New year needs a new book recommendation … so I asked singer/songwriter Jasmin Bade what she was currently reading. The fellow Harry Potter fan shared she is reading Tom Felton’s Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard. When she told me how Felton shared about mental health, it connected to our first feature (reposted below) for her song, “I’m Fine,” that she co-wrote with Spencer Jordan.
MEDIUM REPOST (APRIL 25, 2019):
My name is Jasmin Bade, born in Melbourne, Australia. I’m 23, have 4 older brothers and was always quite loud and outgoing (and rather annoying), despite being a bit of a perfectionist riddled with anxiety. I partook in all aspects of an active childhood, including being an extremely average basketballer, an okay mathematics student, and a terrible visual artist. The only thing I particularly excelled in was music, where I dabbled in flute, piano, cello, but all the while playing guitar and singing; and also was pretty good at the trombone for a while actually! I grew up with the dream of moving to Nashville and being a singer-songwriter, and went to the Conservatorium of Music at the University of Tasmania 2015–2017; where I got my Bachelor of Music degree. I moved to Nashville in 2018 and here I am!
How did you start getting interested in music and songwriting?
When I was six years old at Christmas time we were visiting my cousins at their place in a town called Ballarat; a couple hours from Melbourne. And they were playing an album called The Captain by Kasey Chambers; who is a household name in Australia, playing country/folk/singer songwriter type music. I had never heard this type of music before and became obsessed immediately. On the car ride home, mum and dad recall that I was singing it the whole way, and they noticed I didn’t sound too terrible. So from then on I pushed and my parents also encouraged me, and I started singing lessons with the teacher I stuck with until I moved states for university.
What are your favorite Kasey Chambers songs? How would you say her music has influenced yours? What other artists have influenced your writing?
My favourite Kasey Chambers songs are probably some of those from her first few albums; such as The Captain, Hollywood and More Than Ordinary. These songs came out nearly 2 decades ago and I’ll still find myself walking around our home singing them.
Kasey’s music influenced me in such a way that although I definitely do have my own voice; I think I listened to her so much and imitated her so much growing up, that the way I sing has to have been affected by her. She showed me that their can be poetry in writing, and that it doesn’t have to be just like a conversation.
Another huge influence on me has been Taylor Swift; who has had such a huge impact on this generation of singer-songwriters; regardless of their chosen genre. Taylor writes from experience, as do I, and she showed me that no matter how specific a song may be, to you and your experience; music can really bring people together and ensure people don’t feel alone.
I also listened to a lot of Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley growing up; probably being the only seven year old in Melbourne, Australia singing Ring of Fire with a band of fully grown men at a country music festival.
Where do you find the inspiration for songs?
As said earlier, I write from experience most of the time. Occasionally it won’t be an experience I’ve had, but maybe one a friend is having or an experience someone has in a film I see. Often I find myself coming back to the topic of love; and I find that it’s very relatable; but sometimes we get so caught up in our own heads; we can’t even think about that. So that’s one of the reasons we wrote this song “I’m Fine.” It’s not a love song, it’s a song that puts the spotlight on mental illness and how media and pop culture often romanticizes it.
Is there anything in particular that you’d like people to take away from listening to your music?
After people hear “I’m Fine,” I’d love for them to feel that someone else understands them and what they or maybe someone they know is going through. I’d like for listeners to understand that although on social media and in some TV shows, mental health issues can seem ‘interesting’ or ‘glamorous’; they are no more interesting than if someone broke their leg or got the flu. They are treatable illnesses that take a lot out of people, and can be worse on some days than others; and there’s nothing wrong with talking about them or getting help. Also, that at the end of the day, we will all be fine.
Can you share the backstory to your upcoming single “I’m Fine”?
“I’m Fine” is really like no other song I’ve written. Before we went into this writing session, my co writer and I, (a close friend, Spencer Jordan), had briefly talked about how the topic of mental health in art, and especially in the south where country music is played a lot; was still a rather under discussed topic, and when it was touched upon, it was quite often romanticized. For example, it’s not hard to find some artsy photo on instagram of someone who’s self harmed or a severely underweight girl nonchalantly looking away from the camera in a bikini with comments of #thinspo or #bodygoals; when to have that body would be at a detriment to our health. Essentially, we had both been affected in one way or another by mental health issues, whether it be with friends, family or ourselves, and we thought it needed to be talked about.
With whom would you sing your dream duet? Taylor Swift maybe?
