Shooting for Constellations with Jade LeMac
Photo by Zachary Vague
[UNPUBLISHED:] How’ve you been? How’s this new year been treating you?
[JADE LEMAC:] So far the new year has been good! I’ve been able to tease some new music from my EP, Constellations that’s coming out in February. It’s been great and I’m excited for what’s to come.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have any resolutions or goals for this new year?
[JADE LEMAC:] I definitely have some resolutions for this year. Some personal growth resolutions, like being healthier, more efficient, and just bettering myself. I also have the goal to continue progressing my career!
[UNPUBLISHED:] Congrats on announcing your debut EP, Constellations, what are you most excited about in regard to the new EP?
[JADE LEMAC:] Thank you! I’m very excited about this EP because it truly is the first chapter to my story and being able to finally finish it and release it is a huge deal. It has been in the works for a while now - starting out with just Constellations, I’ve been slowly watching it grow over the past year and a half. Each song means so much to me, so to be able to put them all together makes the whole project like a little baby to me. I’m beyond excited for the release, and what comes after.
[UNPUBLISHED:] I loved the project! Truly a no-skip EP - where did you find inspiration for it?
[JADE LEMAC:] The inspiration for these songs are somewhat based on the emotions I’m feeling when I am writing them. From there, I let my imagination run with it, and I become a storyteller who gets to create these fictional worlds and stories.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Can you tell us about the inspiration behind the name Constellations?
[JADE LEMAC:] Constellations is the name of the first song I ever released. It was what started my career and without that song, I would not be here today. Naming the EP Constellations just felt supernatural, and I wanted to give a little tribute to what has brought me where I am.
[UNPUBLISHED:] If you could describe the EP as a whole in one word, what would it be and why?
[JADE LEMAC:] Everywhere. I think this EP lands everywhere – you can’t really place emotions when you listen to the differences between each song. One song will be super cute and lovey-dovey, and the next thing you know I’m singing about having the “aim to kill” and I sound crazy. I will say it represents how my brain works – because when I am writing – it’s all over the place up in there!
[UNPUBLISHED:] What was the creative process like writing the EP?
[JADE LEMAC:] I was in a completely different mindset for each song, so there were different processes. For example, “Same Place” is a song very personal to me that I had written about somebody who was very important to me, whereas “Car Accident” is a completely fictional story of something I never personally went through. I had different mindsets for each song, but I made sure to encompass myself in whatever emotions I was feeling during the writing.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have a favorite song off the EP?
[JADE LEMAC:] It’s always so hard to pick a favourite because each one holds a special place in my heart. They were all written during different periods of my life and I spent weeks/months on them. But if I had to pick, my top 3 would be “Constellations,” “Aimed To Kill,” and “Car Accident.”
[UNPUBLISHED:] If you could include any artist on any of the songs off of the EP, who would it be and what song would you feature them on?
[JADE LEMAC:] When I first wrote “Car Accident,” I had originally written it to be a duet. Funny enough, I wrote it about a guy and a girl. So if I could have anybody on that song it would probably be somebody like Shawn Mendes or Justin Bieber. Both artists are huge inspirations to me, and our beginnings in this industry feel very aligned. Maybe one day!
Photo by Zachary Vague
[UNPUBLISHED:] Where would be the perfect environment/place to listen to the EP?
[JADE LEMAC:] I know one song is called “Car Accident” and is about a girl who crashes her car but despite that, I do think the best environment to listen to this EP is in the car. There is just something about blasting music in such a confined space that lets you feel every part and emotion of the song.
[UNPUBLISHED:] You have developed such a large and loyal social following across many platforms, does that affect the way you make music and the type of music you release?
[JADE LEMAC:] I think the main reason I make music is that it is an outlet to express my feelings through storytelling. A lot of the music I make is for me, and I hope that people can relate to how I feel. When I am making the music, I try to be as inclusive as I can and take into consideration what my supporters would want to hear as well. Music is all about feeling, and if it feels right, then it’s right to me.
[UNPUBLISHED:] You’re very open and really show your personality on social media, do you think you are as open in the music that you make?
[JADE LEMAC:] I believe I am very open with the music I create. Even when it comes to fictional stories, there’s always some sort of truth or connection between my feelings and the lyrics. Music has always been the biggest outlet for me, so if anything – I feel I’m probably the most vulnerable in my music and songwriting.
[UNPUBLISHED:] You’ve used your platform to normalize conversations surrounding sexuality which is such an amazing thing. How does it feel to be a creator and an artist that is providing support to their fans navigating that part of themselves?
[JADE LEMAC:] It’s an amazing feeling to be able to be in a position where I can help others through visibility on the internet. Sexuality is a touchy and sometimes scary subject – it’s definitely something I have struggled with a lot in my past – whether I could be bisexual, gay, or whatever. I remember having only a handful of people that I could relate to and look up to, but not that many who could relate to me – a confused, curious, half-Asian, 11-year-old, trying to figure out who I was. To be able to be the person I really needed when I was young is a huge honor.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What has been the most rewarding moment of your career so far?
[JADE LEMAC:] I think the most rewarding moments of my career are just seeing people connect to my music or content. It is the best feeling when I see a message or comment about how I have helped somebody. There really isn’t a better feeling than that.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What do you do when you’re not making music?
[JADE LEMAC:] I am either making content or hanging out with friends and family. Quality time with the people I love is so important to me and so I always make sure to make time for that. I also love going to the arcade.
[UNPUBLISHED:] What is one fun fact about yourself that not many people might know?
[JADE LEMAC:] The first song I ever wrote was actually a re-write of “Stay” by Rihanna and Mikky Ekko. I was in middle school and went through something really stupid with my friends and ended up feeling super emo. That led to me rewriting an even sadder version of “Stay.”
[UNPUBLISHED:] You’re originally from Vancouver, how do you think that has influenced your sound?
[JADE LEMAC:] I don’t know if it’s necessarily influenced my sound, but it has definitely influenced me as a person which then by proxy influences the music I write. I’m a proud Canadian and I am so grateful to be living in such a beautiful city. Everyone I have met here has had something to do with the person I am today, and without all of this, I never would’ve felt the emotions I had while writing all my songs.
[UNPUBLISHED:] Do you have some favorite spots in Vancouver? Give us some recommendations!
[JADE LEMAC:] Central City Fun Park is my favourite arcade. I’ve spent way too much money there. My favourite Thai restaurant is called Sala Thai which is on Burrard St and it’s so yummy. I love just driving around to different viewpoints, especially during nighttime. The city is beautiful when it’s dark out.
