Lindsey Jade– dynamic pop sound is set to lyrics that always glimmer with an inspiring sense of confidence and hope.
Interview conducted on May 23, 2021
By Dan Locke
Lindsey Jade’s dynamic pop sound is set to lyrics that fearlessly seek self-awareness and explore the behavior of others through narratives that always glimmer with an inspiring sense of confidence and hope.
You are from a musical family. What is your upbringing?
My grandmother taught my mother and her sisters how to sing and play instruments, and they used to travel around Arizona singing at small events and senior homes. And then my mother kept the music alive in our family line by teaching my sister and I how to sing. To this day, my mother, sister, and I sing in three-part harmony whenever I visit my hometown.
How did you discover music?
My mother incorporated music into my life from the time I was born. She actually wrote a song for me when I was a newborn. I was always mesmerized when she would sing at her keyboard or guitar, or a cappella in lullabies before bed when I was young.
What lend you to sing in choirs and churches around the world?
Growing up in Washington State, I was always eager to join the choirs in school, and I was on the worship team for a children’s church program at the time as well. The high school I attended had an audition-only choir called Meistersingers. When I was in the choir, we were invited to perform around the world from choral festivals in Canada to the Sydney Opera House in Australia and behind the scenes of Disneyland in California to at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. During college, I studied abroad in Europe, where I led worship for our community church of Americans there. I also led worship back in California at a local church for a while before doing some sporadic performances around Los Angeles, singing covers as I was yet to have released any of my own music at the time.
How did you start to write music?
For the majority of my childhood and teenage years, I used to write poetry all of the time. I also recorded voice memos of little melodies here and there. One day during college, my sister was going through a particularly rough time that got me a little stirred up, and I sent her a voice message where I sang sweet words to let her know I loved her. Not too long after that, I thought, “well I can sing, I can play piano, and I can write poetry… I wonder if I can put all of that together into my own song?” So, I sat down at my keyboard, and I made the voice message to my sister into a real composition with full lyrics, a structured melody, and chords. From then on, I started singing at my keyboard more often to write new songs. Now I have a Google Doc of lyrics that are about 50 pages long, and probably just as many voice memos of song ideas on my iPhone.
Describe your music.
My music is a dynamic pop sound set to lyrics that always glimmer with an inspiring sense of confidence and hope.
What was your first performance at like?
As I have only released music during the pandemic, I’ve only performed my first release “Fly By” for a few friends acoustically at a Christmas gathering. They loved it. It was just me and an electric guitar by candlelight, and I had a blast.
Do you belong to any to songwriters’ organizations like the international singer-songwriter association, SESAC, BMI or ASCAP?
Nope
What makes a good songwriter?
To me, good songwriting is songwriting written with a sincere heart. I feel that the reason for music is to make an emotional movement in the listener, whether that be hyping up to dance or shedding a tear relating someone else’s story to your own. I believe people can tell when songs aren’t written with sincerity.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
I never professionally recorded my first original song, nor other originals I’ve written over the last few years. “Fly By” was my first release, which was of course an original song.
What is the process of writing your music?
Sometimes I create a melody and chords on the piano first, sometimes I write lyrics first, and sometimes my producer makes a beat first that I topline and write lyrics on after.
Tell me about your song “Addicted”?
I wrote this song in the uncertain beginning stage of my relationship when I had myself convinced that my now-fiancé and I were meant to be together, but he was cautious. He didn’t want to risk ruining our friendship, so in these lyrics, I ask him to evaluate our connection — something worth taking a risk for. This song touches on the vulnerability required to tell someone how you feel, the dreamy infatuation of first falling in love, and an unwavering sense of hope for the future.
How was it to work with French producer Lucas Dila, who is known for Afrobeat music?
Lucas Dila is a wonderful person to work with. He is intelligent and extremely creative, and he has been producing music since he was 12… so he definitely knows what he’s doing. He is French, and he has lived around the world, so his music has influences from around the world. He makes amazing afrobeats, and we’ve worked on a few afrobeats and afro-pop beats for me… but that’s yet to be released. We will see when it’s the right time to drop an afro-pop track. It’s fairly uncommon for pop artists in America to release songs with afrobeat influence, but I truly love afrobeats, and I feel that it could be the next wave in music here in the states.