I often think about who I’d love to sing with the most, and really, it’s hard to beat Taylor Swift. Regardless of her out of this world songwriting ability and her beautiful voice, she always seems to be fully immersed in her performances. It’s like she is the only one in the room when she’s performing solo; and then when she’s singing with someone else, she’s not afraid to shine the light on them and have the coolest dance party you’ve ever seen; but in front of 50,000 people. Also, she just seems super nice and i feel like we’d be super great friends cause i love baking too.
I connected to you through Spencer Jordan — how did you first meet him?
I met my co writer Spencer at a writers round I was playing in the first month or so after I’d moved to Nashville. It was at Alley Taps downtown where he hosts these writers rounds and he was so sweet and made me feel so at home when I basically knew no one in the country.
What are your favorite music venues to play?
Last year I played a lot at The George Jones downtown, and I would play on The Rooftop. It looked over the river and you could see Nissan Stadium and half of Nashville. Every time I was playing and I’d be getting into my third hour in 100 degree heat, all I’d need to do was look out at that stadium, see the river and this town, and I’d remember why I was here; doing what I’m doing. — I had a photo up of that view in my house back in Australia, that’s been up there for years. And to think that I was sitting in that spot, playing music for people who actually enjoyed it, was really a dream come true.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
Some of the best advice I’ve ever been given is definitely from my mum. She used to always say “in the morning everything’s going to be so much better”. And it’s true; if I’m up late at night, stressing about things that need to get done or worrying about things I have no control over, I find it’s just best to go to bed, and the night washes away a lot of that anxiety and unease.
Saw you love elephants too! Guess my love came from my mom receiving an elephant planter when I was born. Anyhow — your best op-shop find to date (an elephant by chance?)? Side note I had to look up op-shop 😉
Best op-shop find to date was a t-shirt mum found from the Taylor Swift Red Tour after she had just been to Melbourne. I’d been to the concert and had mosh pit tickets, but had to trade them for seats as I had my wisdom teeth removed only a few days before and couldn’t risk being bumped. I got sick on the night so was running late and didn’t get to buy a t-shirt and I was so sad. Then mum found one a couple days later at an op shop near our house!
Besides shopping, what do you like to do when you’re not performing?
I LOVE TO BAKE! I love to bake so much that I literally search out or create events that I can bake for so I can make new things and then not have to eat them all. If anyone has a birthday coming up, let me know.
A movie of your life is being filmed — who are the leads?
If a movie about my life was being filmed… someone super chatty would have to play me. I talk incredibly quickly and some people just can’t fake that.
Five things you can’t live without?
Peanut Butter
A GPS (I have ZERO sense of direction)
A guitar
Halo Top ice cream (it’s one of my major food groups)
A cozy blanket (I love to be cozy)
If you were granted one wish, what would you ask for?
That people not feel alone in their suffering; whatever it is they’re going through.
(and also a lifetime supply of Halo Top)
What’s ahead in 2019?
Well we’re hoping that if this single does well, then I’ll get back in the studio and record the next and hopefully have an EP out soon! I’m also hoping to be hitting the road a little later this year and bring my music all across the US, and then will drop back to Aus for a little while so they don’t forget me down there!
I’m Fine
S. Jordan & J. Bade
Verse 1:
I stayed home today cause I don’t have the energy
You say I’m crazy cause I go to therapy
I’m not insane
It’s just that way
All of my friends say that I’m just a pretty mess
Cause I get all my serotonin from CVS
But I’m not feeling glamorous
Chorus:
Mostly I’m just normal, most days I’m ok
But we Dress up our demons for a caption
I call it typical they call it fashion
And I’d be lying if I didn’t say
That I’m more anxious the louder they’re laughing
Cause in my head everyone’s staring at me
Tag:
If you looked inside my mind
I don’t think that you’d romanticize
But I’m fine, I’m fine
Verse 2:
Some kid just overdosed, that’s the 3rd one this week
But they’ll paint it in makeup and call it a movie scene
I don’t want your pity party
I’d just rather leave
Chorus:
Mostly I’m just normal, most days I’m ok
But we Dress up our demons for a caption
I call it typical they call it fashion
And I’d be lying if I didn’t say
That I’m more anxious the louder they’re laughing
Cause in my head everyone’s staring at me
Tag:
If you looked inside my mind
I don’t think that you’d romanticize
But I’m fine, I’m fine
Bridge:
Cause I’m fine
Really I’m fine
Most of the time
Chorus:
Mostly I’m just normal, most days I’m ok
But we Dress up our demons for a caption
I call it typical they call it fashion
And I’d be lying if I didn’t say
That I’m more anxious the louder they’re laughing
Cause in my head everyone’s staring at me
Tag:
If you looked inside my mind
I don’t think that you’d romanticize
But I’m fine, I’m fine
I’m fine, I’m fine
I’m fine, I’m fine
