WORDS RACHEL EDWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY LAURA HARVEY
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jade LeMac has come a long way from the moment she decided to re-write 'Stay' by Rihanna in her bedroom, using a karaoke mic to record herself. Things have since snowballed for the self taught musician - who shot to fame after her debut single 'Constellations' was featured in Netflix show 'My Life with the Walter Boys' - with today marking the release of her highly anticipated latest track 'Pink Balloon'.
'Pink Balloon' is a dreamy love song, written about the artist's own relationship with somebody very close to her. The track is a reminder to cherish the moments with your loved ones and to not take any of it for granted. As powerful as it is delicate, the single is bound to be a hit with fans of her previous releases 'Got me Obsessed' and 'Narcissistic'.
More than just a pioneer in music, Jade also uses her platform to connect with other 2SLGBTQ+ members, speaking openly about her sexuality and relationship with her girlfriend. At only 20 years old, the sky is the limit for Jade - and her Pink Balloon.
R.E: Hi Jade! Do you have a typical morning routine?
J.L: Right now, I've been trying to hit the gym more often, trying to get that good schedule going! I've been really on my grind of making really yummy breakfast. Then obviously I'm probably in the studio or something like that.
R.E: Yeah, that's a good morning routine. Breakfast is the best meal. I don't understand when people are like, 'I don't like breakfast'. There are so many options! I'm in the smoothie bowl era right now. Anyway, I could get really distracted and talk to you about breakfast all day but tell me about 'Pink Balloon'! I actually loved it on the first listen and that's rare, usually it takes a few listens! It feels to me like it's about the fragile nature of love - what went through your head as you were writing it?
J.L: Thank you! I wrote it about a very special person and her favourite colour is pink. So of course I had to get that in there. I feel like I use it as a metaphor - the balloon was kind of the love and the memories that you share with somebody very special and the importance of holding on to that and cherishing it. I feel like very often you can take things for granted, and I know that I have before, so that's something I'm working on doing less. I feel like that's kind of what I wanted the song to be about.
R.E: Yeah, it's such a beautiful song. Would you say you're like a hopeless romantic?
J.L: Yeah!
R.E: What's the most romantic thing you've ever done?
J.L: Oh my God. I don't know! I feel like rather than big gestures I like to do a lot of tiny things. I think sometimes the smaller things count more so I like to do smaller things consistently. A big thing that I do in my relationship right now is bringing my girlfriend to concerts and things like that. I surprise her with little things because I know that that's her favourite thing.
R.E: It is about doing these little things consistently. I hate the whole 'I've done something wrong, here are some flowers', rather than appreciating when things are good. So tell me, what's your process like when it comes to songwriting? Do you carry a notebook everywhere? Are you quite strict with yourself?
J.L: Yeah, I think it's hard because sometimes I try to write and I don't feel any inspiration and then there are random times where I pick up my guitar, sit at my piano, and I have this great idea! I'll just start randomly singing and it all comes together. I don't carry a notebook around but I feel like I should start doing that because that sounds rad! Usually if I come up with an idea outside of the house I use voice memos to record them, but I had 'Pink Balloon' as an idea for a very long time - I actually had part of the chorus written but I couldn't figure out how to write the rest of the song. I had writer's block, but when it finally came to me it just clicked.
R.E: Do you feel like you're a perfectionist? Is it hard for you to know when a song is finished and ready to go out, or do you kind of intrinsically know?
J.L: I'm definitely a perfectionist. I know when I am super happy with a song and I know that if I'm not feeling super happy it's probably because I feel like I can write a better lyric or a better melody or something like that - that definitely eats me alive sometimes! That's when I need the help of my friends and family because they can tell me if it's just me being too critical. Other times songs come very quickly and I just know right away!
R.E: TikTok was obviously a massive thing for you. Do you find it hard not to spend hours on your phone scrolling? Do you have a good relationship with it?
J.L: Yeah it is it's a difficult relationship for sure. Personally, I believe that social media can be very toxic but I'm obsessed with it at the same time! It's difficult because I tell myself I'm just trying to find inspiration but then my whole 'for you' page is dogs and cats, so it's difficult for sure. I'm on it for work as well as inspiration as well as just for funsies!
R.E: And Constellations is obviously one of your most popular songs after it was in the Netflix show 'My Life with the Walter Boys'. What's your favourite planet?
