RSS

Photo credits: Fifou

Hailing from Lyon, France’s third-largest city, Jäde is about to unveil her very first EP, Première Fois, on May 15th.  Her musical universe includes R&B that borrows as much from trap as from pop, lascivious melodies, and disarming punchlines.  With her warm and singular voice, Jäde tells stories that tackle modern love and other generational themes, with an incisive and fair pen.  CJLO caught up with the young artist about her origins, her new EP, and figuring out how to deal with COVID-19.

I read that you started singing when you were very young and that you started music, by chance, when your sister received a guitar as a gift.  What convinced you to make music professionally?  Have you ever had doubts about yourself or from those close to you about the choice?

My passion for music came to me at an early age, yes!  The idea of making a career out of it came to me by watching one of my friends develop his own career.  I was 14/15 years old, and I told myself “if he can do it, I can do it too.”

I’m confident in my music, but I always have a doubt when I share my songs.  I like them of course, but I don’t know if the rest of the world will like it.  My entourage, my parents who are very open-minded, and my friends have always supported me and encourage me to do my own thing.

It's been about two years since the release of your first collection of songs, ClichéTape.  Do you consider Première fois to be a continuation of that project, or a new beginning?

Première Fois is not a follow-up or the continuation of ClichéTape.  With this new EP, there’s a much more open and eclectic approach.  It better represents my different facets.  Of course, the foundation remains the same, as my tastes haven’t changed.  I’m still the same girl as two years ago, just an improved version of it.

Your music is labeled simultaneously as R&B, pop, trap, and soul, but it's really a mixture of all of these into one distinctive package.  Do you find that genre labels are limiting or restrictive, either when applied to your music or others?

To be honest, I find it restrictive to apply a particular label on music.  Between “Longtemps” and “Docteur,” I find that there’s a huge gap in the style of these two songs.  But anyway, it’s what people are doing right now in modern music.  There are less boundaries between the different styles and everybody knows it.  Plus, being an “R&B singer” has its appeal, I find that it’s a very stylish label to wear.

You collaborate with several different producers to bring the songs you write to life.  What’s your collaborative process with these producers like?  Do you already have a sound in mind before a beat is made?  Do you see yourself creating your own musical accompaniments for future songs?

The process varies.  A producer can send me some music and then I write and sing on it.  Or, I start to make a beat at home, and then I ask a producer to collaborate with me to finish the song.  Sometimes we start everything at the beginning, back to the acapella version of it, or we keep some of the instruments I played.
Producing songs is a real passion for me. I haven’t really been able to produce something all by myself that I’m 100% proud of, but I’m working on it. 

At its core, what makes a good pop song for you?  Do you have a favorite song or artist that you think best represents the form?

A typical pop song to me is more like a summer hit that you blast while driving your car into the sunset and the freedom that goes with this image.  Like maybe “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics or Drake’s “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” 

I read on your Twitter feed that you’re not the biggest fan of promoting your music through social media.  How do you reconcile trying to present your daily life and promote your art without being too in-your-face about it?

The pace of social media is very intense.  It goes in all directions.  Sometimes I worry about doing “too much” and my content drowning in the vast pool that is the Internet.  But, people who are following me are fans of my music.  So, if I do content oriented on my music, I think it’s okay.

The banning of shows because of COVID-19 is particularly devastating for newer artists like yourself.  How have you coped with the new reality while trying to make it as an artist with a new release?

The lockdown period forces me to be more creative.  It leaves me time to try new things, like filming and editing the video for “-12°C.”  I’m trying to maintain a positive attitude and learn a maximum of things that I will be able to apply to my music in the near future.

Alex Viger-Collins is the host of Ashes to Ashes, your weekly dose of modern pop, every Tuesday at 8:00 PM EST.

Disclosure: CJLO is a fee levy group, and has threatened legal action against the CSU for its handling of online opt-out infrustructure. Those responsible for legal threats against the CSU do not have editorial influence over CJLO's news department. Photo Credit: Concordia University  

Concordia Student Union (CSU) General Coordinator Chris Kalafatidis began talks with the university on online opt-outs before consulting fee levy groups.

Emails between Kalafatidis and the administration were made public by Councillor Margot Berner on Monday after being obtained by a Freedom of Information request, she says.

Fee levies are groups like Peoples Potato and The Refugee Centre that students pay a small fee to per credit. That fee makes up all or part of their operating budget. Like all Concordia’s student media, CJLO is a fee levy group.

“I'm just very tired of these people treating binding legal codes as suggestions to be ignored.”

- Margot Berner, CSU Councillor

Students can decide not to pay those fees, or “opt-out” by attending opt-out fares held once per semester. In November 2019, the CSU asked the students to vote on whether they wanted to bring that process online. Students voted yes to the referendum question which said “the system will be created in consultation with all fee-levy organizations.”

In the emails, Kalafatidis requests the system should allow students to select which groups they would like to opt-out of through a “check box system” that would be implemented by September 2020. The check box system is not explicitly mentioned in the referendum question, neither is the date.

