Jade Thirlwall Interview
Jade Thirlwall’s latest track, “Angel of My Dreams,” is a belter and marks her debut single since departing from Little Mix—the trailblazing girl group of the 2010s. The song opens with a silky falsetto reminiscent of 90s Eurotrance, before transitioning into a punchy, Drag Race-style chorus. It retains some elements of her previous work with Little Mix but explores a more avant-garde, neon-lit sound, like a remix of their sixth album Confetti.
I’ve waited a long time to you know have my music ready to be able to do this again and now that I’m doing it I’m like yeah I’ve missed this yeah.
This is my first single I wrote it like over a year ago and I wanted it to feel I’ve been describing it as like a pot punchto the face oh I love that just cuz it’s like it’s such a chaotic hyper poop song and I did that intentionally the song is basically about My Kind of Love hate relationship with the music industry over the years you know I’ve been doing this for a while now so I have a lot to say about that so it’s kind of yeah like a love letter to the industry like squashed into this three and a half minute chaotic Pop Song.
The buildup to this release has been intensely secretive. Each day on TikTok, new posts falsely claiming to be Thirlwall’s single surface, sparking fan speculation that proves to be unfounded. A week later, a brief leak of the actual track, recorded on a shaky camera during a Blessed Madonna DJ set, quickly disappeared, igniting a frenzy in pop culture forums as users lamented its removal and urged for its official release.
It has been three years since Thirlwall’s last release (“Confetti” being Little Mix’s final single), a period that feels extended to her fans, who were accustomed to her frequent outputs. Thirlwall herself had adapted to this regular rhythm. “Before, it was such a well-oiled machine, I didn’t even have to think about the process,” she shares via Zoom from her home, with a psychedelic fabric hanging in the background. Her hair falls loosely, and she appears refreshed. “We were together for 11 years, so every album cycle was predictable. This new process has been a significant shift… I had to adjust to a less chaotic mindset and less pressure.”
After Little Mix disbanded, Thirlwall faced a new reality. In her late 20s, she had never previously been left to her own devices. “I remember going into my flat, looking at my empty diary for the first time, and wondering what to do next. It felt like a major shift,” she recalls. To avoid dwelling on the change, she stayed busy with friends, her boyfriend, and a trip to Budapest. “I knew that if I sat still and reflected too much, it would have been overwhelming. Despite having therapy, the transition from a tightly scheduled life to no schedule was daunting. But once I got over that fear, I realized it was incredibly exciting. Now I’m in charge of my own diary.”
Embracing this newfound freedom, she traveled to LA to find new management. “It was liberating to be in control of assembling my team,” she reflects. By then, she had already written several songs, having begun this creative process towards the end of her time with Little Mix. She was no longer the naive 18-year-old who auditioned for The X Factor but had developed a confident self-assurance. “Turning 30 made me care less about external validation. This shift allowed me to be more experimental in my music without worrying about whether it was radio-friendly or TikTok-approved.”
Thirlwall’s solo work delves into themes of entrapment and liberation, exploring the duality of visibility and anonymity. “With the band, there was a formula of girl power and anti-boy sentiment, which we embraced. But going solo, I wanted to experiment more conceptually. I discarded the conventional pop record formula,” she explains. Her song “Angel of My Dreams” reflects her personal journey, encapsulating her complex relationship with the music industry. “The track distills my entire career into a three and a half minute piece. It starts with a nod to The X Factor and transitions into a dynamic representation of my career. I aimed for a theatrical feel, almost like a three-act performance.”
Jade said: “I know I was only eighteen when I got put into Little Mix but prior to that I was like gigging all the time on the North East,
“I was doing my own little shows, writing my own songs. So It’s been like rediscovering myself and what I love about music.”
“I’ve been trying to sample Puppet On A String for years,” she said in a voicenote uploaded to Spotify before Angel Of My Dreams was released.
Music journalist Mark Boardman said “Angel Of My Dreams is a perfect start and it’s so refreshing to see an artist take a risk and not go the classic commercial sound to get a radio hit. You go Jade!”.
