As the people long for a true pop star, JADE rises to the occasion on her debut solo album “THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!” Across fourteen tracks, JADE fuses synth pop and disco to create a maximalist sound that is invigorating at every turn. As a whole, JADE is able to convey a sense of captivating tenacity throughout the entire record. “Angel of My Dreams”, the opening track and JADE’s debut single, serves as the perfect thesis for the record. Sprawling, ethereal sonic landscapes drop into harsh and relentless spaces without any warning. Just when the listener thinks they know where things are going, JADE takes a 180 and draws you into a whole new world not just on “Angel of My Dreams”, but on the entire album. The same tenacious feeling is prevalent on “IT girl”, “Midnight Cowboy” with their catchy choruses and infectious beats. Alongside hard-hitting tracks are moments that reveal the heart behind JADE’s persona Over an infectious pop beat that’s reminiscent of Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own” and Ariana Grande’s “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”, JADE reflects upon her fears and trepidations of losing love, and still choosing to give it all a go on “Plastic Box” (“Can I have your heart in a plastic box / Never used, fully clean, untouched/ Like I’m the only one you’ve ever loved”). That same honesty comes across on tracks like “Self Saboteur”, where JADE tackles her fear of letting herself fall in love, where “Natural At Disaster” confronts a destructive connection she has to somebody.
On one of the album’s highlight tracks, "Unconditional", JADE fuses the enchanting experimental tracks with her lyrical rawness as she sings about not being able to fix somebody despite how much love she holds (“Take a seat, this is your intervention / You’re killing me with all your self-neglection / If I lose you now, then I lose it all”). As the album comes to an end, JADE presents a more tender perspective on “Before You Break My Heart”. Written as a love letter to her younger self, the track samples a clip of JADE singing The Supreme’s “Stop! In The Name Of Love” when she was a child. The album’s closing track “Silent Disco” feels like a synopsis of all the ground JADE covered throughout the whole album as she sings about the intimacy she has found with someone over a warm mid-tempo track with jaw-dropping production. JADE’s history with Little Mix makes her a credible individual as is, and yet her hunger is clear on “THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!” Her commitment to her artistry is rare, and in no ways does it appear that JADE has any plans on slowing down. With a debut album that’s a love letter to individuality, honesty, pop music, and everything in between, the sky is the limit for what JADE can accomplish.
- Logan Bandi
