That's Showbiz Baby! Kiara Says 4/5

Jade Thirlwall was made for the spotlight. After starting her career in the UK pop girl group, Little Mix, Jade’s debut solo album That’s Showbiz Baby! has cemented her spot in pop music forever. Jade has always been my favorite member of Little Mix. Ever since I saw her burgundy hair in Little Mix’s DNA video, I knew she was a star. Now, after ten years in Little Mix and a few years apart to create her first album, That’s Showbiz Baby! proves that Jade is just what pop music needs right now. 

The album arrives after ups and downs in her personal life–whether that be her struggles with the business side of the industry (“Angel Of My Dreams” and “IT Girl”), personal ticks that stem from anxiety (“Glitch”), to feeling insecure about your current partner’s past romances (“Plastic Box”). Each track has an accompanying video, and if your eyes aren’t intrigued, your ears definitely will be. On this album, Jade proves that she is a pop chameleon. 

She exemplified this with her official album release party at 3 Dollar Bill in Brooklyn on Sunday. 

Drag queens performed different tracks from her album, and Jade emerged on the stage with the grace and confidence that only comes from a seasoned performer. She was alone on stage, but commanded it with such presence that you didn’t even notice. The energy in the room was infectious–a mix of long-time fans (like me), and new fans who discovered her through “Angel of my Dreams.” As a long-time supporter of LGBTQ rights, Jade seemed right at home at the gay bar in Brooklyn. 

The elephant in the room was that neither Little Mix or Jade had ever toured the US. They had a tour planned in 2014 after their second album, Salute. But it was cancelled “to focus on writing their third album.” Many fans and Little Mix credit the tour cancellation as the reason why they never gained significant popularity in the US. Jade alluded to that when she mentioned that this performance was “a long time coming.” Thankfully, she announced that she’ll be back to tour the US next year, and teased a return to Brooklyn specifically 

That’s Showbiz Baby! is a perfect reintroduction for Jade; It’s simultaneously sexy, funny, bitchy, and loving. Not only does she understand pop references, but she’s creating her own. Jade has a core fan base, yet knows how to draw attention. She also has the voice of an angel and a decade of experience performing with one of the biggest girl groups of all. But since she hasn’t quite broken through in America as a solo act, she has the drive of a newcomer on the scene. The girls should be scared, because Jade is coming, and she’s coming for it all. And if anyone has any issues with that, well, that’s showbiz, baby!

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