JADE at Glastonbury 2025: “It’s more important than ever for artists to show that it’s OK to speak out”

JADE caught up with NME backstage at Glastonbury 2025, where she told us all about what to expect from her upcoming debut solo album. Check out the video interview above, or read it in full below.

The former Little Mix star took to the Woodsies stage on Saturday (June 28) and delivered her first performance at the festival since going solo and announcing the forthcoming record, ‘That’s Showbiz Baby!’. She was introduced to the stage by Sex Education and Doctor Who actor Ncuti Gatwa, and broke out hit singles ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ and ‘FUFN (Fuck You For Now)’, as well as covering Little Mix tracks like ‘Wasabi’ and ‘Shout Out To My Ex’.

“I still feel like I’m having an out-of-body experience after my performance. I’ve not come down from it yet,” she told us backstage after her set. “I’ve always dreamed of doing Glastonbury, and to be here with my own music is great. It’s nice to know that the writing I’ve been doing for myself is what got me here.”

For the South Shields singer, the gig came after an eye-catching set at London’s Mighty Hoopla – which saw her celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and call out Harry Potter author JK Rowling for anti-trans comments – and ahead of an appearance at All Points East 2025, where she will support RAYE alongside Tyla and Doechii.

Check out our full interview below, where she explains why she wants to use her platform to call out bigotry, and how the “boot camp” experience in Little Mix helped shape her solo material.

NME: Hi JADE, how did you feel going into your huge set at Glasto?

JADE: “I was so nervous beforehand and I was backstage nearly about to cry because I was so overwhelmed, but then Mel C came running over to say it was going to be amazing and that I’ve got this! She gave me a little pep talk, and then my friend Ncuti [Gatwa] bumped into me yesterday and offered to do the intro for me. He introduced me on stage and helped me feel really ready and like good about myself… but I still feel like nothing prepares you for the adrenaline of the Glastonbury crowd, because they really are like something else.”

Is there anyone who you were looking forward to seeing over the weekend? 

“I’m actually devastated that I missed Alanis Morissette, but that’s the thing when you’re with mates – you’re all deciding who you’re going to see. My gut was telling me to watch Alanis, but I went with the crowd… then everyone started telling me how amazing [her set] was, so I was fuming! Everyone is torn with the Doechii vs Charli XCX clash, and I think, because I am doing another festival where Doechii is playing, I’m gonna go see Charli this time. It really has had the gays in a spin, I’ll tell you that. They’re divided right now.”

Also on the line-up for 2025 is RAYE, who you’ll be joining at All Points East in August. How do you feel about that show? 

“I feel like this is her time and I’m really proud and happy for her. I’ve known RAYE for years now because she’s written for Little Mix before and we’ve always crossed paths. We’ve done a bunch of writing sessions together for my own music too, and we wrote ‘Fuck You For Now’ together.

“It’s really amazing and inspiring seeing her receive all the flowers that she deserves, and I’m excited for her set. We are doing a bunch of the same festivals actually, so I’ll get to see her elsewhere, but I’m still going to show up for it today and let her know that we’re all rooting for her.”

Speaking of big shows, your on-stage comments in support of the LGBTQ+ community at Mighty Hoopla touched a lot of hearts. Why was it important for you to use your platform in that way?

“I think I’ve always been a bit mouthy when it comes to things that are important. I’m not afraid to speak up and stand up, especially for the LGBTQ+ community. I’m well aware that I have a lot of fans from that community, but also I feel like it’s important, now more than ever, to stand particularly with the trans community. We are seeing a lot of transphobia, a lot of propaganda and a lot of negative press, so I just wanted to make sure that they know that I will say it with my chest and I’ll stand up for them.

“That was important for me at Mighty Hoopla, and it’s been fun because at every show, especially with ‘Fuck You For Now’, I get to shout out different people or say different things. Today with Glastonbury, I shouted out what we’re seeing right now with the genocide going on in Palestine. I feel like it’s important now, more than ever, for pop artists to show that it’s okay to speak out and educate yourself. Don’t be afraid to protest.”

Is that honesty something that went into the writing process for your debut solo album? 

“I think so. On a personal level, it’s who I am to write about personal experiences and dark things but in a tongue-in-cheek way. I like to almost laugh at my trauma or anything that’s gone wrong in my life! There are songs like ‘Angel Of My Dreams’ where I’m talking about the toxicity and my love/hate relationship with the industry, but in a way that isn’t like ‘Woe is me’ because I’m aware that I’m very privileged to be in the position that I’m in. So when I write from my own experiences, I’m doing it in a way that almost takes the piss out of it. That’s my way of expressing myself.”

How has your time in Little Mix shaped the upcoming solo album?

“Being in a girl band is the ultimate boot camp on how to survive the music industry. First off, you’re a woman, and then you’re in a girl band, and it’s always hard to prove to people that you’re a credible artist and that you’re worthy of appreciation. When we first started in like 2011 — especially coming from a show like The X Factor — we were constantly proving to people why we deserved a seat at the table and why we deserved longevity.

“Being in Little Mix really was the ultimate test of enduring that. Time and time again, we reinvented ourselves and to be in a girl band that lasts for over 10 years is pretty remarkable. You don’t hear of that often. I’m so proud of that part of my life, and going into my solo music, it was like ‘OK, now I get to write just purely about my own experiences’, because in a girl band the topics have to be a bit more universal. On my own, though, it was important for me to express myself.

“It’s not a case of ‘[Little Mix] was the old me, and this is me finally being who I am’, because I love Little Mix and I love what we stood for! It’s not about [that era] being dead and gone. That was the past and I loved it, but now this is the new chapter.”

How would you sum up ‘That’s Showbiz Baby!’ in three words?

“I would say ‘That’s Showbiz Baby’ is pop-tastic, chaotic, and grand. With every song on the album, there’s nothing that’s just like a cheeky little acoustic number. No, everything’s full and has got the kitchen sink thrown in. Expect big productions and big vocals, that’s the vibe of the record.”

Jade releases ‘That’s Showbiz Baby’ on September 12, with a UK and Ireland tour following in September.

Check back here to find all of NME’s news, reviews, interviews, photos and more from Glastonbury 2025.

The post JADE at Glastonbury 2025: “It’s more important than ever for artists to show that it’s OK to speak out” appeared first on NME.