If there was one silver lining to the pandemic, it was that it afforded a lot of us pause for thought.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Arthur Rene Walwin
I was certainly one of those people, and another was Lady Nade, a Bristol-based musician who is new to our blog.
“With nowhere to run and nothing to distract me, I had to face myself and work out what I truly needed for good mental health when I was in deep periods of anxiety, rather than relying on external things,” she says, reminiscing on the time. “That reflection took me back to childhood, losing my grandmother at a young age and experiencing the absence of my dad and being the only girl out of seven children.”
That mental health journey was the origin of One of Us, her latest single. “Writing One of Us was a way to transform my anxiety and awareness into something healing for myself,” she explains. “Sobriety was also part of my process of understanding how coping mechanisms like busyness, drinking or smoking were connected to generational patterns.
“Writing One of Us was a way to transform that awareness into something healing for myself, and I hope for anyone who might see their own experiences reflected in it.”
I could certainly see it, having been on a similar journey over the past five years.
The track hits you instantly with its soulfulness. A chanting vocal pleads: “one of us has got to break the chain,” meditating on generational trauma. Lady Nade certainly has a striking voice, and it suits the laidback yet urgent style of the track perfectly.
Growing up, she was inspired by classic artists like Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Nina Simone, Joan Armatrading, Ben Harper, David Bowie, and Led Zeppelin, and you get a sense of those inspirations in One of Us through its timeless sound.
A big finish proves a final highlight, showing us her ear for composition.
One of Us is an introduction to Lady Nade for us, but she’s hardly an unknown. She’s an award winner with plenty of recognition from industry tastemakers such as Cerys Matthews, Mark Radcliffe, and ‘Whispering Bob’ Harris. A successful crowdfunding effort proves her popularity among her fanbase too.
I asked her how it feels to get this recognition.
“It still feels unreal,” she admits. “I won my first songwriting award when I was fourteen and I saw it as a sign from the universe to keep going. Winning more songwriting awards and being nominated for songs I’ve written feels incredible.
“When I write, I always hope my songs touch people and that my lyrics, voice, and music truly resonate. It’s such a validating and heart-warming feeling, filled with admiration, abundance, and gratitude.”
On her journey into music, she says “I started writing when experiencing grief at a young age. Writing and singing were, and remain, my tools of comfort through hard times, but also in times of joy.”
One of Us is the second single from Lady Nade’s upcoming album, Identity, set for release next year. I asked her about the album.
“You only get to know this information in advance if you were one of my lovely crowdfunders,” she replies cheekily, “…but as you asked so nicely, I’ll give you a little teaser. Identity is all about embracing your journey, breaking barriers, and becoming your most authentic self. It’s also about transformation, resilience, and empowerment.”
It sounds like a strong collection that I can’t wait to delve into. I hope you’re excited too.
Until then, you can listen to One of Us below. If you’re Bristol-based, you can also catch her hosting a monthly music night on the MV Balmoral Boat.
Supported by Musosoup #SustainableCurator