Those emails were sent in December, nearly a month before any fee levy groups would be formally consulted. “Online opt-out passed with the idea that fee levies would be consulted about the process, which would be decided on by the council,” says Berner. “That hasn't happened.”

“I just exclaimed the words: that’s not true.”

Chris Kalafatidis, CSU General Coordinator 

Berner says Kalafatidis’s recommendations violate CSU bylaws, which gives governing authority to council, not to the executive team which Kalafatidis leads. “I'm just very tired of these people treating binding legal codes as suggestions to be ignored.”

Kalafatidis says his correspondence with the university has been misrepresented. “I just exclaimed the words: that’s not true.”

Kalafatidis says he recommended the check box system to allow students to opt out of fee levies “individually,” as outlined in the referendum question. He says he added the date because he felt that it was a fair timeline.

“I think it's what the students want.”

Kalafatidis says his early contact with the administration was to familiarize them with what the students had voted on. He says he intended to deliver a final set of recommendations after consultations with fee levies. Kalafatidis says there is likely a prototype of an online opt-out tool being developed by the university; however he is not involved in it.

On January 8^th, a consultation committee was created with Kalafatidis, several councillors, and Isaiah Joyner. Joyner is the External & Mobilization Coordinator in Kalafatidis’s slate Cut the Crap. He has been elected as the incoming general coordinator under the newly formed We Got You ticket.

“I was disappointed,” says Joyner. “I was under the impression that this was going to be an open process.”

Joyner says he was not aware that Kalafatidis had been communicating with the administration regarding a vision for the platform. Kalafatidis says he had told the committee about his correspondences in their first meeting in January.

After the committee was created, consultations with fee levies were done primarily over email. Groups were asked to introduce themselves, their fears and hopes for an online opt-out system, and how they would like to see it implemented.

Joyner says he thinks a September deadline is too soon and has his doubts about the consultation process. “We don’t even know the impact it’s going to have on the CSU’s budget,” he says, “let alone the impact on everyone else.”

On May 11^th, Kalafatidis published the consultation committee’s final report. The report includes responses from each fee levy group.

Luca Caruso-Moro is the news director for CJLO 1690AM. You can reach him at LucaCarusoMoro@CJLO.com

I'm a 63 old very pissed off hippie (unicorn), who never once voted for the tax cutters and the heartless assholes that have spent the last 40 years destroying the social safety net. My show highlights corporate media lies, spin, bullshit, malfeasance, whoring, and other crimes against humanity. And I play great jazz in between segments. Listen to Your Media Sucks every Monday at 8AM.

Hi, its Mnjivr, I’m a photographer, industrial drafter, aircraft tech, music lover, record collector and DJ. As you can see, I wear many hats! I’ve been having fun at CJLO for a good 10 years. Now, I host AutoBeat every Sunday at 3PM.

On any given Sunday, you may catch me playing the latest House, grimey beats and left-field noise. A mixed bag of sounds, never one to stick to a style or genre but always pushing local artists because you know we’re in Montreal after all, there’s no shortage of talent in this city.

During these uncertain times, it is easy to get caught up in our everyday stress. It is understandably hard not to feel anxious about the future as a society, as well as personally. It can be uncomfortable not to follow our usual routine, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you are isolated alone or with loved ones, it is still possible to connect with others despite the physical disconnect. Luckily, movies allow us to dive into another world—a perfect distraction from our current life. It is safe to say that there is no better time than now for us to escape the chaos even if it’s just for a little while.

It is important to be mindful and grateful in difficult times. Netflix’s original film, Bird Box, has the potential to help. The characters attempt to survive in the face of supernatural forces that invade society. Although this apocalyptic story might trigger anxiety, it could provide the hope that this too shall pass. This is the kind of movie that will keep you on your toes and have you feeling a range of emotions. It will surely remind you that there will always be better days to come, which is the type of message that we could all use.

If that is too close for comfort, no worries. Comedy is always a good idea. There is no cure to anxiety like laughter. Movies like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Grown Ups guarantee adventure, heart-warming connections, and timeless humour that are sure to leave you feeling safe and appreciative. If you prefer a film that offers emotional connection, try romance. A movie like P.S. I Love You will likely inspire you to reach out to your loved ones to check in and tell them how you feel—the support we all need at this time. If you prefer a romantic comedy, try The Proposal. This movie will have you laugh, cry, and cringe in the best way possible.

If you’re gravitating towards a story that is unrelated to your life, opt for an action, a sci-fi, fantasy, or thriller film. The Bourne film series is a good idea for anyone interested in mystery. These movies will swiftly capture your attention and allow you to engage in a world that is separate from the stress we all currently face. If the quarantine has been a time for you to reconnect with yourself, start with old favourites such as the Harry Potter series. A Harry Potter movie marathon will have you believe in the good and positive, which is crucial throughout this pandemic.

It is times like this that we need connection to make it through unprecedented times. Whether you’re bored, feeling anxious, or you just want to enjoy yourself, movies are fun and therapeutic. There is no better time to learn how to unwind and connect with others even through the world of film. In the end, this too shall pass.

Kaitlin Gong is a dedicated volunteer at CJLO.