Catch Lexi Jayde on tour this week!
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Singer-songwriter Lexi Jayde is currently embarking on her debut Australian tour. We caught up with the singer in Sydney to chat about the run of shows, meeting her devoted fans, new music and so much more.
Having already taken to the stage supporting GRAMMY® Award-winning musician, songwriter and producer FINNEAS, Jayde is set to host her own headline shows this week. Kicking off at The Lansdowne in Sydney tonight, the singer will then travel to Melbourne where she will play The Toff on February 8. Jade will also support FINNEAS at the Forum in Melbourne on February 7.
Having earned a legion of fans with her single, drunk text me, Jayde has dropped a string of singles and shared two EP's, most recently the acclaimed closer to closure. Laced with confessional lyricism and glistening melodies, the release marks the end of a chapter for the singer, as she moves towards the release of her long-awaited debut album,
I was at your show last night and the crowd was crazy! They were insane.
Oh my gosh. It was literally, it was insane. I was so not expecting that at all. Actually, I didn't know what I was going to expect, but wow. It really was incredible. And the crowd went crazy, especially as an opener, when something like that happens, I was just over the moon.
Yeah, it was so awesome. I was shooting the show for MILKY and even though I had my earplugs in, because I knew they were going to be loud, the earplugs like did nothing because they were so loud that I still had ringing afterwards.
[Laughs] It's so true.
And so that was your first show in Australia, correct?
Totally!
What's the general take away from night one of the tour for you?
I mean, honestly I just had so much fun. I've never been to Australia so it was a very cool experience. I've loved Sydney so far. It's so beautiful and everybody's just so kind and so welcoming and so supportive and it really couldn't have gone better last night. I also just feel so lucky to be opening for FINNEAS, so it was just, it was awesome. I feel very grateful,
Now, you've got another show with FINNEAS, but more excitingly, you have two headline shows of your own next week, which is super awesome. Obviously, I know what your live show is like, but for anyone who hasn't seen you perform yet, what can they expect? What do you have in store for your audience?
I think my live shows are just so much fun. I feel like, I don't make it just like a show. I feel like I try my best to connect with the audience as much as I can. Almost like we're all hanging out in a way, but I am playing music [laughs], and it's just really fun. It's very therapeutic, I have to say. If you've been through anything crazy recently, screaming the lyrics to my songs or even if you don't even know the words, if you just come and just scream with everyone. It's very therapeutic and it's just like a little family every time and it's a good time. Always, always.
I definitely got that family vibe and like it's a bunch of friends hanging out. I know you're playing The Landsdown, which is like this good luck venue. I feel like anyone who plays The Landsdown, they just come back to Australia and they keep playing bigger, bigger and better venues.
That makes me, yeah, I'm so excited. The fact that I was able to do my own shows out here was just really cool.
How important is live music and performing to you, not only in terms of showcasing your art, but also making that in-person connection with the audiences who do resonate with your music?
I honestly think it's the most important thing to me. I've always loved performing my entire life and my entire career. It's been one of my favourite things about music. But connecting with those fans and people that listen to my music, especially when I'm all the way across the world right now and I'm able to, you know, meet the fans that live in Australia, it's really just a blessing. I feel grateful every day that I'm able to go and travel and meet so many people around the world. But genuinely, it is the most important thing for me. My fans mean everything to me. I wouldn't be where I am right now without the fans, they are why I do this. So when I can perform, and I mean yes, it's fun to perform my songs, I'm obsessed with it, but that's just like the bonus. The fact that I get to be in a room with a bunch of awesome people is just the best part.
Oh, that was so lovely, that was so nice. What are your top three favourite songs of your own to perform live? The three that have to be in every set list.
That's good, that's hard. drunk text me for sure, always drunk text me. hate to be you is so fun just because it's such an angsty, angry breakup song and that one's always fun to scream. I don't know, the last one. I really honestly love performing all of them, so this is like super difficult. Either newberry park or gentle, I would say. Actually what's the matter with you has been really fun because that was my latest single, so that one has been really fun to perform recently. Um, I'll choose that one. what's the matter with you for sure.
Love it. So speaking of what's the matter with you, like you said it's the latest single, can you kind of tell us a bit about that song, what it's about and the process working on it?
Yeah, of course. I actually wrote that song with FINNEAS and we wrote it last year in the middle, I think of the middle of 2022. Aaron Forbes and FINNEAS produced it and they're incredible. It's really funny because it's actually not a sad breakup song for once [laughs]. I originally had gone into the session wanting to write about this awesome boy who had come into my life and I just wasn't ready for a relationship. And you know, I think I've always been very honest and vulnerable with my fans and just with people in general in my life. I think from going out of that crazy breakup, going into this like, awesome thing that was right in front of me, I feel like that's not really talked about much. The in between stage of a breakup and then trying to like fall in love again. So I really wanted to express those emotions and tell that story and that's how what's the matter with you came to life. I just was very, I was very upset at the boy for coming into my life because he was so perfect and I just, it was like right person, wrong time, but you know, we got what's the matter with you out of it. So it was worth it [laughs].
