Jada May: A Deep Dive into Her Sonic Rebirth and ‘Highway Pop’ Revolution

Jada May’s forthcoming self-titled album, “Jada,” arrives this summer as a bold declaration of artistic rebirth, a meticulously crafted sonic tapestry woven from the threads of pop, hip-hop, and R&B, yet imbued with a deeply personal, almost confessional vulnerability. This isn’t just another release; it’s a coming-of-age narrative, a sonic exploration of self-discovery, and a testament to May’s relentless pursuit of authenticity. From the emotionally charged “Risk It,” a raw anthem of seizing life’s opportunities, to the innovative “Highway Pop” of her latest single “Highway,” a genre born from a fusion of melodic pop and dark trap, May isn’t simply following trends, she’s forging her own path. With influences ranging from Tate McRae to Nicki Minaj, she’s distilled a unique sound that embodies “confidence, resilience, and dark femininity,” all while navigating the complexities of her early twenties and pushing the boundaries of her own creative evolution. This album, as she describes it, is “unpredictable, fresh, and melodic,” a raw, unfiltered expression of Jada May, the artist and the individual, ready to share her truth with the world.

Your album “Jada” is set to release this summer—what does this project represent for you as an artist?

Jada May: this album is a personal representation of who I am and where I’m at In life. Since my recent rebrand, this is my first album as Jada, and it has a lot of emotional value for me. It explores themes of growing up, self-discovery, and plays with fun new sounds.

You describe the album as a mix of pop, hip-hop, and R&B with both maturity and playfulness. How did you strike that balance in your sound?

Jada May: Great question, it took a lot of self-exploring as an artist for me to discover my sound. I spent years perfecting my singing and rapping and at the same time, was switching between all the genres I enjoy listening to.

What themes or emotions do you explore on “Jada” that set it apart from your previous work?

Jada May: On Jada, I get a lot more emotionally vulnerable than I’ve been on my past albums. I explore themes from my childhood, the struggles of being in your early 20s, and current life challenges for me. Jada is a persona that I’ve created for myself which embodies confidence, resilience, and dark femininity.

Can you tell us about a song on the album that holds deep personal meaning for you?

Jada May: I have a song called ‘Risk It’ and it’s about taking risks in life, and taking opportunities because it sucks living in regret. Your dream will never come true if you don’t put in work to achieve it.

Are there any well-known artists who influenced the sonic direction of this album?

Jada May: Yeah for sure. I’m very inspired by Tate McRae, Ariana Grande, Nicki Minaj, and Doja Cat, but I try to keep a unique sound overall.

You mention versatility—was it a conscious effort to explore multiple genres, or did it happen naturally during the creative process?

Jada May: That happened naturally because I make music based on the genres I like listening to, and I get bored very quickly so naturally I’m forced to explore other genres.

What do you hope listeners feel when they hear “Jada” for the first time?

Jada May: Relatability, emotional satisfaction, and confidence.

Were there any unexpected creative challenges you faced while making this album?

Jada May: This is my 4th album so the biggest challenge for me was probably upholding the standard that I set for myself as an artist and exceeding that.

How do you think “Jada” represents your evolution as an artist compared to your previous releases?

Jada May: It’s the true embodiment of who I am as a person and an artist, it’s a persona that I’ve always loved channeling for confidence and creativity. The album has a more mature theme and sound, which I think gives it more of a coming of age feel.

If you could describe the album in three words, what would they be?

Jada May: Unpredictable, fresh, and melodic.

Your new single “Highway” introduces a sound you call ‘Highway Pop.’ Can you break down what that genre means to you?

Jada May: It’s like if melodic pop and dark trap had a baby, it’s a very modern sound, it has lots of heavy bass, and strong catchy melodies.

What inspired the idea of “Highway” both musically and lyrically?

Jada May: When I got the beat, I didn’t know what to do with it so I let it sit for a while till inspiration came. Then Tate McRae released some snippets to a few of her songs, and a few of the comments referred to her music as ‘highway pop’ which is how I discovered the genre and that ultimately inspired me to make highway because I wanted to listen to more songs that sounded like that so I figured I’d make some.

You describe the song as an emotional escape—what kind of emotions were you channeling while writing it?

Jada May: Pain from past traumas of course. And I felt a sense of self-worth on this track.

Did you have a specific moment or personal experience that inspired “Highway”?

Jada May: Once I heard Tate McRaes snippet to her song ‘Dear God’ I got very inspired to make more songs that had that sound so I wrote highway.

Is “Highway” a good representation of the overall sound of the album “Jada”, or is it a unique standout?

Jada May: No there’s not one song that can represent my whole album they all have their own unique sounds.

How do you see “Highway” fitting into today’s pop landscape? Do you think ‘Highway Pop’ could become a new trend?

Jada May: Oh yeah for sure it already is, highway pop has the perfect blend of maturity and longevity that people gravitate towards, and it’s already becoming more of a thing with artists like Tate McRae, so I can definitely see it going further.

Who is the producer or collaborators behind “Highway,” and how did you choose who to work with for this project?

Jada May: ‘Highway’ was produced by Dannybeats. I was listening to their beats cause I quite like their work and then I came across highway. I was unsure at first but I immediately knew it was gonna be a fire song so I waited till I got inspired.

How involved are you in the production process of your music—do you contribute to beat making, arrangement ideas, or other creative aspects?

Jada May: I mix all of my vocals and I arrange my songs, although there is a transition on the album that I produced which I’m very proud of.

Do you have a go-to team of collaborators, or do you like to work with different people for each project?

Jada May: I always like to try and work with different people when I start new projects cause I don’t want any of my songs to sound like my past ones, but tbh I choose beats based on if it fits with what I’m going for so I don’t think consciously into that.

What are your plans for the future? Can we expect more music, or are there other creative projects you’re eager to explore?

Jada May: Well, stay tuned this summer there will be things regarding this album in the works, like music videos, live performances, and more interviews. But as far as new music, there might be a deluxe if the album performs well enough initially. Thank you so much for having me!!