You might have missed the fact that after years of slowly building a fan-base and touring the world, Jade Bird has only just released her debut album this year. Following her breakout success with the single, "Cathedral," and the release of her EP, Something American, the South London artist quickly rose to prominence as one of the most promising up and coming songwriters. From the undeniably catchy "Uh Huh" to the upbeat but melancholy love tune, "Lottery," Jade Bird's self-titled album illustrates how she is wise beyond her years and has the talent to effortlessly draw from a deep emotional well when crafting a song.

The debut album is a remarkable first release and just the beginning for England's newest talent. Beyond the songwriting, Jade Bird brings an aesthetic that makes her stand out among her songwriting peers. The production on the album makes the melodies and her voice cut through the backing instrumentation, and many of the songs feel like they might be the result of "demo-itis." All 12 tracks sound like they could have been a first vocal take accompanied by her guitar or piano.

The album is strikingly agnostic of genre because the songs themselves are incredibly versatile in how they are structured and voiced. Listen to "My Motto" or "If I Die" to hear the power of the combined lyrics and arrangements that are scattered throughout the album. On the first listen you are left feeling that you've heard the perfect contemporary release of 2019.

Jade Bird's self-titled debut album is out now on Glassnote Records.

Resources

Jade Bird - Official Site

Related

• J.S. Ondara, Jade Bird, John Prine among the 2019 Americana Honors & Awards nominees
• Jade Bird performs a MicroShow at the James J. Hill House, 2018
• Jade Bird charms the PledgeHouse audience during SXSW, 2018