It was all worth it, the timing made sense now [laughs]. Is there like a particular line, lyric or musical motif from that song that you find will get stuck in your head more often than not? Or maybe like a line that you're most proud?
I love the pre obviously the chorus. When I say "what's the matter with you?" it always gets stuck in my head. The melody is so catchy. But the pre like "when you caress my face and kiss my waist, it's so underrated." I love that line so much and I love the melody. Honestly, every every part of that song I'm obsessed with.
[Laughs] It's good to be obsessed with your own song!
You I wouldn't want other way [laughs].
Exactly, because you are the one who gets out there every night and has to sing it and it I imagine it would really suck if you hated your own song.
If you hate your own song, don't put it out. That's my advice right there [laughs].
You released so much good music in 2022. You had your project closer to closure, which was so beautiful. But what's the go for 2023? What are you kind of working towards? An album, EP, more singles, more touring? What do you want to conquer this year?
Oh my gosh, this year is filled with so many incredible things. I'm just so excited for what 2023 has to hold. Already it's been the most incredible year. I'm currently writing my debut album, which will be coming next. I'm currently finishing it right now, still on the writing process. I'm just really working hard to make sure it's the best project I've ever made and, you know, it's a debut album, you only get it once. So I just, I'm a perfectionist and I really want it to be awesome and it's been so exciting. There's so much that's gonna happen this year. Definitely more touring, lots of touring. A lot of fun, exciting things that I can't talk about. But we will get there eventually. And honestly, things change all the time. Who knows what will happen. I'm just, I'm here for the ride and looking forward to it. This is gonna be a good year, my year for sure. Hopefully.
That is very exciting! I would guess writing a debut album is a bit daunting because like you said, you only get to do it once. Do you find that you've maybe had like a new or different process you're undertaking going into working on this body of work?
So at the beginning it was really difficult because I, you know, for the first time in my life I wasn't in love. I wasn't heartbroken and I'd just written this whole project about this breakup. So going into it I was like, 'okay, not talking about that because that's no longer in my life and I am not in love. I'm not heartbroken. I gotta dig deeper into my brain and in my heart and really tell some stories that I've been afraid to talk about or just talk about things that I haven't talked about in my life yet'. So I was kind of forced to dig a little deeper into my skin and kind of figure out, 'okay, what do I wanna talk about that I haven't talked about yet? What, what can I do differently? Like, how can I explain this story and say it in a way that's never been said before?' So it really has been an incredible process and, you know, I always have the same writing process. The way I write songs will never change. But yeah, I'm working with the same people that I love to work with. We all kind of have our own thing when we go into the room together and yeah, it's just been, it's been super fun. It doesn't feel like work, which is the best part.
I love that. I like how of not being in love whilst writing the record, so you explored new things to talk about. I always think about something Taylor Swift said, I think it was like when the Lover album was coming out, and she was like, 'oh, I was really happy so I couldn't really write breakup songs' and then she had to look at things differently and also see if she could still write breakup songs whilst she was in a happy place. Obviously a bit different to what you've just said, but that same idea of looking for something new or from a new perspective.
It's crazy because there's obviously always like 'situationships' and like things in the picture, but not like one specific thing, you know? So I'm kind of just talking about everything, about like growing up and being a teenager. I'm not a teenager anymore, but just being young and in your twenties, figuring life out. There's so much to talk about, you know? So it'll be good.
I can't wait to hear it, hopefully soon! Obviously you are in Australia, super fun. I know you've not been here long and I believe you've only been in Sydney so far, so what have been your most memorable moments outside of the shows so far in Sydney? Have done any of the fun tourist activities or done exploring yet?
So I definitely have some plans to do the touristy things the next few days I'm here. So far I've kept it pretty chill. Me and like everybody that's here right now, like my team and then like FINNEAS and his team, we all went to dinner the other night, like when we first landed. And I think that was, I think the most memorable part because we were all just like in Sydney together having so much fun. Yesterday I also I went to the [Sydney] Opera House. I didn't go to it, but I watched it from afar. I was like, 'oh, it's real. Like it actually is a thing.' And the Botanical Gardens I went to as well and saw this insane spider that was so big and I wanted to actually cry. So that was not a highlight, but the whole day was a highlight. It's awesome. The weather's great, the people are nice. It feels like a hybrid of all my favourite cities in one. It's been fun so far, I'm excited to go to the beach and explore more around.
GET TO KNOW LEXI JAYDE
Biggest musical influences?
I don't really have like one specific one. I'm kind of just obsessed with everyone. But probably like early Taylor Swift, young Miley Cyrus era, Elton John, Billy Joel, Fleetwood Mac, Kasey Musgraves, I could go on, but those are some people that I really love.
