Single Review - Telephone - Jade Helliwell

 

Jade Helliwell is releasing a new song this Christmastime, and the theme is one that is increasingly common this year.  Telephone is a song about missing someone special at Christmas, the empty place at the table.  Inspired by the loss of her Grandmother, Jade sings about the words you want to be able to say to someone, and wish you didn’t have to. Whilst this is especially poignant at Christmas its appropriate for any time of year when you miss someone, longing for that chance to have another conversation with them. 

The instrumentation is simple and stripped back, with the vocals are pure, and at times they are soaring. The guitar gives a country element to the song as does the writing style, with Jade effortlessly blending genres for the finished song. The opening calls to mind opening a jewellery box, you can picture that little ballerina spinning around from the combination of the instruments, and the repeated note.

If there really were a telephone line to Heaven it would be possible to talk to loved ones – to talk about everything and also about nothing.  The song is not just about the loss though, it reminds us that we can keep memories alive – and even the loved one alive – with stories and talking about them.

Telephone wasn’t originally written to be released, but after getting great feedback following a performance of it on Jade’s weekly livestream she decided to release it in time for Christmas.

In her own words

Christmas is a time spent with family and friends but that also means missing those who should be there that little bit more. I think this will resonate with people who wish they could speak to their loved ones over the festive period. It means the world that something so personal to me can be translated so well to someone else.

Pick up this single and, if you can, pick up the phone.

Telephone, the new single from Jade Helliwell is available on all major platforms on Friday 11 December

You can find and follow Jade on Facebook, her website, Instagram and Spotify.  You can also catch her livestreams every Thursday night