"You’re my love, You’re my song"—Jade's words feel like a secret shared just between you and her. They echo the depth of her heart, where love is never straightforward, and every emotion has its own story.

In this exclusive interview, Jade opens up about the complexities of love, loss, and the powerful emotions that drive her music. With every lyric, she invites us into her most vulnerable moments—where the lines between joy and pain blur, though never easy, is always worth the feeling. Ready to dive deeper into her world? Let’s uncover the stories behind the songs that speak to the heart, leaving us wondering: What happens when love is both a joy and a struggle?

In her latest EP Ordinary People, this South Korean singer-songwriter and producer reflects on the paradoxes of love. The deeper we love, the more we fear loss. She expresses the pain of missing someone who’s passed and the hurt that comes from being betrayed by someone we trusted. People, she believes, are a beautiful mix of purity, love, fragility, foolishness, selfishness, and unpredictability—full of contradictions. Yet, it's these very imperfections that make us who we are as ordinary people. Despite the struggles of life, Jade hopes we can continue giving and receiving love, even if it's not perfect or grand—just ordinary, human love.

Released on November 30, the EP consists of four tracks—three in English and one in Korean. Each song offers a raw, emotional exploration of human vulnerability.

“I wish that you were here” is a deeply emotional ballad for anyone who has felt the deep ache of missing someone. Jade's lyrics capture the essence of longing for a person who brought light into your life, now gone but never forgotten—“I wish that you were here somehow. Missing you and me so much.” The lyric “With you, I used to laugh for no reason. Now I never do” reveals the quiet emptiness that lingers after a person’s absence. The song gently wraps you in a sense of nostalgia, reflecting on the little moments—laughing together, singing without care—that are now just memories. It’s the kind of song that makes you stop and feel, reminding you that it’s okay to miss what once was and that some connections never fade no matter the distance.

“Don’t be a stranger to me” speaks directly to the heart of love and the fear of losing it. Jade’s lyrics, “I’ll hold you forever, tell me whatever, I’ll never let you go,” express an unyielding longing for closeness, for the kind of love that doesn’t fade or drift apart. The vulnerability in lines like “What would you say?” shows a deep yearning for reassurance and connection, urging the listeners to keep that special person close no matter what. It’s a plea to not be strangers, to stay intertwined no matter how far life takes you.

“Despite everything, I love you” delves into the raw, unreciprocated emotions of loving someone deeply, even when that love isn't returned. Jade’s lyrics, “Even if I’m the only one looking at you,” capture the pain of unrequited love while embracing the resilience of loving without expectations. The repeated refrain “Despite everything, I’ll love you very much” is both an acceptance of heartbreak and a reminder that love is something uncontrollable. It's raw, honest, and a reminder of how love can linger—even when it’s one-sided. The way Jade sings, “I can’t stop these waves” perfectly captures that feeling of love washing over you, even when you’re left alone.

“I thought we could be friends” expresses the disillusionment of realizing that a relationship you believed in wasn’t as genuine as you thought. “Gave you all of me, all my love, but it was all lie,” Jade sings, confronting the heartache of feeling betrayed by someone you trusted. “I wish I would go back to where I haven’t met you so that we can be no one else, just strangers” hits hard—it’s that wish to erase the emotional investment, to go back to a time before everything got complicated. The song reflects the coldness of realizing that maybe, just maybe, you cared more than they did. “You said we were friends, but why do I feel coldness everywhere?” speaks to the bitter feeling of being let down by someone you thought was a friend. It’s a beautiful, painful reminder that sometimes the people we care about the most aren’t always the ones who can give us the same in return.

HALSUG interviewed Jade online to peel back the layers of Ordinary People. In our conversation, Jade shared how her music reflects the beauty in imperfection—the kind of love that is messy, human, and deeply real. She spoke about the quiet heartbreak of losing not just people but parts of herself, the strength it takes to walk away from one-sided connections, and the hope of finding solace in life’s ordinary moments.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself?

Hi, my name is Jade. I am a singer-songwriter and producer based in South Korea.

Q: What inspired you to become a singer?

I’ve always admired singer-songwriters like Corinne Bailey Rae and Taylor Swift, who not only sing but also write their own songs.

Q: You mention the desire for "ordinary love" despite our flaws. What does "ordinary love" mean to you, and how does it contrast with other forms of love?

