Chelsea Jade is exploring the “cheeky fun” of improvisation
With hair wet from a swim in Point Chev, the LA-based artist chats about her new jazz-inspired songwriting, her upcoming NZ shows and the silver lining of the Los Angeles wildfires.
Chelsea Jade (aka Chelsea Metcalf) says Los Angeles - her home since 2015 - is still in recovery mode after January’s devastating fires. In their wake the city’s music community - many of whom lived in the largely destroyed Altadena neighbourhood - has really banded together to take care of each other, she tells Music 101.
At a tiny wine bar, Jade recently teamed up with some LA jazz musicians to test out the songs on her upcoming third album.
“We're exploring the possibilities in real-time with an audience, trying songs in different ways and it's a really exciting way to work. Nice to be away from a computer.”
Chelsea Jade's intelligent, emotionally rich pop songs have earned international acclaim.
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The free-wheeling spirit of improv takes Jade back to the days when she and Liz Stokes from The Beths made up songs about passersby while busking at Botany Town Centre.
“You're going on the fumes of what really exists within you and just rearranging what you know in real-time. It's just like cheeky fun, not too serious, but a very sincere way to do it, I think.”
Chelsea Jade performing at Auckland's Wondergarden festival on December 31, 2017.
Dave Simpson Photography Ltd.
Jade’s upcoming shows at Auckland’s Double Whammy bar (28 March) and Wellington festival Cupadupa (29 March) will continue the “lounge jazz theatre” theme.
For most of the Auckland and Wellington shows, Jade will perform from within the crowd - something she’s done throughout her career but only recently started trying to be more intentional about.
Ahead of her evening set at Cubadupa - her first time at the free Wellington arts festival, she’s excited to explore jazz music and art installations - “It sounds so fun.”
A still from Chelsea Jade's music video for 'Confessions' by Night Party, featuring Hayley Williams.
Via @ @iamchelseajade
While working on her own new album, Jade has been making her name as a music video director - recently for LA band Night Party (featuring Paramore singer Hayley Williams) and San Francisco death metal band Deafheaven.
With a friend and fellow artist, she’s also developing a documentary about Vivian Gornick - the 90-year-old NYC essayist whose words she lives by.
“If I need answers in my life, I consult her texts.”