Any new music coming out this year?
Yes! I am planning to have a few more singles released this year. I just released my latest single “Keep on Runnin” a few weeks ago as well!
What is your favorite track on your album?
I only released singles so far.
How do you stay healthy while performing?
I’ve not been performing during Covid.
What are you’re feeling about streaming music?
I think streaming is the future, across both music and even film. I just don’t want to see streaming overtake live shows — as a performer and as someone who loves to watch live concerts.
Digital vs. vinyl?
Digital. Randy Jackson once spoke to a small group I was in, and he was very clear in that he is always thinking “what’s next.” To me, digital is a part of that “next.”
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
I’m getting married next week, so “I Love You For Sentimental Reasons” by Nat King Cole is actually what’s on my mind at the moment. To me, that song relaxes into the pure feeling of love — the most powerful thing in this world.
With the Pfizer, Moderna and other vaccines being release. How long before the whole world will be vaccinated against the virus. You have to remember there only has to be a 70% for Herd immunity (Herd immunity occurs when a large portion of a community (the herd) becomes immune to a disease, making the spread of disease from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected — not just those who are immune.)
With all of the variants, I feel unqualified to make any predictions for that LOL.
If “Video Killed the Radio Star” do you think that the Covid-19 virus has killed live music? Do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
Covid has definitely changed the world, and I do believe some things may never be the same after this. I feel like concerts will happen again, and those who love them will attend.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I have made music, enjoyed nature in a few national parks, and got engaged!
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
Cooking at home more is my rediscovered old hobby.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. In October that is going to change at least on Facebook. Facebook is cracking down on livestreamed shows that include recorded music with new terms of service, preventing artists from using the platform for “commercial or non-personal” purposes, unless they have obtained the relevant licenses. The updated music guidelines state that users “may not use videos on our products [which include Instagram] to create a music listening experience […] This will include [Facebook] Live,” and stipulates that such content should be posted for the enjoyment of friends and family only. How do you think this will change the landscape of Facebook?
Social media is always evolving, even in ways unseen by the public. So, I’m sure there will be a way, and that the landscape of apps will support artist needs.
How can bands keep their fans if they cannot play live in front of the fans and sell merchandise to them at the show?
Looks like bands, and everyone, needs to learn how to connect virtually at this time, whether to sell merch or keep up with how the family is doing.
Is pay to play still a thing? Now pay to play also means thinks like playlist on the internet and opening slots for a major band on tour.
I do feel that pay to play is huge in this industry. Many labels are paying for views on YouTube etc to show “social proof” of their beginning artists that is actually not real… and that’s just how it is. It’s a strategy to get fake clout to trigger real clout. It’s not something I hate others for, it’s just something I’m aware of.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
Cool and fun, but not the same as the real person in the room.
Governments around the world are hearing the call of thousands of music creators and included protections for the music community in the omnibus bill. In addition to extended and improved unemployment benefits and small business loans for freelance creators, the package includes several bills which the Recording Academy, its members, and the larger music community advocated for. From the Save Our Stages Act, provided a lifeline to performance venues and promoters, to the CASE Act, which creates an avenue for smaller creators to defend their copyrighted works, Congress has ensured that both music creators and those who act behind the scenes to bring music to life are given the support they need during this difficult time.” Do you think this will save music venues?
I’m always hesitant to speak to politics, as I feel like it’s a very complex web where much of it is behind closed doors. As for those acts, I would say that anything helps, but I would guess that what will really “save” music venues is a culture that widely accepts large gatherings again for ongoing business to those music venues.
Did you know that the Grammys MusicCares can help artist? The MusiCares COVID-19 Relief has helped thousands of music industry artists and professionals during these difficult days. This is the most recipients helped, for any single event, in MusiCares’ history. The need remains great, and these unique times remain critical for music people. It has taken a community uplifting one another to get through this pandemic, and MusiCares has pulled together a list of additional organizations and resources to further support you. https://www.grammy.com/musicares/get-help/relief-resources. Have you applied for it yet?
Haven’t heard of it. I’m impressed how you’re really in the know.
