Jade Thunder Releases Stunning Debut Album ‘Alchemy’
By its very definition, Alchemy is a ‘seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination.’ If that is the case then the new album from Jade Thunder is perfectly titled.
As an avid music listener, there are very few albums I find where each track entices you and holds your attention throughout, however Thunder has appeared to achieve this almost effortlessly through her latest release. Each track has different musical influences and arrangements ranging from Country and Blues, to Rock to Jazz but they are tied together by an overarching theme, her signature and sultry voice.
Jade Thunder, nee Tremarco, has been on the local music scene for 24 years and is best known for her singing with The Gary Murphy Band, Eclipse – The Pink Floyd Experience, Court & Spark – The Joni Mitchell Experience, and gigging as a cover artist throughout Merseyside in various acts, most notably Next Of Kin with her mum, Diane Tremarco, and Glade with Glyn Williams (China Crisis, The Bassheads). She has worked with the likes of Liverpool Express, Gerry Marsden, The Swinging Blue Jeans, The Undertakers, The Searchers, supported The Connie Lush Band, and has had the honour of being a backing singer for Captain Beefheart’s Magic Band when they came to Liverpool in 2016.
As a seasoned performer and writer, Jade Thunder has spent a long time honing and perfecting her craft. She has developed an impressive ability to create songs that resonate with people, no matter their background or experience and through Alchemy, she provides a true insight into her soul, laying bare her deepest emotions for all to see and does so with such haunting beauty. Her lyrics take you along as she goes through a journey of expression, traumas and most importantly, love. Her sound is distinctive in style, an amalgamation of the genres that have influenced her throughout her life and her voice, full of emotion and power, soars over each track.
Having already released singles Alchemy and Happy in late 2021, the anticipation was high for the rest of the album and she certainly did not disappoint. Through Alchemy she lays her cards on the table, each track telling a tale of her past traumas and subsequent recovery, offering a message of hope to those who are also struggling that things can work out. Standout tracks on the album are Glasses, a tale of falling in love with someone you don’t want to but learning to love yourself in the process to then allow others to love you.
Also Storms, a track written by Thunder when she was just 17 years old when like many of us at that age, she was experiencing great change and turmoil. Despite the serious tone to her lyrics in this track, the arrangement is upbeat and smooth, her vocal power and beautifully constructed harmonies taking centre stage.
Alchemy is a lesson to us all. We all have trauma and experiences that we may have buried but through this album, Thunder shows that it’s okay to use these experiences for good and to create something beautiful. Alchemy is a stunning snapshot of Jade Thunder, her immense talent for songwriting and the styles of music that have influenced her throughout her career. Alchemy is a triumphant debut album and is all the proof you need to see that Jade Thunder is a name of which everyone should be familiar with.
You can purchase your copy of Alchemy via https://jadethunder.com/product/alchemy-album/ and it is also available on Bandcamp.
Helen Maw
