Jade Bird burst back onto the scene towards the close of 2020 to whet appetites for her forthcoming new album. The young singer-songwriter made a very welcome return with two new songs – "Headstart" and "Houdini", both of which served brilliantly to stir the embers of support still alight from her much-revered debut album in 2019.
"Open up the heavens" is her latest offering and goes further to showcase Jade's songwriting capabilities. Her personal favourite from the album, and in true classic musical narratives, it was also the very last song she wrote and recorded for it too. With deadlines looming, the magic happens. "Open up the heavens" debuted as Annie Mac's Hottest Record on BBC Radio 1 this week.
"Open up the heavens was written and recorded two days before I had to fly home from recording in Nashville," said Jade Bird. "I'd heard stories about the last song you write for a record being the best, so I was searching for that in the vocal booth of RCA that evening. Halfway into the riff Dave (Cobb) pops his head in and says "you should really do something with that." So I did. I sent the song to him 2 hours later and before I knew it, everyone was brought back in and we were tracking my favourite song on the record."
The new album was recorded in the iconic RCA Studios by powerhouse producer Dave Cobb (John Prine, Lady Gaga). Over the last 2 years, Jade has organically become part of a community of American songwriters and artists, and the likes of Jason Isbell, Sheryl Crow and Jade's friend and collaborator, Brandi Carlile have all taken the British voice firmly under their wing.
Jade performed "Headstart" on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon as well as playing live from the RCA Studios as a streamed gig for fans all over the world recently once again reminding us of her natural talent, uncompromising sense of self and enviable musicianship.
Jade Birds self-titled debut helped set the bar for female musicianship in the current age, carried along by her mature and sharply observed narrative vignettes of relationships, divorce and everything in between. Jade remains one of the UK's most individual female voices and here we find her cool, calm and collected - confidently striding ahead into the new year, her new album and an enthralling new chapter.
MORE