Today we’d like to introduce you to Jade Hassouné
Hi Jade, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born in Lebanon and followed my parents as a baby (1year old) as they escaped the war in Lebanon, we made a stop in Geneva (Switzerland) for 3 years while we waited to find out where we would be taken as refugees. Canada was the one and I moved there and grew up there most of my life in Montreal, Quebec.
My mom played piano since I was little and her father was a painter and so I was always influenced by the arts as a little kid.
When I was 10 years old I walked on stage for the very first time to do an acting scene and I had, what I could only describe as, a vision of my future, it’s like my heart expanded and I just knew in that moment, where I was headed and what I would be doing for the rest of my life.
From that moment on I became tunnel vision focused on becoming an actor (while knowing that somehow someday I would also become a pop music artist via my acting path).
I ended up doing anything and everything I could do to get me there. All after-school theatre training, art class, dance class, etc. I did nothing else but the arts.
I then decided to go to theatre school where I trained in professional theatre acting for 3 years and I was fortunate enough to book my first contract while in school (a 9-month tour of Canada). While I was still in theatre school I was also part of a reality tv show called Triple Sensation which allowed me to train with the greats of the Broadway world. The following year after I graduated theatre school, at the end of my tour, I signed with my first (and still to this day) ancting agent. I literally showed up at the door and said “hey I’m Jade and I’m looking for an agent”.
That year I started to book work (there’s a theme where I travel for work and it keeps repeating in my life, obsessed.)
One of my first movie contracts , flew me to Brussels Belgium to shoot a scene (the same week the Lady Gaga – Born This Way album came out.)
I then shortly after that got my first supporting role in a Disney teen film called Cyberbully with Emily Osment (I know you’ve watched it 😂) where I got to play a gay highschool kid (goals) who was bullied (less goals but so glad I got to support people that way).
10 years later Disney (ABC Family/ now Freeform) hired me again as Meliorn (the epic knight elf/faerie) in the hit show Shadowhunters. Which literally changed my life in the way I was dreaming as a kid (remember that vision I had? Yep.)
There were many other projects that gradually brought me to that point, that would all take forever to write.
In 2018 I started my music career as J4DE (fully independently and totally clueless about the music industry). I learned what I could and had many ups and downs. Within 2 years I was already playing on the radio.
In 2019 one of my biggest dreams came true and I got to be a guest Judge on the very first season of Canada’s Drag Race (Mama Ru said my name 😵)
From 2016-today I’ve been travelling the world meeting the Shadowhunters fandom and sharing our love. Blessed beyond measure. I started my transition to Los Angeles.
4 year lockdowns and curfews blocked the momentum I had built but now things are picking up again.
I’m now in the best place music-wise that I’ve ever been. And this new single Radio Silence marks the beginning of a new era where my teenage dreams can fully take form.
I’m also currently applying for my greencard and just moved out of my place to start my move to Los Angeles and continue following my dream life.
If you are different, queer, an outsider in any sense and have big dreams, I’m here to remind you, that you are DESTINED to live out your wildest dreams. All you have to do, is allow yourself to trust that they are GUARANTEED as long as you follow that feeling in your heart. It is there to guide you, one step at a time.
What tiny step, no matter how tiny, can you take today that will bring you closer to that dream? I believe in you. I love you.
Thank you!
J4DE | Jade Hassouné
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?
Not a smooth road AT ALL 😂 although it might seem that way because I’m a very positive energetic person. And also since so many of my (specific) dreams have come true, people assume that I’ve had it easy.
But to start, I grew up as a war refugee in a new country where I was automatically considered an outsider, and to add to that I am also a queer man from a Middle Eastern culture that doesn’t accept that.
I’ve been an outsider in every aspect of my life, I don’t feel I belong to any of these, which has forced me to find my truth within myself and has forged a strong confidence that is almost a survival mechanism.
Since the beginning of my journey I had been constantly reminded by people around me that my dream was “unrealistic” and even been felt to be delusional by some of my closest friends (ex-friends).
Luckily I’ve been stubborn AF as a kid and have not accepted those ideas. It served me really well.
Along the way there have been SO MANY “Nos” and so many “almost but not quite”. I’ve had to deal with major disappointments, and see other people receive the success I so desperately wanted myself. But all of these steps were necessary for me to receive MY OWN version of success.
In music, I’ve had to fight hard and long for people to take me seriously as a pop star. I’ve been lied to, ghosted, cheated, devalued and made to feel small and not worthy. I’ve been told that I’m just not interesting enough for people to care about “my message”.
All these things, I now realize, are part of building success. SO BRING OBSTACLES ON!!!
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
J4DE (born Jade Hassouné) artist, actor, singer, and dancer, (with a mentor vibe teaching Manifestation to anyone who will listen).
My music synthesizes infectious pop songwriting, an iconic queer aesthetic, and fantasy worldbuilding akin to Shadowhunters, the wildly popular Netflix television series in which I play fan-favorite character Meliorn.
I’m also know for a supporting role in Heartland (CBC), for being a guest judge on the first season of Canada’s Drag Race (biggest dream come true yet), and headlining the closing show of the 2021 Montreal Pride, one of North America’s largest Pride festivals.
As an automatic outsider (being a refugee in a new country and also being gay from a middle-eastern culture that doesn’t accept that) I vow to be a beacon for others facing similar conflicts.
My moto: “Dreams do come true—that’s the one recurring theme in life. Especially when it seems like it will never happen, if you’re able to somehow keep that spark alive, it will reveal itself to you again and again.”
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
Oh my. My parents for showing me that you can start from literally nothing and become something. Also you can start over again and again.
My brother for being the person who loves me the most in this world (sometimes at a cost, big brothers sometimes 😤😂) Love him to death.
Every single one of my acting teachers , dance teachers , mentors, who pushed me to learn about myself, to journal, to meditate, to go within.
And most recently, thanks to Manifestation Babe, Mel Robbins, Jesse Wynyard, and the other coaches who helped me bounce back when I thought my life was over because of a deeply painful breakup and the situation of the world (remember the Lockdowns?)
And how could I forget: Forever shoutout to Abraham Hicks (Jerry & Esther Hicks), Louise Hay and the entire Hay House team for endless content and books to support us in Manifesting our dreams. (My true obsession in life).
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadehassoune
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561596269934&mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jadehassoune?lang=en
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@j4de823?si=oJSs0yU1wHw0Ma4l
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@j4dehassoune?_t=8o2pfI8g9Th&_r=1
Image Credits
Blue background pic & first pic I sent you with black background: Jules Bedard
Concert microphone pic: Mathieu Morin
Canada’s Drag Race: Jackie Brown
Speedo Popsicle pic: Alex James
Red carpet, purple (black mesh top): George Pimentel
Gloves pic: Alejandra Carranza
On set Shadowhunters armour elf Trailer pic: from my iPhone
