Little Mix’s JADE has been embracing her solo career during the girl group’s ongoing hiatus by promoting her newest track ‘IT Girl’ set to be released January 10. In an interview with the Independent, the South Shields singer teased what fans can expect from the single along with some reflections on X Factor, her rise to fame and her experiences with going solo.
After making her debut last July with ‘Angel of My Dreams’, which focuses on Jade’s love-hate relationship with the industry, the singer likens her new single ‘IT Girl’ as “’Angel of My Dreams’’ c**ty little sister”. The upcoming electro-pop tune is another nod to Jade’s experience in the industry, especially surrounding all the judgement and critiques that have shaped her artistry.
She revealed: “There’s still so much that people don’t know as me, so I was eager to surprise people, poke the bear a bit… I did feel anxious about pissing people off or any sort of backlash, but I have to write about what my experiences are – I’m not going to sugarcoat it. It is, you know, my reality”.
As the ‘Angel of My Dreams’ singer continues to cement her artistry as a soloist, it is evident she plans to establish herself as the next ‘IT girl’ of experimental pop. Thus far, listeners have encountered Jade’s creation of club anthems with ‘Angel of My Dreams’ and ‘Midnight Cowboy’ alongside ‘Fantasy’ a track with the funk and composition which feels reminiscent of Diana Ross and Donna Summer during their high.
Jade’s ongoing openness surrounding her rise to fame and relationship with the industry is considerably admirable. From having to develop such thick skin from a young age, Jade recalls after 14 years in the industry: “I don’t mind piping up or clapping back at people.”
This openness expands to her honesty on her bittersweet experience on the music-reality show The X Factor in 2011, which aired its final episode back in 2018. When delving into her emotions on the experience, she emphasised: “I don’t know anyone that’s come from that show and not had some sort of mental health issue on the back of it.”
She continued: “but also, even now, personally I’m conflicted criticising [it], because it changed my life. I was from a very normal working-class family up north, I had tried sending demos in to labels, I’d gigged all over, I was doing everything I could to make it, and I needed a show like that to give me a chance”.
When discussing her career regrets and what she would be doing differently as a soloist, Jade mentioned not speaking up about her heritage sooner. Prior to moving to London, her quarter Yemeni and quarter Egyptian heritage was never brought up, due to the big Arabic community in South Shields.
She recalls: “When I got put in the band and moved to London, all of a sudden everyone was asking where I was from… No one had really asked me that before, because people in my hometown just knew, so the idea of being racially ambiguous or white-passing was new to me. I thought, maybe it’s better this way, with me entering the industry… All I had seen was negative press about Muslim people, Arab people. I was scared to promote that”.
Now as a soloist, Jade is owning her heritage. In a recent cover of Chase & Status and Stormzy’s ‘BACKBONE’ with the BBC Live Lounge, Jade freestyled the rendition both speaking in Arabic and English about her heritage, as the oud drives the electronic elements from ‘BACKBONE’s’ original.
Jade’s concluded: “I’m so proud of my heritage now… I don’t think it’s ever too late to embrace who you are”.
As Jade continues to embrace her identity and experiences in the industry, ‘IT Girl’s’ arrival on January 10 will further cement the singer’s unique and compelling artistry.
