For a young folk/country singer and songwriter, getting your first taste of fame recording and touring with the aggressive rock band and Juno nominated Protest the Hero seems happily out of character, but was, she insists, an incredible experience.
Despite the unfamiliar metal tones favored by Protest the Hero’s growing following, Jadea’s fan base grew substantially after touring and recording with the band. She gained a reputation as the mysteriously beautiful female vocalist in the music video, ‘The Divine Suicide of K.’ This video has since gone into rotation on MTV and Much Music.
Following this collaboration, Jadea released her first CD, Second Spring, and won “Best Country†honors at the Toronto Independent Music Awards in 2008. It has since received CBC air play on such shows as Folk Roots in St. John’s.
Blessed with what many call a hushed Loretta Lynn-esque voice, she’s now performing regularly around Canada. Her second album, Eastbound Platform, with famed producer, David Baxter, will be released in March 2010. Eastbound Platform features special guests Joshua Cockerill, Jack Marks, and Justin Rutledge. Both Marks and Rutledge wrote a song for the album.
Jadea’s stage persona has been compared with such established female vocalists as Neko Case and Kathleen Edwards, yet, it is Jadea’s distinctive voice and the convincing harshness which engages and captivates her listeners.
“Jadea Kelly is one of the shining jewels in the crown of Canada’s new
songwriters. Her sound is pure Canadiana, that is, elements of prairie country, big city soul, and the sense to take just a little bit of both. In short, the more Jadea Kelly Canada can hear – the betterâ€. – Tom Power, CBC Radio
“All of this comes from the vox Kelly has, with its staggering lilt and deceptive powerâ€- Durham Entertainment.
