FRANKENSTEIN POP | JADE RELEASES DEBUT ALBUM ‘THATS SHOWBIZ, BABY!’

ALBUM REVIEW | THAT’S SHOWBIZ, BABY! – JADE By Keira Knox

With the release of her highly acclaimed debut album, ‘That’s Showbiz, Baby!,’ JADE has liberated herself from the confines of the girl band realm, forging her own path of creativity and individuality as an artist. With each beat drop, this whirlwind of pop genres invites cleverness and insight.

The release of her debut single, ‘Angel Of My Dreams,’ catapulted her back into the spotlight. With a plethora of festival appearances as well featuring alongside Confidence Man on the iconic single ‘gossip’ and a intertwined video feature with Fontaines D.C, JADE has been the only name on everyone’s lips.

‘Frankenstein Pop’ is the perfect way to characterise the album, which is a term that JADE has used many times in interviews to define her sound. A wide range of pop styles represented, from danceable rhythms to songs with a more soulful undercurrent. Despite their apparent incompatibility on paper, the sounds that JADE has stitched together are like a musical paradise.

The initial 6 tracks on the album’s list are all previous releases. This is a stroke of brilliance, in my opinion; JADE establishes a comfortable atmosphere for the listener to settle into before delving into her most personal and creative songs. ‘Midnight Cowboy’ is a seductive hit featuring actor Ncuti Gatwa with a spoken word debut, and ‘Angel Of My Dreams‘ is that renowned major pop song that samples ‘Puppet on a String’ by Sandie Shaw. ‘Fantasy’ prominently features a disco-influenced sound that draws inspiration from Donna Summer and Diana Ross.

Key shifts, surprise beat drops, and the freedom to experiment that comes from it are themes that run throughout the album. The album showcases JADE’s blossoming song writing skills; the lyrics are honest, genuine, and intimate, and the subject matter is her love/hate connection with the music industry. Gone are the cringeworthy lovey-dovey parts that are expected within the pop genre.

The second part of ‘That’s Showbiz, Baby!’ takes listeners on a bewildering tour of musical styles. ‘Unconditional’ sounds like it came off an album by the Pet Shop Boys, with its guitar-heavy 80s sound. A timeless hit, ‘Before You Break My Heart’ features a sample from The Supremes. She will be a star unfettered by the constraints of girl bands, just like Diana Ross.