Tutor Profile: Jade Ellins

31 December 2016

Jade Ellins is a singer, guitarist, bassist and former YMM student. Her songs have been featured on BBC Introducing and Radio X, and as a session musician, she has appeared on television with international superstars Lionel Richie and Rihanna.

Tell a little about yourself...

I teach guitar, ukulele and singing as well as play in two rock bands DOLLS and Long Teeth. I have been playing music since I was really young so I feel really fortunate that I can support myself now with music. Music has given me the opportunity to gig and travel around Europe as well as England. I have also met a few interesting characters along the way...

What is your earliest musical memory?

Playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star at my fifth birthday party with both hands! It was quite the achievement for me back then.

Who has most inspired you, musically?

My parents for a start, they are both musicians so they really encouraged me to keep practicing and working hard at it. Then along the way I have had musicians from all genres influence me from Ella Fitzgerald to Nick Cave.

You are a singer, guitarist and bassist. What was the first ever instrument you learned?

It was actually piano and recorder. Recorder was taught in groups at school (then I continued to learn it at YMM) and I played piano until I was 12.

What is your best memory of being a student at Young Music Makers?

Getting to perform with the Rock Guitar Group! I started performing there when I was six and everyone was so supportive that it made performing really enjoyable for me.

What is your song-writing process? Where does inspiration come from?

I make sure I listen to as many bands as possible. If I hear a bunch of songs I really love, I use them as my inspiration. I rarely find jamming random ideas helps form a song, I need to have a clear idea of what kind of song I want to write. This also helps me arrange the song when I bring it to my bands.

Can you remember the moment you decided to become a professional musician?

Yes, when I was looking at what universities to go to there were two paths I could take. I could either study business or music. I decided to do music as I am really passionate about it and I love performing. I thought if I chose a career in something I was passionate about I would always be excited about it and work hard at it. It seems to be going well so far! 

Which is more fun: gigging or recording?

Gigging definitely! I feel so confident on stage and it is so rewarding when you know people have come to see you and your band play and love the songs you have written. I have learned a lot from the recording process (mainly on how to become a much tighter musician) but it can be stressful as you have a time limit and also very tiring as the days tend to be long.

Do you have a stage persona? Yes definitely. On stage I am quite serious. If I came into YMM that serious I think I would scare a few people! Thats why performing is so fun, you get to showcase different parts of your personalty. 

As well as running your own bands, you've performed with music royalty, Rihanna and Lionel Richie. How did that come about?

When I was 17 Lionel Richie requested an Asian female guitarist (very specific!). I was recommended from word of mouth to an agency and got the job! I was given very little notice and had to take the day of school to go and perform on Loose Women and This Morning, I was so excited! From then on, I was given more opportunities. 

You founded the band DOLLS. What inspired you?

I really needed a creative outlet for my songs and I was getting bored performing by myself. I found a drummer I worked really well with and now we both run DOLLS together.

The music industry has changed so much in recent years. What non-musical skills have you had to learn? I have had to become really good at updating the bands' social media (and you need to be on various platforms!) and have to constantly go out to gigs to network. Being a musician requires you to be good at running a business as well as being musical.   

What is the best piece of career advice you've ever been given?

Be persistent. It's a tough industry and a lot of people give up along the way.

Thank you to Jade for sharing her insight on the music industry... and her journey from YMM to rock stardom!

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