Today we’d like to introduce you to Jadé Makayabo.
Hi Jadé, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been singing since I could talk, I always say. Growing up in a Congolese household, music was the most constant thing in our culture. Because of my culture, I grew up with a love for music, dance, and performing. My mom used to tell me I’d hold her hostage in the living room so she could watch me perform when I was little. I was grateful to have parents who saw my passion at a young age and did whatever they could with what they had at the time to help push me forward and succeed. I grew up singing in school, in church, and anywhere else I was allowed… or not allowed. I even auditioned for things like America’s Got Talent, where I did a very strange Taylor Swift mashup. My family still jokes about it to this day. I love you, Taylor! Anyway, when it finally came time for me to start thinking about university, I ended up going into a business degree cause I just didn’t see a path for me in music there. I even almost gave up my dream of becoming a singer altogether as I was having an existential crisis about what I was doing with my life. I let low self-esteem and the fact that I didn’t succeed at a younger age like most artists have keep me from pursuing a gift I know God placed in my heart for a reason. My first full year of university was emotionally brutal, but it was there that I told myself I wouldn’t give up on this. It’s the only thing I’ve wanted and worked for my entire life. I have the song “I” by Kim Taeyeon to thank for this realization. When this song was released, I felt like she was singing to me. So, I started making K-pop covers on Soundcloud, which I don’t advise you to look up cause they are so old! I also started a youtube channel. I tried my best to write/ produce my own music, and I eventually did release my first project on my own called “Phase” on Spotify in 2018. All of this led to one faithful day at my 8-5 when my friend had asked if I wanted to join him for a dance class he was going to that night. I said obviously, and we went, and it was such an amazing class. When we left for the night, I saw a woman waiting to close the building outside, and she looked so familiar. I couldn’t figure out where I had seen her so I kept awkwardly staring without trying to be seen, but that ultimately failed. I finally realized I was looking at the first vocal coach I ever had back in the 8th grade. So, I went up to her to confirm, and she really was my past vocal coach. I’ve been working with her ever since that day. She has helped me with my confidence as an artist and just as a person in general, and I am really grateful for what she does and the opportunity she gives up-and-coming artists in the community.
That is how I got here, and I am still on my way but with a better mindset and a team of people who care about my growth as a person and an artist.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has not been smooth, but it was needed. I struggle a lot with confidence in myself and my skills. I also had extremely low self-esteem, that I developed in high school. I grew up with a very sheltered upbringing so I’d like to think once I started seeing the world outside of that, it scared me a lot. As much as I love my parents, I didn’t feel prepared for what the world had to throw at me. But going through experiencing things like anxiety and depression for the first time in my life really made me shift my perspective. I had always been the bubbly outgoing girl that loved to talk with everyone and wasn’t afraid of anything. Suddenly becoming extremely introverted, anxious, easily embarrassed, and shy was not something I would have predicted for myself, but it is who I had become. I’ve had to learn how to rise above it so I can continue to create music. I am still learning how, and it’s helping me to get out of my comfort zone. I hope that, with everything I have experienced. As an artist, I can help someone who is going through the same thing too.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m an Rnb/ Pop artist who loves to experiment with sounds. I learned to do everything. I write, produce, dance, and create art. When it comes to production, I produce what I love regardless of genre. If I like how it sounds, it’s going in the track! When I am selecting sound, I tend to gravitate towards the ones that sound “weird,” or you wouldn’t expect I want to write and produce for myself, but I also would love to write for others as well. I love listening to indie/pop a lot, so currently, my favorite thing has been trying to incorporate those elements into my music.
Dancing has always been a love of mine as well and was exacerbated with the debut of Girls Generation (SNSD) in 2007. My love for Jpop started at a young age, but my introduction to Kpop began when I stumbled upon an MV for Genie by Girls Generation on youtube. I’ve been singing and dancing along ever since. I can definitely say K-pop and Afrobeats are my favorite things to dance to. I’m very Type A, so I love me some good choreography. Give me that all day and I will run with it. Tell me to freestyle, and you might want to reconsider your request.
Writing-wise, it’s always been different for me. When you close your eyes, and I say, “Imagine a red apple,” can you see it in your head? Is it vivid? Is it kind of faded? Well, I can’t see anything but the back of my eyelids. It’s just dark! It got the name “Aphantasia” a few years ago, but imagine being such a visual person and creative but not being able to see it in your head. I think that is why I have resorted to other methods when it comes to my writing/creating. When I dream, sometimes they are really vivid, and other times I don’t even remember having one. When I daydream though, I don’t see anything. It’s more like the idea of it is what I am doing. With music, it’s always said to write from your experiences. Growing up like I did, I don’t feel I have experienced a lot yet. So, I often used inspiration from books, tv shows, or stories I had made up. My lyrics typically start as stories or poems I’ve written and sometimes dreams or daydreams I’ve had. My goal as an artist who writes is to take this collection of poems that I love and turn it into an album so I can tell that story with music and visuals.
I would say I am known for being a Renaissance woman. I want to be good at many things and want to create in many ways. I believe what sets me apart from everyone isn’t my skills but my perspective. Someone once told me my perspective is the best thing I can give to the world. So, I want to grow and share my perspective while using music and creation to do it.
What does success mean to you?
Success is when I can make a full-time living doing what I love most. I don’t have to be on the biggest stages in the world to be successful. I just want the ability to freely create and not have to clock in at 8.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadeinthelife/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@jadeinthelife
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@jadeinthelife?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