What has Jade said about her solo music? “What I’m going for is a pop punch to the face,” said Jade in a statement about the single. “I want people to be like ‘oh my god, I didn’t expect that’ – but then want to listen to it again.”
She continued: “I didn’t want to do a safe first single, that was really important to me.
“I’m setting the tone of who I am as an artist on my own. I want people to hear it and be like ‘what the fuck is that song?’
“My worst nightmare is for someone to hear my song and go ‘that’s nice’.”
JADE – Angel Of My Dreams (Official Video)
Jade has been outspoken on matters such as Black Lives Matter, banning transgender conversion therapy, and supporting Palestinian causes. “Initially, I was hesitant about being so vocal, thinking it might harm my career. But then, after facing criticism from those I felt were the right opponents, I became more driven. As an artist with a large platform, I feel a responsibility to speak out. My Yemeni heritage fuels my passion, particularly around issues like arms sales to Saudi Arabia and Palestinian rights. Although I pondered whether to be outspoken before starting my solo career, I’m at peace knowing I did.”
Thirlwall reflects on why many pop stars avoid political commentary, suggesting it stems from fear of backlash or a belief it’s not their role. “Once you speak out, there’s an expectation to be well-informed. The fear of being called out in interviews is real, but I think it’s unjust. You can just be a decent person and share your knowledge. I always strive to educate myself before speaking on issues,” she says. “In the band, I was more cautious about potential repercussions for others. Now, there’s more freedom to express myself.”
Thirlwall discussed the idea of artists boycotting festivals. She admires those who take a stand but has yet to be in that position herself. “I respect artists who take collective action. If multiple artists agree, change is more likely to occur. It’s the right approach,” she concludes.
Besides her solo music, Thirlwall has consulted an astrologer for guidance on song release dates. “I joked in our group chat about how the astrologer suggested the best days for announcements,” she laughs. “It’s reassuring to hear that I’m considered lucky, though it makes me nervous that it might backfire.”
Jade Thirlwall also revealed it was the success of another North East star, Cheryl, that gave her the ‘confidence boost’ to go solo, as she continues to cause quite a stir with her debut single Angel of My Dreams.
The last of the Little Mix girls to go it alone, Jade followed in the footsteps of Leigh-Anne Pinnock and fellow South Shields singer Perrie Edwards, by releasing a solo track last week, with Angel of My Dreams’ title being projected onto the Angel of the North in Gateshead, as the song was released to streaming platforms worldwide.
While the video for Angel of My Dreams was filmed in London, Jade made sure that a South Tyneside feel was brought to the shoot, with her donning a South Shields FC scarf and eating from a box of Colmans fish and chips, in one of the opening scenes.
The looks, the choreo, the big songs, big choruses — give it to me! That’s what I want and that’s what I want to deliver.”
Me and the girls worked so, so hard right until they end. It was rose-tinted glasses initially. It’s really important for me to surround myself with friends and family at all times to keep me grounded and understand what the bigger goal is. Obviously you have the blanket of the girls around you when you’re handling fame as a group, it tends to be easier. It comes with its troubles obviously — like the comparison thing. Not from each other, but I think when you’re in a girl band, everyone tries to compare you. It’s just natural. We had each other to support through everything.”
She continued, “This is essentially me starting again, so I don’t even know what it feels like fame-wise on my own. I’m really grateful I started this journey now at my age, because I’m just a lot more level-headed. I couldn’t be a solo artist 10 years ago. We’ll see what happens.”
Jade co-wrote Angel of My Dreams in Los Angeles with Steph Jones (who co-wrote Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso), Pablo Bowman (who worked on Miracle by Calvin Harris and Ellie Goulding) and producer Mike Sabbath who collaborated with Raye on her award-winning debut album My 21st Century blues.
“The main concepts of the album are my experiences in the industry, falling in love with Jordan and finding myself again.”
Jade Thirlwall signed a solo record deal with RCA Records in 2022 and so 3 years later we have her debut single ‘Angel Of My Dreams’. Out now.
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