An interview with british country singer Jade Helliwell - country music artist

BEER PONG, NO. 1 HITS AND BUSKING STARDOM

An interview with Country Artist
JADE HELLIWELL

Jade discusses with us how a random act on a night out resulted in a viral video and busking stardom, plus how she has managed to perform in Australia, Nashville and at C2C, and what her unusual phobia is!

Find Jade online:

Website: www.jadehelliwell.com

Instagram: @jadehelliwellofficial

Twitter: @jadehelliwell2

YouTube: @JadeHelliwell

Spotify: Jade Helliwell

Melbelle is a fashion store with a strong western influence.  Through Melbelle, we’ve formed some special connections with a handful of country singers, our Melbelle Country Artists, to help promote country music in the UK – and, of course, to sell a few boots, hats and dresses along the way!

Today, we share with you an interview with one of our Melbelle Country Artists, British country singing sensation and BCMA Female Vocalist Of The Year 2017 & 2018, Jade Helliwell.

JADE, YOU WERE A TEACHING ASSISTANT AT A SCHOOL WHILST BUILDING YOUR BLOSSOMING MUSIC CAREER! HOW DID YOU MANAGE TO BALANCE YOUR TIME WHILST WRITING AND PERFORMING? DID THE CHILDREN KNOW MUCH ABOUT YOUR MUSIC? WHAT DID THEY THINK?

I was a teaching assistant up until June 2017. I was working full time, writing and performing and studying with The Open University and I’m not sure where I found the time, ha! But I was strict with myself to allocate time each day to study and write/rehearse. The kids didn’t know much other than I ran the school choir, until my video went viral and they saw me on Look North and had a couple questions the next day!

A VIDEO ON YOUTUBE OF YOU SINGING WITH A BUSKER ON THE STREET WENT VIRAL ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND WAS EVEN FEATURED IN THE SUN ONLINE. WHAT MADE YOU GO OVER AND JUST SING WITH THE GUY? WHAT KIND OF REACTION DID YOU GET FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE LISTENING? DID THIS HELP TO PUT YOU ‘ON THE MAP’ MORE?

It was such a random event. I was out for my friends birthday (on the gin!) and got chatting to the busker as we stood to watch him. My friends asked if I could sing with him and he said yes. I never expected the response it got! Yes definitely, I was already working hard to make my way into the country scene. I had just won the Yamaha Hoedown and performed at C2C. I had released my EP ‘Forget The Night’ and was performing around the country, but I do believe the viral video helped me grab people’s attention.

British country music artist Jade Helliwell

Outfit details: Melbelle Lasso Cowboy Graphic Tee

YOU SELF-RECORDED AND RELEASED YOUR EP IN 2016 AND IT BECAME NO.1 IN THE COUNTRY CHARTS AND NUMBER 8 IN THE OFFICIAL CHARTS. WHAT A FANTASTIC ACHIEVEMENT AND WHAT A LOT OF WORK! HOW DID IT FEEL AT THAT EARLY STAGE HAVING SO MUCH SUCCESS? HOW PREPARED WERE YOU FOR WHAT WAS COMING NEXT?

Ah thanks so much! When I initially released it I was blown away when it went to number two. After the video went viral months afterwards it re-entered the charts at number one and I couldn’t believe it! It truly was amazing to have that kind of support from people. It made me hungry for more, but also realise what a lot of work it was promoting the music.

YOU’VE TOURED AUSTRALIA IN 2019 AS PART OF THE ‘BUCKLE AND BOOTS FESTIVAL’. HOW DID YOU FIND PERFORMING IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE IN A DIFFERENT COUNTRY? HAVE YOU GOT PLANS TO TAKE YOUR PERFORMANCES ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD TOO? WHAT IS THE NEXT BIG STEP?

It was amazing to see what the country scene is like over there and to see the audience’s reaction to the UK country world. I have performed in Nashville before but plan to head back and do more shows over there. I would love to play around Europe too, so that’s something I’m aiming for also.

YOU HAVE A BUSY YEAR COMING UP, WITH PERFORMANCES ALL OVER THE COUNTRY WITH KEZIA GILL AMONGST OTHER PEOPLE! DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE PLACE TO PERFORM?

I always love to perform in Manchester, it’s just a great live music scene.

YOU DID LOADS AND LOADS OF BRILLIANT LIVE-STREAM PERFORMANCES OVER THE COURSE OF THE LOCKDOWNS. HOW IMPORTANT WERE THESE TO YOU AND HOW EXCITED WERE YOU TO BE BACK AND PERFORMING IN FRONT OF LIVE AUDIENCES AGAIN?

They were so important to me. They kept me going financially during an incredibly scary time, but also mentally. With no shows and no end in sight, I don’t know how I would have coped without the weekly slots to play music for people. It was amazing to get back to live audiences, though I must admit I do slightly miss the streams still!

Outfit details: Nevada Hats Black and Snakeprint Felt Gambler Hat and Public Desire boots.

YOUR BOYFRIEND, LUKE, IS OFTEN ON GUITAR AND YOU TWO CRUSH IT TOGETHER WHETHER IT’S ON A LIVE STREAM OR ON STAGE. HOW OFTEN DO YOU GUYS GET TO PRACTISE TOGETHER AND WHAT DO YOU DO IN YOUR DOWN-TIME?

We don’t actually practise together unless I have a show, we will just rehearse with the band or ourselves if it’s acoustic. In our down-time we love to go out for food and drinks, go bowling, play beer pong and just unwind.

WE HEAR THAT YOU’RE TERRIFIED OF BUTTERFLIES! IT MUST BE QUITE DIFFICULT PERFORMING IN THE SUMMER! YOU PLAY A WHOLE VARIETY OF FESTIVALS; DO YOU EVER GET NERVOUS GOING ON STAGE? DO YOU HAVE A ROUTINE OR ANY RITUALS YOU DO BEFORE GOING ON?

Yes they are petrifying, ha! Luckily they don’t often head to the stage. I sometimes get a little nervous, but it’s excited nerves and the moment I step on stage they disappear. The only routine I have really is doing my vocal warm ups and having a beer/gin!

NEW MUSIC!

Jade has in the past few days released her brand new single ‘Smoke’, a song about the feeling of uncertainty when you hear rumours that your partner has been unfaithful. “It’s about trusting your instincts and realising that rumours don’t come from thin air. I hope people will relate to the song and that feeling of needing to be strong when you know people aren’t sincere. It’s unfortunately a feeling many of us have felt in life but hopefully people can connect with the message of Smoke and feel empowered by it.”

She has worked together with the team at Viktrs to create an empowering music video featuring a group of gal pals around a bonfire burning items from the relationship.  The video premiers tomorrow (23rd Sept) over at Destination Country. You might see some familiar faces and outfits!

Jade Helliwell Smoke Video

JADE’S UPCOMING LIVE GIGS: