Today we’d like to introduce you to JADE.
Hi JADE, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love for storytelling began when I was 8. I couldn’t stay off the stage. My organic love for both music and acting led me to USC where I’d study Theatre (Acting) in the School of Dramatic Arts. I also studied songwriting and took vocal lessons at the School of Thornton.
When I graduated from school after having been the lead in many of the school productions, I was awarded a David Dukes Scholarship which is awarded by the board to the top two acting students in the school for Seniors. When I got out of school, however, I quickly realized that the bubble that was USC was very different from being an artist in real life.
So I set my sights on building an enterprise for my work, TS2 Enterprises.
That company would be where I would house my music copyrights (TS2 Publishing) and pursue the world stage as a recording artist and actress. Now, today, I am in the midst of my first publicity campaign promoting my debut EP, Contact, distributed through my own publishing and record label, TS2 Records.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No. It’s been really painful and lonely. Isolation was my norm.
I’ve lost so many friends. I put all of my time, energy, and focus into my work and studies. Feeling left out and alone was a hard journey for me. There was no one I could relate to for a long time, so I had to lean on faith to be strong. Oftentimes, I was not.
However, the discipline my painful path has birthed in me is incomparable. It has definitely made me a stronger artist and CEO.
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?
My name is JADE (@thisisjadej) and I am a recording artist and actress. I specialize in the art of storytelling and I do so best through songs I’ve self-written and characters I play both in theatre and on TV/Film.
I am most proud that I am not only an artist but a CEO, running my own enterprise (TS2 Enterprises). My purpose for this is to do what I love on the highest level all while building up the local community in a way I wish someone had done for me when I first graduated from USC.
Pursuing my path both as an artist and a boss gives me the opportunity to lift myself up and others.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The Covid-19 crisis taught me that nothing is guaranteed. I wrote my EP, Contact, during the quarantine. It was my way of escaping the pain of the world and imagining myself in one I could only dream of.
It felt like nothing would ever be the same. It was a terribly painful time for us all in one way or another, and for me, I feel like I am only just now understanding how deeply it has affected me. If there are any lessons I’ve learned it’s that tomorrow isn’t promised, and no matter what, doing what you love is necessary.
It also taught me that people have to have a strong will to survive to do so, and it made me appreciate the resilience in myself and those around me much more.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: www.thisisjadej.com
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/thisisjadej
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/thisisjadej
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/thisisjadej
- Youtube: www.YouTube.com/thisisjadej
- SoundCloud: www.Soundcloud.com/thisisjadej
Image Credits
Betsy Newman and Von Robinson
