JADE’s Debut Album "THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY" is a Pop Masterclass

After winning The X Factor in 2011, Little Mix became a pillar of femme pop in the 2010s, a singular group that arguably set the scene for a lot of the female empowerment present in music today. Jade Thirlwall, more recognized mononymously as JADE, is the final member to start a solo career since the group’s hiatus announcement in 2021. Her first album, “THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY”, is a victory lap of creativity that out-paces her former bandmates and many of her UK peers. No longer suffocated by the tight reins of major label management, Thirlwall contextualizes her past, present, and future as a musician with chaos and flair.

JADE’s magnum opus and debut single, “Angel Of My Dreams”, is theatrical and completely unconventional. Reflective of her simultaneous disillusionment and desperation for validation from the industry, it embarks on a rampage of years’ worth of bottled frustrations while refusing to follow the traditional structure of a pop song. As the story unfolds, Thirlwall’s voice travels through time too; it gets pitched down, sped up, breaks, and soars. In a landscape where artists are more often choosing the safe and marketable, this first track is a huge breath of fresh air and originality. 

Determined to leave no stone unturned, no angle unseen, JADE explores performance within various relationships. “IT girl” is a sonic punch to any man who’s wronged her throughout her career. “Gone is the girl you could con”, she sneers as she reminds them who really has the power on and off stage. The rage carries into “FUFN (Fuck You For Now)” as she describes being in conflict with a partner and slamming doors just to plaster a smile on her face for the public. In both cases she is pretending, setting aside the vexation that swirls inside her. Elsewhere, JADE relishes the flashing lights and attention. With an introduction by actor Ncuti Gatwa, “Midnight Cowboy” transports listeners to a sultry showroom. “I’m the ride of your life, not a rental”, she boasts; “I’m in heaven when you’re looking at me”, she sings on “Angel of My Dreams”; “I make my moves on you and then I know you can’t take your eyes off me”, she says later on “Lip Service”, a deceivingly innocent song started by Tove Lo. 

It’s clear JADE views attention as a double-edged sword. A critical lover can also be a hating fan on “Glitch”. Simultaneously on this record, she expresses her own toxicity in the Robyn-esque strobing synths of “Plastic Box”, as she wrestles with jealousy and insecurity. She also exposes her proclivity for troublesome dynamics in “Natural at Disaster”, which holds everything vocally from her lower register to head voice, riffs, runs, and belts. She lists her faults in “Headache” (and finds at least some humor in it if the sirens at the beginning are anything to go by), and even though most of the track is self-assured, she’s still left gasping, “You still love me” by the end. Thirlwall proves confessionals don’t have to be ballads once more in “Self Saboteur” as she reflects with lyrics full of strong imagery. 

But all the struggles seem to be worth the love. “Fantasy” is fun and possesses the right balance of camp and unabashed sexuality. The 80s gloss elevates how being safe with a partner can feel like floating in silky smooth sheets. Vulnerable in a different way, “Unconditional” is a personal song about her mother’s lupus diagnosis. “I will hold your hand forever, even if my heart explores”, she promises. It's a busy disco with striking moments where her voice slides up like a rockstar as she expresses her deep desire to fix the situation. “Before You Break My Heart” features her singing an iconic song from The Supremes as a child. An unexpected, inter-generational gem, JADE gave up royalties in order to include the sample. Nostalgic in sound and in her identity, she takes the time here to honor who she has been to make room for all she is becoming. 

For every twist and turn, love has been there for her and will remain. Emotive and resolute, “Silent Disco” is a fitting closer. The curtains close, the strings are cut, JADE is no longer anyone’s puppet and has shed layers of burdens through glittery havoc, leaving behind a masterclass in pop as love moves her forward. Like many people who branched off from their groups, time will only tell if she can stand on her own, but “THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY” sure is a phenomenal start.