Chelsea Jade

“My best, it has no borders,” sings Chelsea Jade, a rising artist from New Zealand, in the opening lyrics of her song, “Personal Best” (the title track of her 2018 album). These lyrics of self-empowerment greatly mirror Jade’s musical journey and growing success. Chelsea Jade’s album Personal Best is visceral, empowering, and impossible not to head-bop to.

A self-proclaimed art-school “brat,” Chelsea Jade was born in Cape Town, South Africa and raised in Auckland, New Zealand. Jade is a striking character; beyond her unmistakable blonde bob, she’s incredibly clever and has a keen way with words. Jade released her album Personal Best in July of 2018. Before dropping her solo album this past summer, Jade was already very familiar with the music industry. She had previously written for prominent artists (The Chainsmokers, ATTLAS, and Wet to name just a few) and released music with other groups.

Personal Best is Jade’s first solo album that was both written and released on her own. Taking ownership, she noted, “as soon as you’re under your own name, you don’t let the little things slide anymore... it felt important to be culpable for the minutiae.” The album, her music, every decision came down to her— it was, indeed, her personal best.

In creating this album, Jade found it exhilarating to challenge and test herself. “It’s almost enjoyable,” she added comically, “to hear me taunting myself in songs like ‘Ride or Cry’ and ‘Life of The Party.’” The album was personal experience and journey for Jade; she called it, “a tournament of team sports, where I’m on both teams, versing myself.” One of Jade’s favorite songs of hers is “Laugh it Off.” The song, a triumph of positivity in place of possible darkness, “felt like a vibrant little light tucked in my palm before it came out...and that still feels true now that it belongs to everyone.” With lyrics such as, “want my chest to keep it heavin’ / on the lighter side of feelin’ / I’m not going into grievin’ for you,” the song is an anthem of optimism that I honestly can’t stop dancing to.

Jade’s album is a perfect marriage of lyricism and visuals, creating a unique musical identity that sets her apart from other indie-pop musicians. Jade’s paired talent for music and art speak to her individuality in an industry hell-bent on conformity. After dropping out of art school, it took Jade a long time to find her way back to her own visual language and artistic identity; both of which are strongly present in her album, Personal Best.

Jade’s transparency through her music and identity are refreshing. Her approach to music is very simple. To Jade, creating music is a pursuit that mirrors her personal growth, which is a journey that can never be over. Her other impulse, she comically added, “shameless attention seeking!” Beyond her knack for music and blunt sense of humor, Jade earnestly hopes that her music can “be a friend to someone who feels alone.”

When asked what she does when she’s not writing music, Jade answered, “getting my heart broken, generally.” But, her serious answer is that she never stops writing— she’s already onto the next. Currently, Jade is writing for her next album and looking to take her live show to as many listening ears as she can. In creating and releasing her own music, Jade was open about her greatest hurdles. “To be perfectly honest,” she added, “it’s not romantic, but this shit is expensive and as an independent artist, I pay for everything myself.” Despite these struggles, being her own boss is the exact advice she offers to young women interested in entering this industry today.

Jade’s support for women reaches far beyond her advice to young female musicians. Since 2016, Jade has donated her yearly proceeds from her Bandcamp to Planned Parenthood. She added, “I’m just not a fan of how divisive the conversation around women’s health is. Let’s just take care of women, eh?”

Music is both a shared and personal experience; music helps us relate to one another and discover ourselves along the way. Jade’s music is unique, fiercely inspiring and leaves you with an unshakable impulse to dance. Beyond her music, Jade is refreshingly transparent, unabashed, and wildly self-aware. It’s evident how much Jade cares about the community her music has created, and the impact her artistry can have. There’s more to come from Jade and her music, I’m sure of it. Chelsea Jade’s musical career, like her best, has no borders.

Music is both a shared and personal experience; music helps us relate to one another and discover ourselves along the way. Jade's music is unique, fiercely inspiring and leaves you with an unshakable impulse to dance. "