Back it. 7 Things is such a good song, even like 15 years later,
Right? I grew up on like early, like Hannah Montana, like Miley Cyrus and The Climb is my favorite song ever. Still to this day, obsessed with it. You can't go wrong with some Miley.
Dream collaboration?
Oh gosh, that's so tough. Oh my God, that is the the hardest question I think anybody's ever asked me. I mean, I guess like, maybe it's so basic, but probably like Taylor Swift. I feel like it would just be so awesome. Either Taylor or like maybe, gosh, either Taylor or like Zach Bryan. Zach Bryan is one of my favourite artists. I would do anything to work with Zach Bryan. That's definitely my top for sure.
An album that has had the most impact on you?
Golden Hour by Kasey Musgraves.
What are you thinking whilst you're performing?
Usually I just black out. But honestly recently, so when I started performing I just like blacked out and forgot everything and would go off stage and be like, 'oh my gosh, what did I just do?' But I recently, when I went on my headline tour, and even just the show we played last night, I've been just so much more present in the moment and just like having fun and enjoying everything. I no longer forget what happened on stage, but yeah, there's always a moment on stage where you're just like, 'oh my God, this is actually happening, this is real. Like, oh my gosh'. And of course you're thinking about like little things like, 'okay, I gotta hit this note right now' or 'oh my gosh, those people in the audience are so awesome. Like, oh my God, they're screaming my lyrics. Oh my God, that's so cool. Oh my God, wait, I have to sing this next song. What's the next song?' There's so many things going on, but you, it's just trying [to] be present and knowing that 'okay, I've got this, I've been doing this my whole life. Like I need to not freak out and I need to just enjoy this moment.' And I've been doing that recently and it's been awesome.
Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus?
Funny enough, my friends call me Hannah Montana because I live so many different lives. I just think it's so funny because I'm like, I kind of am like a modern Hannah Montana. This is so fun. But oh God, honestly, probably, probably Miley Cyrus She is, you know, behind the wigs.
What was the first song you loved to sing?
Ooh this is a good one. I remember very vividly the first time I really like heard a song. I forgot the name of it. I think it's called Live Like You Were Dying. I'm trying to remember the name of it. I basically was in the car with my parents and my parents played me so much awesome music when I was younger. That's why I feel like I've been so inspired by so many awesome, classic artists. But there was this one song that I remember I sang like for the first time with my parents in the car and my mom called my dad outside and was like, 'you need to see, you need to see her sing this song. Like, she's hitting all the notes'. It's the one where it's like "I went sky diving, I went Rocky Mountain climbing.'
What was the first concert you went to?
Technically The Wiggles, but if you're really counting like first, first concert, Miley Cyrus.
What about the best concert you've been to?
Ooh, that's so tough. Okay, I have three and I'm gonna name all of them. Zach Bryan, one of the best concerts I've ever seen. I went to Hyde Park in London, British Summertime, the festival, and I saw Elton John and it was one of the best times I've ever had in my entire life. And then also while I was there I saw Kasey Musgraves and I was bawling my eyes out because I love her so much. So I've honestly, because I'm such a music girl, I enjoy every concert I go to, so it would be so hard to really decide my favourite.
Would you rather be a Spice Girl or a Backstreet Boy?
A Spice Girl!
Do you have a show you've performed that stands out as the most memorable?
Probably my first LA headline show at the Troubadour. I played a sold out show and it was just so magical and I genuinely will never forget it.
An artist that you think has had the most influence on the music industry?
I mean, honestly I feel like for a lot of young woman artists I would say Taylor Swift. She's such a big one, I mean even guy artists, like, I feel like she really made such an impact for everyone. Or at least for me.
What advice would your current self, give to your future self, for a year from now?
Just enjoy every second of all of this. Don't forget that you're a human and it's okay to feel emotions and you're gonna be fine and don't stress out. You're good and you're living your dreams. So enjoy the moments and know that it comes with highs and lows and even on the lows, enjoy the lows because it lows don't come without highs. Just have fun, you're so young. You've got so much life to live and everyone's proud of you and you're kicking butt. I could say so many things, but I think those are like the main things I would say.
The moment you knew you wanted to be a musician?
I think I've always really known. Since I was six years old I think it's always been in the back of my head. But I think when I got older and really became a teenager, as you know everyone's kind of starting to think, 'oh, what am I gonna do with my life?' Or, you know, 'what do I want?' And I think I knew at a very young age, I would say probably around like 12, 13. I knew that I wanted to do that for the rest of my life. No turning back since then. This is it [laughs].
LEXI JAYDE HEADLINE SHOWS
SYDNEY (18+) February 6 - The Lansdowne
MELBOURNE (18+) February 8 - The Toff
FINNEAS OPTIMIST TOUR
MELBOURNE (All Ages) February 7 - Forum