J.L: (Laughs) I know nothing about planets but I think Jupiter's cool...My favourite thing in the sky is the moon. I have a tattoo of the moon, so I feel like I have to say that. I'm stuck with the moon for life.
R.E: (Laughs) True! You speak openly about your sexuality in your music and on social media. How was coming out for you?
J.L: I am very thankful for my friends and family and the people that I was surrounded with because they were very supportive. I think for most young LGBTQ+ members it's very difficult to come out with your sexuality or your gender identity, and it was definitely a difficult time but it also brought me a lot of joy to be able to be myself and discover myself. I think I'm still in a situation where I don't exactly know what is happening but it's a continuous journey. It's always a little bit scary, but I'm definitely so much happier being open and happy with who I am.
R.E: Yeah, it's so inspiring for a lot of people as well and it must be great being able to connect with the community in that way.
J.L: 100%. When I was younger I remember that there were a few artists and celebrities that were inspirations to me. They came out, or I already knew they were out, and I looked up to them so much, so to hear anybody slightly feel that way about me is amazing! I love that I can be that sort of representation for people.
R.E: Yeah, exactly. What would you say inspires you at the moment outside of music?
J.L: Right now it's what I'm experiencing in my relationships or just my feelings. I also like to write about other people's situations sometimes if I know they're going through something, so I use my imagination a lot. It's your best tool when it comes to creativity and writing, so it's a little bit of everything that I pull inspiration from.
R.E: What dreams do you have outside of music?
J.L: I have quite a few weird things that I want to be able to do. I really want to be able to learn how to skateboard. I used to want to learn how to juggle and solve a Rubik's Cube and I brought those two down!
R.E: Seriously?! Rubik's Cube has been on my list as well, but I've never done it!
J.L: I can do that happily, I'm very proud of that one! I want to be good at basketball too! I guess I want to be the best version of myself, in the cheesiest way.
R.E: We're going to see you like skateboarding with a basketball in your next music video.
J.L: I know! Maybe I'll be juggling basketballs.
R.E: That would be cool! What's your favourite part of being a musician?
J.L: My favourite part about being a musician is just being able to do what I love, honestly. It's such a dream to be able to do that, it's insane.
R.E: What age did you first know you wanted to be a musician?
J.L: Ever since I could remember. I lived in a house with my cousins and we would all pretend we were in a band together. We would do karaoke and I was like 'yeah, I'm going to sing'.
R.E: Do you think your family knew you'd do it professionally? Did they see the star quality?
J.L: Yeah, they were really supportive!
R.E: Did you study or did you just start to make music yourself?
J.L: Yeah, I was fully self-taught. I honestly know nothing about zero music theory.
R.E: That's amazing, it shows people there are so many avenues.
J.L: Yeah, totally. I got a little keyboard for my birthday once and I rewrote 'Stay' by Rihanna in my bed with karaoke. That's the first song I wrote and that's how I realised that I knew how to write songs so then I hopped on a piano and found chords that sounded good together. I wrote my first song by myself and it just went on from there.
R.E: That really shows pure talent! You also just followed this creative urge which I think is so important. Is there anything that fans are surprised by when they meet you?
J.L: I don't know if they're surprised by anything. I feel like when I've met people that I haven't seen in person before they've said that I'm smaller than expected. I'm like 'am I really short'?!
R.E: What's your favourite career moment so far?
J.L: The craziest was probably when I performed in Quebec City this past summer. It was the biggest crowd I performed in front of, and that was definitely my favourite experience. It's just so surreal being up there. It's insane.
R.E: Do you get nervous before?
J.L: Oh my God, like so bad.
R.E: Really? What do you do to calm down?
J.L: (Laughs) I literally am just saying 'I'm going to poop myself'. In my first performance ever, I was repeating that into the camera. I'd just travelled across the country for that one too, so I was running off no sleep. I was definitely so nervous but as soon as you're up there it's okay. I think bigger crowds are less nerve racking than smaller, intimate crowds.
R.E: I feel like it might get... easier? But the adrenaline must be amazing too!
J.L: The adrenaline is insane! After that I was flying!
R.E: What are you most excited about that you have coming up?
J.L: I think I'm most excited about releasing the new music that I'm working on.
R.E: And lastly, what is your favourite F Word?
J.L: 'Fuck'! That's the first one that came to my head.
