From picking up her first Brit award as a solo artist in March, to smashing a set at Glastonbury in June, 2025 has been the year of JADE, and we’re still only in July.
The South-Shields born pop star is living the dream in this most recent chapter of her glittering career. The next stop on JADE’s path to superstardom - a sold out concert, in her home region, as part of one of the biggest festivals of classical music - the BBC Proms. A dream gig.
“It means the world to me to come home to the North East for this show," she told The Glasshouse, where the concert is being held. "The BBC Proms is such a huge part of British music culture, and to be performing with a full orchestra – in this iconic venue, with my hometown crowd – is a dream.”
Before the curtain goes up on this epic event, BBC Bitesize caught up with three key players; JADE’s support act, a double-bass player who can’t wait to play the hits, and the conductor who’s in charge of keeping the whole concert together.
Finn Forster: The local lad getting the crowd going
“Pressure can come from a good place.”
The support act slot can be a tough gig but 29 year-old singer-songwriter Finn Forster from Middlesbrough shouldn’t be worried.
Recently, he opened up for rock legends the Stereophonics on their European tour - performing to crowds of over 45,000 people. That doesn’t mean he won’t be feeling the pressure of playing to a home-town crowd, but Finn finds pressure can be a good thing:
“You need to divide pressure in your head; there’s the good kind which comes when you care about something… and the bad kind which are things that are out of your control,” he said. “I think the good kind comes from a really good place within yourself, all you can do really is try and come away having done your absolute best.”
Don’t tell JADE, but Finn reckons there can sometimes be more pressure on the support act than the headliner, he told us “you're in front of a lot of people for the first time, it’s an introduction, so you want to make, a good first impression. I love the challenge of it”.
“Nothing will beat me just being unapologetically me.”
Music runs in Finn’s blood, he started out playing in a family band formed by his grandad and great-uncle. Finding his own identity in the music industry has taken time though “I went through so many gigs and experiments of trying to be something I’m not,” Finn said. “But when it comes down to it at the end of the day, nothing will ever beat me just being unapologetically me.” We reckon JADE would agree with that.
Finn sees his involvement in this Prom as a "personal mile-stone performance," and given his roots in the north east he said he feels a "responsibility to represent" the area. However with his lyrics inspired by real-life events, like being rejected from drama school, and powerful vocals, Finn is more than ready to get the crowd going. Pressure, what pressure!?
Evangeline Tang: The JADE fan playing double-bass with the headline act
It’s one thing going to a concert as a fan, but getting the chance to be part of the event is genuine next level stuff!
“I asked them, I was like ‘I love JADE can I please play this concert?'”
Freelance musician Evangeline told us she loves JADE and she approached the Royal Northern Sinfonia to give her the gig playing as part of the double bass section behind the singer on Friday.
Evangeline, 27, has been been playing double bass since she was 14. She’s played with the likes of Florence Welch, Stormzy and Dame Shirley Bassey.
“I love the crowds, I love the artists, it’s always something new, you don’t know what you’re going to expect really,” she said.
Evangeline also works as a session musician but what she really loves is being on stage “because you’re living out your dream,” she told us. “JADE at the proms is really really special I think - she’s huge!”
Evangeline has a solid game-plan to help her bring JADE’s music to life. “In the performance you let go, you allow yourself to enjoy it more, allow things to happen without over analysing, and you trust your ability… trust that the practice you’ve done in the rehearsal room is there.”
And it’s not just trust in the practice that’s important - Evangeline said trusting the team and the rest of the orchestra is key to calming any nerves come showtime. “It’ll be electric, and there will be adrenaline… it’s not just me, it’s the team, and there’s JADE, we’re one team. When you think about it more like that, it’s not as daunting.”
"It's just so surreal, I feel we are so lucky"
We wanted to know how it feels to be in Evangeline's shoes, when asked she said "It’s going to be amazing. It’ll be a highlight of my year. Like, when do you get to be on stage with all these musicians and a pop singer who you’ve always really admired?!"
But this double bass player knows she's gotta play it cool, "you have to act nonchalant," Evangeline said. "Obviously you say you’re a big fan, but you have to remember you’re working, you have to chill out a bit. But it’s so cool to see how these big artists are on stage, I love it."
Robert Ames: The conductor keeping the beat
“I’m the only member of the orchestra making no sound at all!”
Every orchestra needs a conductor, and keeping the thirty something strong Royal Northern Sinfonia in check is Robert Ames, in what he is calling "a dream project".
Robert, 39, is a contemporary conductor and composer who has previously arranged and conducted music for the likes of Taylor Swift, Little Simz and Self-Esteem.
“The hope is that even the biggest JADE fan in the world, who knows every detail of the music will be surprised, and delighted!” said Robert.
Those surprises will come as a result of Robert and other music arrangers painstakingly transcribing upwards of 30 different elements from a single JADE track (think drums, guitar, vocals, synth) and then rearranging them for the orchestra.
"The thing I always dreamt of being able to do"
With a smile on his face, Robert said “that’s where the fun, creative bit happens, you’re painting a picture with music really”. Though he did also say the best results come from hard work “it really is a case of going line by line, turning that into notation, and then turning all of that into an orchestral piece, it’s really time consuming”.
When working on a concert like this, blending classical with contemporary, Robert said there is a lot of fun in taking the traditional Italian and German language that sheet-reading musicians use, and translating that for artists who might not be used to it. But he was quick to point out that at the same time “someone like JADE will talk about pop music, in really expert ways and refer to stuff that isn’t typically in the classical discourse, so the translation goes both ways."
Once everyone is happy speaking the different musical languages, Robert’s focus can turn to the big performance. He told us that before he steps out on to the stage he’ll take a moment to give thanks “for being able to do the thing I always dreamt of being able to do as a kid”.
As for what to expect from the concert Robert said “expect some surprises, and to hear JADE’s music like never before, and to see JADE do her thing which is absolutely amazing”.
And sneak preview - Robert hinted we might hear something unreleased from JADE’s album “but who knows, you’ll just need to tune in”. You didn’t hear that from him though - or us!
The performance – JADE’s North East solo debut – will feature material from her forthcoming debut album, hits from her back catalogue and a handful of unexpected covers – all reimagined in an orchestral setting conducted by Robert Ames. More info here.
The BBC Proms are available on BBC Sounds now, until 30 days after the Last Night of the Proms BBC Sounds - BBC Proms - Available Episodes
Published in July 2025
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