The Mercury Prize decamped to Newcastle this year, putting Jade within easy reach of her South Shields roots. Her debut release, That’s Showbiz Baby, had secured a place on the shortlist, marking a clear milestone in her transition into solo work. While Raye ultimately took the prize for This Music May Contain Hope, Jade used the evening to take stock of an intense creative chapter. She joined a varied nominee slate that also featured Suede, Florence & The Machine, Kojey Radical, and Nia Archives.
Before taking the stage to deliver an arena scale staging of Angel Of My Dreams, she spoke candidly about feeling overwhelmed by the speed of recent months. Even with that whirlwind, the industry recognition matters to her. In her view, the defining quality of an exceptional record is absolute creative autonomy. Rather than catering to what audiences might expect from a pop release, she treats courage, authenticity, and an unwillingness to pander as essential requirements.
That outlook guided her appearances across the summer circuit, most notably at Reading. Pop artists appearing on lineups traditionally aimed at rock and alternative crowds often encounter initial skepticism, a reality Jade admitted made her anxious before walking out. Her set went on to draw one of the largest turnouts of the entire weekend, demonstrating that festival crowds are thoroughly receptive to sharp pop on outdoor stages. That response has sharpened her long term goals. Pointing to the paths taken by artists like Raye and Charli XCX, she has openly targeted future headline slots at Reading, Leeds, and Glastonbury.
Worthy Farm already carries special weight for her. Her appearance there in 2025 stands out in her memory as one of the best shows of her life. While nothing is locked in for the 2027 festival, she is vocal about wanting to return if the chance arrives. Even without that date finalized, her calendar for 2027 already includes scheduled shows across Europe.
Any future touring will inevitably center on the material she is assembling now. Between festival dates and downtime over the summer, Jade has been writing with producer Mike Sabbath. The two are frequent collaborators and plan to travel to Los Angeles shortly to build out the sonic foundation of her second album. The record remains in its earliest stages, though working alongside trusted friends has kept the writing room relaxed and natural.
The lyrical side is set to mirror the openness of her debut, documenting the events of the past twelve months. Jade described the emerging work as brave and bold, built to land like a direct pop punch to the face. If her first album proved she could manage her own creative direction, the next chapter looks ready to double down on that independence.
