow,
12:36do you know what the wedding song would be?
12:39Whoa. Steady on.
12:42OK, let me have a think.
12:44Who? Is there a ballad you love?
12:48Yes, I love.
12:52And I feel like this is kind of typical, but I do love Beyonce's One Plus One.
12:57I mean, it's a beautiful song.
12:59It's so beautiful. Yeah, yeah.
13:01And nobody would be mad at that.
13:02Also, my boyfriend has written me songs before,
13:05which we'd probably use if we did get married.
13:08Yeah, that would offend him if you didn't.
13:10Yeah, but he's good at that stuff.
13:12I don't think I could do it.
13:13I'm quite easily cringed. Yeah.
13:15Yeah. Cringed out.
13:16So if I tried writing like I actually have written him a love song on the album.
13:22But just the thought of performing it at a wedding would not happen.
13:27I can't do it.
13:28But he would be able to do it.
13:30Yeah, and he'd smash it and everyone would cry.
13:32It would be so beautiful.
13:32But you can't laugh at it.
13:33You can't laugh while it's happening.
13:35You know, I can't.
13:36And that's the thing.
13:37The minute I feel slightly awkward, I'll start to laugh.
13:39Yeah. I'm just yeah, I'm just that way inclined.
13:42Like anybody. Yeah.
13:42Let's go with Beyonce.
13:44Yeah, let's stick to Beyonce.
13:45Yeah, yeah, yeah.
13:46Could be a disaster.
13:47Jade, thank you so much for spending time with us.
13:49Thank you.