Introducing: Elysia Jade

At just 22, Portsmouth-born singer-songwriter Elysia Jade is already carving out a name for herself in the music industry. From releasing her first single at 13 to performing at the D-Day 75th Anniversary for the Queen and Donald Trump, Elysia has proven she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her 2024 hit Butterflies soared to No.1 on Express FM’s local charts and racked up 3,000 Spotify streams in its first week, solidifying her return to music after years in theatre and TV. Now, with her latest pop-rock anthem Finally Free on the horizon, Elysia is ready to take 2025 by storm—blending powerhouse vocals, raw storytelling, and live instrumentation. With a dedicated fanbase and a growing presence on social media, she’s only just getting started.

Your journey in music started at a young age, influenced by your family’s deep musical roots. How did growing up in such an environment shape your approach to songwriting and performing?

Growing up in a musical household instilled in me a deep love for performing and a constant desire to join in with my family. From the age of nine months, my mum started taking me to a music group in my hometown, which only strengthened my passion. I was always putting on shows, gathering everyone to watch, and cherishing moments like spending Christmas with my great aunties as they danced together. I loved inviting my family to see me perform with the local theatre group.

My passion for music grew as I was introduced to different genres by my family. My Grandad shared his love for show tunes, and we would sing together at his piano he would tell me all about his time singing in a band when he was younger and how fantastic it was. 

My grandad introduced me to the magic of Burt Bacharach and the jazz-inspired pop music of the ‘60s. He showed me how jazz fills on the piano could add so much depth, how the scales in a song could feel a little obscure but still completely intentional, and how Bacharach’s rhythms never stuck to one pattern—they jumped around and made the music his own. He taught me that music isn’t just about sticking to the rules; it’s about feeling, expression, and embracing the unexpected

My Uncle Brian introduced me to Elvis Presley, while my uncle Mark, who plays in a rock band, sparked my interest in rock music, and then there was my Uncle Mick who I loved to watch play piano in his music room when I was at his house he was a fantastic musician. Watching all of them play their instruments is so inspiring, and it made me appreciate the beauty and skill behind music even more. Being surrounded by such diverse musical influences from a young age shaped my love for music in so many ways.

Another big part of my musical influences has been the wonderful Sean and Sarah from “Same Difference” they are family friends and growing up I have really looked up to them , I remember I had memorised the phone number for X Factor to phone in and vote for them in 2007 , I made sure to watch all there live performances and wanted to make music just like them. Seeing them at family parties I used to get really shy and hide behind a door and sing to them  you could say I was star struck. 

You’ve faced some challenges along the way, like losing the music video for “Chasing Dreams” when the studio went bust. How have those setbacks influenced your resilience as an artist?

I think when this first happened I didn’t understand the importance of it all being so young at only 13 , it was just another no in the business to me, as I got a bit older I have reflected on this and thought how much it has set me back after the studio went bust I stopped building my brand and focused on school , but I missed a major part in my career path and feel I would be a lot further in my career if I had of continued to produce music then. 

I have since started working with Crowfield Studios who have been fantastic, Nathan has a great ear for the songs and even put together a production team of live studio musicians who are all fantastic! So I’m hoping no matter any setback I keep working on my music and my brand to build my career. 

It has made me more determined since coming back into music and hoping to keep pushing myself further and get my music out there. 

Your song “Butterflies” marked a big comeback for you, hitting No.1 on Express FM’s local chart and debuting at Victorious Festival 2024. What was it like to see that kind of success after stepping back into music?

It was amazing to see such success I was really shocked but so thankful that anyone who did listen to my music had kept up with what I was doing on my Instagram page and continued to follow me. 

Performing at victorious festival was an unbelievable experience with a wonderful audience, I was really ecstatic to play my new song for the first time at the festival it was taken really well , the audience danced along and loved the track which definitely fed into its voting over on Express FM helping to reach the #1 spot, it really made me feel more driven to keep up with my songwriting and keep making tracks. 

I feel very fortunate to have people who enjoy listening to my music and I’m am grateful that I am able to take the time to create more music. 

With “Alibi” now making waves in the charts, how does this latest track reflect your growth as an artist compared to your earlier releases?

I feel my earlier releases where more suited to my age at the time of song release this is shown especially in “chasing dreams” I did struggle as a young artist with my image and the music I wanted to be making “butterflies” and “our love” are my top favourites alongside “Finally Free” which is due to be released in the next few months, but I feel my journey has only just begun as I’m creating new songs and finding who I am as an artist,  people expect you to have that all figured out but sometimes you just have to write something and go for it until you feel that you have found the sound for you. It’s all trail and error but if you have the support and people to back your music with your own self belief it’s possible to be the artist you want to be.

I can see my own growth from my listeners on Spotify and the radio plays it’s a wonderful thing to witness as an artist and I’m very grateful to have been played on the radio from my first single to my latest! It can also be nice to look back and see how far I have come by checking my streams or Apple/Amazon Music purchases and this gives me motivation to keep going keep working on what I want to achieve, I set myself smalls steps and goals to keep working up the ladder my next step would be performing at Portsmouth Pride Festival I’m looking forward to sharing my music with the Festivalgoers  this is taking place on the 7th June 2025. 

Your music blends personal storytelling with powerful melodies. What’s the most important message you hope listeners take away from your songs?

I hope listeners appreciate the concept behind each song, as some are more complex than others. For example, Alibi tells a darker, more intense story, whereas Butterflies is an uplifting and feel-good track. Melody is essential to me because I want people to enjoy the music, but I also place importance on the message behind each song. Each track offers something unique, showcasing versatility and ensuring there is something for every listener.

I put a lot of my own experiences into my songs, which makes them really personal to me. Finally Free is a breakup song that reflects a chapter of my life that I’ve moved on from. It’s about finding closure and realizing that sometimes letting go is the best thing you can do.

Most of my songs I write comes from a real place, whether it’s something I’ve been through or emotions I’ve felt. I think that’s what makes music so powerful—it connects people through shared experiences but it can also be interpreted into any scenario so listeners are able to put the message into their own perspective of their lives. I hope that the future brings more creativity to my music and I am looking forward to more songwriting!