Love at First Listen with Jade Hilton

This time last year, Chinese Canadian singer-songwriter Jade Hilton cemented her position as a breakout country artist with “Dive Bar,” a song inspired by a chance encounter with Kacey Musgraves at an East Nashville dive bar. “I wanted to write a song about how you can be a 5-star superstar and still be kind and genuine and have a dive bar personality,” she explains. “I’m a dive bar!” Flash forward a year, with more singles, showcases and a Breakthrough Artist award nomination under her belt, Jade is ready to take over playlists again with the anthemic “I Want a Cowboy,” a song for every country girl searching for their two-stepping partner. Forget about hot girl summer; it’s cowgirl summer, and this is the song.

We caught up with Jade before her packed headlining debut at Rivoli in Toronto earlier this month to get her songwriting secrets, the behind-the-scenes scoop on her upcoming projects, and where you’ll find her this summer (hint: that main stage, main character energy is loading!).

From your debut country single “Dive Bar” to your recent release “I Want a Cowboy,” every song you’ve released has been so good, so catchy, yet refreshingly authentic. What’s the secret to writing a song that’s true to you but universal at the same time?

I think true to you, that’s the word. Don’t try and fake a song because I’ve been writing songs for a really long time and my best songs are the most authentic. They all are real stories that happened, and I think that’s just the key to it. And same sonically; I didn’t grow up on country music, so when I released these records, I didn’t want it to just be like I went down to Nashville, got a Nashville band, and have it be like, “This is the sound.” I still wanted it to be me, so I mixed some of it in Toronto and brought together different elements. I’m trying to develop that sound that’s Jade Hilton.

“I Want a Cowboy” is the quintessential fun, flirty country cowgirl song. Tell us about the experience of making it and what gap you think it fills in your discography.

I’ve been playing a lot of big country festivals and I just got booked for the Kingsville Rodeo, so I’m seeing cowboys all around me. I wanted to write a song to the cowboys, and I wrote a chorus for the first time, so it’s been a pretty fun adventure. It’s just one of those songs that’s a little simpler, so it’s really fun for the crowd to [sing along and] be like, “I want a cowboy.”

With all these great songs under your belt, you must be working towards a new EP or album. Can you tell us about any progress you’ve made and what story you hope to tell with your next project?

I’d say this entire project is a new beginning of finding myself as I navigate my 20s. You’re going to hear it [in the music], and also the lyrics will explain what life has been like for me for the past couple of years.

 

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How would you describe the project’s sound? Is it getting closer to that “Jade Hilton sound” you’ve been chasing?

It’s a mix of traditional country with modern pop elements, but a little bit more soulful as well. We tracked all the instruments live off the floor in Muscle Shoals, Alabama. That got [us] rocking a little bit, and then we came back home and mixed everything so that gave it that fun little Toronto punch.

In addition to being a rising musician, you also used to play professional tennis and are now a pro tennis coach in Toronto. Has being an athlete taught you about, or better equipped you for being a performer?

You’ll ask any athlete-musician, they’ll always say discipline is the thing. We’re so used to our schedules being regimented, waking up early or putting in hours, and that’s when you realize music is exactly the same thing. Music I’d say in my mind was always number one; I just didn’t take that risk because tennis was going so well for me. But in my mind, I was hitting tennis balls and I’m like, “Man, I wish I was singing right now.” So, it’s pretty awesome being here now.

 

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Speaking of awesome moments, you’ll be hitting the main stage at Ottawa Bluesfest this summer opening for Cody Johnson. What was your reaction to getting that booking, and how are you preparing to perform on a festival stage versus the smaller clubs and dive bars?

I was just shocked. I started the year off like, I just want to match what I did the last year, because I had a great year last year [with] Boots and Hearts and Cavendish Beach. … I told Adam, my PR guy, “How am I going to beat that?” And he was like, “Just keep moving forward, there’s more festivals.” The first call I got was Ottawa Bluesfest. I knew it was big, but I didn’t know what stage I was on. I found out later that I was playing the main stage, and I was like, “Oh, I beat last year! Main stage!” So, [now there’s] a lot of prep. I mean, this (Rivoli show) is kind of our first show of the year, so I’m a little nervous, but I always have butterflies. I want it to go well, and this is where you get better and better so we’re ready for that main stage in July.

 

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You’re also nominated for Breakthrough Artist of the Year at this year’s CMAOntario Awards, which will be held in your hometown Port Credit. What does it mean to be nominated in this major category at this time in your career, after finding your footing in country music with such well-received singles?

I went to my first CMAOs two years ago, and honestly I didn’t know too much about the organization. I had met Dave Woods, who’s really well known in the scene, and he had me out at a showcase and recommended me to be around more. He said, “This is where you belong,” and he was right. So, I’ve been working the scene the past two years. I went last year as well to support my fellow colleagues, and to see my name there now [nominated and performing] is the greatest honour. I’m super excited.

 

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Can you tease anything else you have in the works?

Just more music coming real soon. I have another single dropping in a month, and then Misty City is another big festival in Niagara Falls this September.

Thank you, Jade! Stream “I Want a Cowboy” now and watch for more live shows near you.

See you back here soon with another artist and music release for you to love at first listen! Have a suggestion or pitch? You know where to find us!

Happy listening xx