In the video for her new single “Fantasy,” Jade appears through a pastel-hued haze like a mirage. Under the glitter and twinkle of a disco ball, the spotlight falls on her curls and spangly, Bob Mackie-inspired golden mini dress; in an homage to musical variety shows like American Bandstand and Soul Train , she vamps on a stage in front of a crowd of dancers, her star power shining as brightly as the sequins that trail from her gown. Until, that is, a drag queen sneaks into the party and tips a bucket of blood over her head from on high.
As the stage set begins to fall apart and the dancers scramble in horror, a gore-covered Jade tilts her head like a zombie, eyes popping like Sissy Spacek’s in Carrie. It’s glamorous, campy, and a little twisted—which is to say, it couldn’t feel more Jade. Over just three singles and two videos (including “Fantasy,” which was directed by none other than David LaChapelle), the singer, once known as one-quarter of the chart-topping British girl band Little Mix, has established her identity as a solo artist with laser focus.
First, there was her audacious debut “Angel of My Dreams”—a bold and delightfully bonkers rollercoaster ride charting her journey from The X Factor hopeful to fully fledged pop star across multiple tempo changes; then, her follow-up promotional single, the sultry “Midnight Cowboy,” which featured more of her signature winking wordplay (“I’m the ride of your life, not a rental,” she sings, “I.