In the past if a musician stop doing music, they find a new career. For example, David Lee Roth from Van Halen became a licensed EMT in NY for 6 years, San Spitz (guitarist for Anthrax) became a master watchmaker, Dee Snider (Twister Sister) voice over work for SpongeBob SquarePants. If you can’t do music, what would you like to be doing?
If not doing music, I would work in digital marketing remotely and travel the world.
What is your happy place?
I believe happiness is in your mind, and not in a place. But that being said, Hawai’i sure does help!
A lot of musicians such as Stevie Nicks, Bob Dylan, Taylor Swift, Journey, Def Leppard, and Shakira have sold their catalog rights within the last year. Bob Dylan sold his entire catalog for a reported $300 million. Once you get to the age of about 70. Publishing is far more lucrative than the mechanical royalties paid to artist based on sales, airplay and streams. A good example of this is Michael Jackson brought the rights to the Beatles catalog in 1985. And in the late 80’s the Beatles Revolution appeared in a Nike commercial.
The lump sums being offered by publishing firms are more tax friendly concerning estate planning. Do you think you would be willing to sale your back catalog if someone like Universal is will to buy everything, such as all the rights to all your songs?
Laws and technologies and even the ways the average person consumes music will likely change very much over the next 50 years, without even considering how my music career will go or what place I will be in my life. I have no idea!
Spotify’s ‘Stream On’ event on Monday (February 22), the company confirmed that more than 60,000 new tracks are now being ingested by its platform every single day. This means people are added new tracks uploaded to its platform every 1.4 seconds. The figure, announced by Spotify’s Co-Head of Music, Jeremy Erlich, means that across the course of this year, approximately 22 million tracks will be added to Spotify’s catalog. Spotify confirmed in November last year that its platform now played host to around 70 million tracks.
Therefore, it’s reasonable to assume that, by the end of 2021, SPOT will be home to over 90 million tracks. And that in the early part of next year, it will surpass a catalog of 100 million for the first time. But still back at the beginning of the year Spotify deleted 750,00 songs, mostly from independent artists. What do you think what that could mean to independent artist?
I feel that the accessibility to studio equipment and online videos on how to produce is pressuring independent artists to have pro-quality releases. I feel that the competition is fierce, and without the power of labels or large marketing budgets, independent artists need to work very hard to have their music stand out or even get heard among the millions of other tracks.
Sony Music in November and Warner Music Group in December, The ByteDance-owned video app revealed on (February 8) that it has struck an “expanded” global licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. Now that TikTok is now fully licensed by all three major record companies, will you start using TikTok more?
I have been using TikTok more! I have an account for my music @LindseyJadeMusic. And now, I just need one of my songs to become a viral TikTok sound… LOL.
The British government, buoyed by early good news on a brisk roll-out of vaccinations in the UK, set out a roadmap that, as things stand, would see the re-opening of large music events in the UK, with no audience limit, on June 21. Live Nation and its subsidiary, Festival Republic, didn’t hang about after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson made this announcement on Monday (February 22). The companies quickly announced that their Reading & Leeds festival – an annual fest taking place across two locations in the UK with a combined capacity of around 180,000 – would be going ahead between August 27 and 29 this year, and that tickets were on sale. With this announcement Live Nation; USA wants to following the lead of Live Nation: UK. If this happen and live concert start happening this summer, would you be up to playing live shows again and under want precautions, would you like to have in place?
I would be honored to play live this summer if I could. In terms of precautions, I believe in leading a healthy lifestyle whether or not there’s a pandemic: and that goes far beyond masks to me. That’s not to say masks are a bad idea, but I feel we have to remember that a healthy immune system from exercise, good sleep, and daily nutritious meals may be more effective at combating the virus.
Do people mistake you for Lindsey Jade from Snail Mail?
I’ve not gotten that yet, but I think it’s Lindsey Jordan from Snail Mail?
Anything you would like to say in closing.
Thank you so much for your the time to interview me. I really appreciate your support of my music through this interview. As an independent artist, every little thing helps from streams on Spotify to follows on Instagram to interviews like these. I want to spread positivity, hope, and joy through my music, and I am passionate to do so for the rest of my life.
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