INTERVIEW: Jessica Jade on new single 'Bet': "You always gotta bet on yourself and keep your dreams alive."

Western Sydney’s Jessica Jade first gained attention as a participant in the 2017 YouTube music series The ShareSpace. She has since released a number of smart, contemporary R&B singles, including 2018’s chilled out, electro tinged ‘Keep Moving’ and last year’s smooth, kiss-off to an ex ‘One Time’. She has recently released her first single of 2020, the velvety, dreamy ‘Bet’ which sees for the first time Jade embrace a acoustic, guitar based sound whilst still retaining her R&B roots in her beguiling vocals. We recently spoke with Jessica to find out more.

Hi Jessica! To start with, can we take it all the way back to the beginning – what are your first memories of music?
My first memories of music probably come from watching a lot of movies and music videos as a kid. Rage and MTV were the first thing I would watch when I woke up and the movie Save the Last Dance during the day.

Did you learn an instrument, sing or perform when you were growing up?
I sang a lot at home and with my cousins growing up! I took a few classes but I never stuck with it because it took all the fun out of performing.

How did you go about making music your career – was there a ‘light bulb’ moment or did it happen organically?
I think it was organic for me, I never thought I would actually be making music as a career for as long as I have. I started off posting videos on YouTube and Facebook, from there it kind of kicked off.

Your latest single ‘Bet’ was released a couple of weeks ago and is absolutely gorgeous! Can you tell us a little bit about the inspiration behind the song?
My inspiration for this song is all from my own experiences. I’ve been through quite a bit in the music industry already and I’ve gotta say there are more downs then ups but it’s all about loving the journey. In any situation you're gonna deal with people who don’t like you or don’t want you to succeed, but you always gotta ‘Bet’ on yourself and keep your dreams alive.

The song has a stripped back, acoustic sound which we haven’t really heard from you before, but still retains your signature R&B sound. Was it a conscious decision to go with a more acoustic vibe or did it develop that way in the studio?
I’ve definitely always wanted an acoustic track like this! But it’s something that needs to happen naturally between you and your producer. We kinda just decided it sounds so ‘me’ this way.

You have your debut EP coming up later this year, can you tell us a little about what we can look forward to when it drops?
Y'all can really expect to hear a different side of me. Every song shows something different.

Your lyrics always have a strong empowerment message behind them, particularly for young women. What are your thoughts on gender equality and sexism in the music industry?
There are so many incredible female artists all over the world. Personally I really feel like women are taking over the R&B and hip hop game, there are so many collabs happening right now as well as events that showcase both female and male artists. But this would never be possible if females didn’t support each other through this movement! It’s so important to show love to your fellow peers and just be genuine.

Sexism in the music industry really sucks when you're the only female in the room. Some guys are really not gonna have any respect for you, as a female or an artist. But you always have to keep ya head up.

What tips and advice do you have for coping in this strange and sometimes scary world of quarantine and self-isolation?
Keeping my family and my friends close at this time. We really have no idea what other people are going through. So many industries have changed and completely shut down. I’m just trying to do things that keep me calm, meditate, writing and painting.

What else can we expect from Jessica Jade in 2020?
Even though I’ve finished my EP, I’m still working on music. I’m always experimenting and playing with my sound. Keep a close eye on my Soundcloud.

‘Bet’ by Jessica Jade is out now. You can download on iTunes and stream on Apple Music and Spotify.

To keep up with all things Jessica Jade, you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook.