If you haven’t added Jade LeMac to your Pride playlist yet, consider this your cosmic nudge. The 21-year-old singer-songwriter brings us a new kind of queer pop, the kind that redefines rock as a heavy plated pop anthem or a moody, soul-baring lyric machine. With two EPs already garnering millions of streams, Jade is riding this wave with more music, summer festivals and a fall tour.
Fresh off her first headline tour, Jade is set to release two singles and EP by fall. In September, she’s taking her iconic songwriting on the road to open for Maren Morris, queen of hit lyricism and colorful vulnerability. Whether Jade is performing the star-studded song that put her on the map, ‘Constellations,’ or a personal favorite Steal My Skin, Jade invites you in close and sings like she’s lived a thousand queer lives.
“Throughout my whole life, I had been in relationships, whether it was romantic or friendship, where I just kind of felt shitty about it,” Jade says Steal My Skin is one of her most vulnerable. “I gave more than I received, and that’s kind of what the song is about. I put it on paper and use some pretty, I mean, graphic metaphors…steal my skin. I had that idea in my notes app for a while because it felt really real to me.”
With each drop putting Jade’s vocals more front and center, her newest material promises to be her boldest yet, as if she just keeps getting closer to her audience. “We’re working on a whole project right now that I’m very excited about,” she told me. While there’s no release date just yet, fans can expect to hear more songs that live in that delicate intersection between storytelling and sonic experimentation. In the meantime, she’s giving her community exactly what they need: representation, catharsis, and a damn good show.
Catch Jade LeMac at Lollapalooza on July 31st, at Osheaga August 3rd, and unfiltered in the full interview below where we talk tour stories, staying awake in dark green rooms, and what it really feels like to sing the kind of songs that make your fans cry (in the best way possible).
Ari:
First of all, you were amazing last night. You look like you’re having a lot of fun on stage!
Jade:
Yeah, yeah, I love it. It’s so fun!
Ari:
I have this thing with my friends when we do a big trip, or a big anything – we call it Rose, Bud and Thorn. The rose is your favorite thing, the bud is what you’re looking forward to, and the thorn is the one thing you could have done without.
Jade:
Okay, so I think the Rose was probably meeting all the fans and everything. I think that they’re all so cute, and like finally being able to perform in places that I haven’t performed yet. And just like, people telling me how they’ve been waiting so long. I think that was definitely the rose. The Bud…something I learned is that I need to perform ‘Car Accident’ next time, because so many people wanted it! So I think I learned that I need to do that, and then the Thorn…I need to figure out something to do with staying awake, because some of the venues have a dark green room, and when it’s dark, I get sleepy! *laughs* So maybe, like, bring a Red Bull around or something.
Ari:
I love it. That was the perfect answer. On that note, how do you prepare for a show? Like, did you come up with a rhythm before your shows?
Jade
Yeah, for the first show I was super nervous because I hadn’t been on stage in a while, you know. And I feel like the first show is always the most nerve wracking. So I was really persistent with learning the lyrics and making sure I remember them. But after the first show, I got a lot more comfortable. So pretty much it was just trying to warm up my vocals before, make them feel good, and then going over what I want to say to the crowd, things like that. And then, kind of just like, not freaking out before getting on stage.
Ari:
*both laugh* Totally. I think that anticipation can be mistaken for fear, especially as artists. But you would never know watching you that you were even remotely nervous! What is your favorite moment in the set?
Jade:
I always love whenever I point the microphone and they sing the words. There’s not one specific moment that I love because each city is so different, you know, with how they react and everything. But I think my favorite thing is when someone’s just really getting into it, you know? Or like, there was someone crying yesterday, and I felt so bad! But just being able to engage with them I think is so fun. Or even when I’m talking to them and they scream something; like the things that are unexpected, those are my favorite moments.
Ari:
Love it. Let’s go into the next tour – you’re opening up for Maren Morris! Tell me everything.
Jade:
Yeah! I know a few of her songs, and she’s awesome. I remember when The Middle was playing on the radio when I was younger – I know that song like nobody’s business. To be opening for her is going to be so cool. And the cities that we’re playing in are going to be awesome. On the east coast, we’re going to Nashville and I’ve never been in Nashville, so I’m so excited for that. I have yet to meet her, of course, but yeah, it’s gonna be so exciting.
Ari:
What ways do you think that you guys align, if any, as artists?
Jade:
Well, she was more country before, and now she’s turning more into pop, so I think she’s getting a little more into my lane. That’s really cool. I’m very excited to see and hear her next album, and see this kind of scene. I feel like the flow of the whole entire show will be awesome.
Ari:
Yeah I think it’s an awesome match! You guys are both very much songwriters, you know, whatever genre comes out. And you have some new music coming out soon?
Jade:
We are working on a whole project right now that I’m very excited about. So more stuff to come out before the tour, maybe. We haven’t specified any dates for anything right now – we’re focused on finishing the project.
Ari:
Sick. I love a mystery. Let’s talk about the fans, because your connection with them is just really, really cool to watch. What was one of the most memorable moments that you’ve had at a meet and greet with a fan?
Jade:
Hmmm. I loved that there were a few people that asked me to draw something to get tattooed, which is kind of crazy, because a tattoo’s forever. There are these sisters that came to the Montreal show, which is really funny because I performed at a festival in Quebec last summer, and they were front row there, and they had a huge sign asking me to draw something to get tattooed. And I told them on stage that I would and I lost them. I never did, and it haunted me still to this day. But then they showed up to Montreal, and I instantly recognized them, and I was like, you guys, like I fucked you over, basically. I finally got to draw something for them and they were so cute.
Ari:
Dude, tattoos! Can you tell us what you drew??
Jade:
Yeah, I drew some stars, little star-like things. I remember drawing quite a few. Hopefully one of them was good enough. I gave them options!
Ari:
Oh, my god, that’s so fun. Any other meet and greet experiences that you want to share?
Jade:
I mean, just shout out to all of you who came and said hi after. I loved meeting everyone. They were all so cute. And everyone has been supporting me for that long and listening to my music…really, all of them were so sweet.
Disclaimer: This piece was written independently and is not affiliated with Rock the Pigeon staff writers.
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