Jada Michael – GO

By starrymag | October 11, 2022

By: Alejandra Gil M.

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I still struggle with this question, to be honest! I am in in the process of releasing who I truly am into my sound. However, I do know clear as day what I am striding for: sound that provokes emotion and stimulates connection. I don’t think I will ever be able to fit my whole catalog into one genre. I will be pop, R&B, rock, classical, jazz, etc. depending on the day or where life takes me, but within all that – I want people to find a piece of themselves in every song. I know it’s possible if I stay vulnerable. So maybe that’s my answer? My sound is not yet ready to be described but strides to be vulnerable at every step.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) You’ll always hear me say this, but I find it really difficult to pinpoint my inspiration. I truly feel like every piece of music and every artist that I’ve ever heard has added something to who I am as a musician. In the beginning, though, my stars were definitely our new era black queens: Beyonce, Alicia Keys and Rihanna. Music has always been my passion but those are the women who made me start to close my eyes and see myself on the stage. The quality of their music and their unique beauty in blackness just leaves me speechless in a way I hope to provide to my future fans also. The fact that we learn so much about their spiritual vibration and life perspective through their sound is something I am aiming for.

Q) Talk about the story behind “Go.”

A) “Go” is inspired by my journey out of abusive relationships. One question in particular haunted me for years: How can I leave my abuser when it’s their own horrific abuse trauma that causes them to hurt me?  This applies all over but is a uniquely terrifying experience for queer people of color. An unsettlingly high percentage of my past partners, family members and friends have endured total emotional neglect, physical and/or sexual abuse through a majority of their lives. When the person I love releases that pain onto me – it’s hard to not acknowledge that the root of that behavior was out of their control. When they apologize for a repeated abusive behavior – it’s hard not to prioritize the fact that that they are often trying with everything they have to breaks centuries of toxic familial curses.

BUT “Go” embodies the answer:

I also deserve the understanding and respect that I’m giving. I also deserve LOVE. So, if while assessing that balance in a relationship you find that being there for the one you love means neglecting yourself – GO! That journey out got really dark, but I think you can feel in the song that I ended up on the bright side.

Q) What was your song writing process like? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) My song writing process changes constantly. Sometimes I’ll write a poem and bring that to the studio. Sometimes I’ll hear the beat first and go off the vibes I get from the track. Sometimes the lyrics and the music come together at the same time. I love that its always different.

Q) This song feels like a self-love anthem, especially when it´s inspired by a very important journey such as getting out of an abusive relationship. What do you hope people take away from it?

A) Obviously, it’s a lot to ask but I hope people can take away a new perspective on love. No more “love is pain” BS. I think my whole generation is growing more towards it. F*** the blind loyalty – we want to open our eyes and see. If your love story with them means abandoning yourself, go.  It could be your lover, your friend, even your parent or work environment. Integrating emotional wellness can be a tireless effort in this world but it’s worth it. I lost myself through the initial pain of leaving codependent relationships but the purity of love on the other side was literally magic. Run full speed towards loving yourself first.

Q) Some of your previous singles include “Freak,” “Beautiful” & “Special.” Your music has a recurring theme of self-respect & knowing your worth. As well as empowering audiences, representing plus-sized, LGBTQ and women of color. Why is it important to you to stay vocal about those subjects?

A) It’s not actually something I do intentionally. It’s more of just a reflection of that living my own experiences with my community. It’s kind of like breathing – Obviously, it’s important but if we had to say why we do it, I guess the best answer is survival. When you’re fat, black and gay I think just being yourself can feel empowering for others because of how messed up our system is. Also, though it’s a reflection of what my everyday life looks like, I am kind of haunted by a dark side as someone with history of severe depression and anxiety – I have to work on internal healing/coping 24/7/365. So, when I get in the studio, I guess it makes sense that my music would feel potentially empowering because that’s what I am trying to accomplish for myself every day. I am SO incredibly happy that people are picking up on it though and that I can help my community while also helping myself.

Q) As a Mexican lesbian I do want to thank you for being unapologetically yourself and for including that in your music. Representation is important everywhere. Have you received any specific feedback to this aspect of your life that has stayed with you?

A) From the bottom of my heart, thank you! That means a lot to me because representation has a huge impact on me also. I have definitely gotten all kind of feedback about it. Once I got a comment on YouTube that said, “Shame it’s gay most people can’t relate,” which was so chaotic on so many levels. Once a creep I worked with snapped on me for wanting to talk about girls on my song and made me replace she/her with he/him. Another time, a director cast a fem as my love interest when I specifically asked for a stud so that the video can show more of what my life looks like. It’s just been crazy, girl! But then there is the flip side where I get warm feedback like the kind you just shared with me. For example, a young girl messaged me coming out once after seeing my video saying she felt safe watching it and just wanted to say it for the first time which was so incredibly heartwarming. The fat lesbian community also gives me so much support and kindness always. So, I have definitely gotten the good, bad and ugly of it!

Q) Your music has amassed over two million streams independently and caught the attention of high-profile GRAMMY® Award-winning producers and musicians such as the late LaShawn “Big Shiz” Daniels [Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez], Novel, Adrian “Drop” Santella [Diddy, Pitbull, Kanye West], and Bart Schoudel [Selena Gomez]. Your 2019 single “Breathe” tallied over 1 million YouTube views and 260K Spotify streams with broadcast support from BET. On its heels, “Coolin’ It” put up over 500K Spotify streams and counting. What does it mean to you to have such a praise to the meaningful music that you make?

A) One word: SURREAL. My brain-dead ass can’t process that part of my career at all yet. Even though those numbers are crazy, and I feel so grateful, for some reason I can’t wrap my head around it. Also, you gotta remember you can have done so much but still not have had so many experiences. For example: Only once has someone approached me because they knew my music. That probably hit me the hardest. Maybe it’s because it’s putting a face to the “views” if that makes sense. So, though I am so grateful for the praise online, I can’t wait to transfer that to live shows, meet and greets, and in person interaction with my supporters because my gut tells me that’s when it will really hit me.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) This list is truly endless. Every time a hear a song I like I fantasize about what it would be like to be in that environment where that music came to life and to feel that musician’s energy in their creative atmosphere. I have to be that girl and just drop a short version of the long list because ya girl is trying to manifest out here! Kehlani, Rihanna, Kiana Lede, Blood Orange, Beyonce, Lady Gaga, Zed, Frank Ocean, LIZZO, Syd, SZA and the list goes on. Working with any of those names would blow my mind.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) For a good minute, I have playing the hell out of “Hive Mind” by The Internet and I’m still obsessinggggggg. It’s so cool, different, but classic. I love them because, musically and lyrically, I just get the language they are speaking. They know how to move me and get me in the zone of the song every time.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) Music is made to be shared. A song just isn’t fully a song if no one is able to connect with it. So as much as I do honestly hate social media from the bottom of my heart, I am grateful for it. It’s crucial for self-starters and people investing in themselves. Though I chose this career because music heals me, I hope that vibration is felt among as many people as possible.

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of you and your music?

A) I want to say thank you!  I wish I could sit and say that in person because it’s from a deep place. I guess would also say stick with me. My music isn’t toping any charts and still needs time to season but this is the reason I live and that’s going to help me bring something special to this world. Keeping passionate people around you is good for the soul. I hope my passion and light can rub off on you though my art. I love you!

 

 

Watch The Video For “GO”