QSC Aspiring Interview: Emily Jade on putting in the work and her upcoming EP

Emily Jade has been quietly building her sound and audience behind the scenes for years, and now, she’s ready to shout about it. The soulful singer-songwriter and QSC ambassador joins Headliner to reflect on the graft it’s taken to get to this point, the creative process behind her upcoming EP Liquid Love, and the meaning behind her mantra: play out loud.

Let’s rewind a bit - how did you first get into music?

I remember singing with my mum in the car. Whitney Houston was always playing, and I was obsessed with her from a really young age. I just always wanted to sing. It was a way of expressing myself, especially when I moved to a new school and didn’t really know anyone. I’d lock myself in my room and write songs. It just became my thing.

You’ve built your career from the ground up. What’s that been like?

I’ve done the open mic nights, I’ve played the bars, I’ve been on the circuit. I think you’ve got to work your arse off, basically. That’s what I’ve always done - just kept going and going, and eventually you get to the next stage. There’s no shortcut. I was doing 20 gigs a month at one point just to get myself out there.

You’re also known for being very hands-on with your production. Is that part of the fun or the frustration?

I am a little bit of a control freak! But that’s because I’ve got a sound in my head and I really want it to come through in the music. I love being in the studio, and I love getting my hands on everything - vocals, backing vocals, all of it. But I’ve also learned to let go more and trust the people I work with. Collaboration brings out the best stuff, I think.

You’re gearing up to release your EP, Liquid Love. What can we expect?

It’s a reflection of everything I’ve been through. The highs, the lows, the messy bits in between. Liquid Love is about how love isn’t solid, it’s fluid. It can be chaotic, and it can be beautiful. Each song has its own identity, but they all come from a place of honesty. I’ve poured so much of myself into it.

What track are you most excited for people to hear?

Probably One More Night. That’s the one I can really feel when I perform it. It’s about knowing someone isn’t good for you, but you still want that last moment with them. There’s something really raw and powerful about it.

Let’s talk about this idea of ‘play out loud’ - what does that mean to you?

For me, it’s about being unapologetically yourself. It’s about owning who you are and what you stand for. I used to be quite shy and scared to say how I felt, especially in my songs. But now I’m like, ‘this is me’, and I’m going to be loud about it. That’s what ‘play out loud’ is. Being bold.

And what’s next? Where do you go from here?

I just want to keep building, keep creating and keep connecting with people. I’ve got so many ideas and songs I want to put out. I’d love to do a headline tour, that’s the dream. But right now, it’s about getting Liquid Love out into the world and seeing where it takes me.