When complicated things happen or I feel negative emotions, I often feel pain and anxiety. Questions like, “Why is this happening to me?,” “Why is that person acting like that?,” “Is it my fault?,” or “What if I can’t be loved?” constantly ran through my mind. I used to see everything as a big, terrible problem. But I’ve come to realize that we’re all imperfect and ordinary humans—sometimes sad, fragile, foolish, selfish, or fickle. I hope we can live giving and receiving the best love we can, even if it’s not perfect every moment. That’s why I wanted to talk about “ordinary love between ordinary people.”

Q: Was there an unexpected moment or encounter that inspired this album, or in general how this album came to be?

The whole process was very very natural and smooth. I didn’t decide on a specific concept or theme but instead wrote songs that honestly expressed how I felt at the time, without hesitation. Usually, I tend to put a lot of effort into my work, so this approach felt particularly different and also special. 

Q: In the song “I wish that you were here," you mention fading memories and pages that have been written, slowly fading away. How do you cope with the inevitable passage of time and the loss of people or moments that once felt permanent?

Honestly, there’s no special way to deal with it—you just carry those feelings with you throughout your whole life. Whether it’s through tears, essays, poetry, music, or journaling, having a way to express those feelings can ease the burden a little.

Q: You sing in the song “I wish that you were here” about "missing you and me so much." Do you feel that part of the loss is not just of the other person, but also of who you were when you were together?

That’s right. The person I was back then and the person I am now are very different. I like who I am now but I sometimes do miss the pure and reckless me with adventurous spirit.

Q: The song “Don't be a stranger to me" has an almost timeless, poetic feel with lines like “My love is so endless.” What do you think is the essence of enduring love, and how does it influence your view of the world and your music?

When I consider someone as “my person,” I do my best to accept and love them just as they are. I think about the future with them. I approach music in the same way—when I find a genre I want to try or a song I feel attached to, I put in all my love and effort to refine and complete it.

Q: The repeated refrain "Don’t be a stranger to me" feels like a plea for continuity in a relationship. What does it mean to you for someone to become a stranger, and how do you cope with that fear?

Relationships can end easily, or they can linger even when you don’t want to keep. But for the people I love, I hope we’ll never fall apart. I try to give my best in every moment—expressing how much I love them, giving the things they like, and trying not to do the things they don’t like.

Q: In the song “Despite everything, I love you,” the lyrics "In this empty place, even if I’m left alone, I can't stop these waves" evoke the image of an overwhelming emotional current. What do you think the "waves" represent in terms of feelings that can't be controlled or ignored?

It’s like even if I lose everything, I want to keep that one thing. It’s the kind of feeling that you keep thinking about someone or something, no matter how much you resist—it’s impossible to stop.

Q: In the song “I thought we could be friends" the lyrics, "I wish I would go back to where I haven't met you so that we can be no one else, just strangers." What does this sentiment reflect about the pain of realizing a relationship might have been better left as a simple acquaintance?

I used to take care of my friends and try to understand their feelings, even though it was sometimes hard for me because I thought that was the right thing to do as a friend. But now I think very differently. My energy and emotions are so precious. I only want to focus on the people who I truly care about and no longer waste [myself] on the people who have a negative impact on me.

Q: In the song “I thought we could be friends,” the closing line “Cause only I did" is powerful. How do you interpret this as a final realization of the one-sided emotional investment in the friendship? How does it affect one’s sense of self in the aftermath of betrayal?

I wanted to express, “I gave my all for you and our relationship, so I have no regrets.” When you’ve truly done your best, there’s no regret or lingering attachment. Those experiences, they are painful and difficult but also they make me stronger. Because of that, I can give more love to the people who truly appreciate the love and respect who I am. However, I can ignore the people who disrespect me without hesitation.

Q: If “Despite everything, I love you” could respond to “I thought we could be friends,” what would it say about unreciprocated feelings?

Although both songs are mine, it’s a bit ironic. But, I would say that it’s the end, it’s over anyway. I’m very all-or-nothing. I’d say, “You say whatever you want but for me, you no longer exist in my life.”

Q: How do you hope your listeners connect with the emotions and themes you’ve expressed in your songs?

I hope people who’ve had similar experiences to mine can listen to my music and feel, “You’re not alone.” I wish we can give comfort to each other through music.

Q: Any last message for our HALSUG readers?

Thank you to all HALSUG readers for reading this interview and showing interest in my music. I sincerely hope the upcoming New Year is filled with nothing but happiness for you.

Jade's music is a reminder that we're all navigating through love, loss, and everything in between. It’s not always neat, it’s not always easy, but it's deeply human. Through her songs, she captures those messy, beautiful moments of life that we all experience—the joy, the heartbreak, and everything that comes with it. Jade shows us that even when things aren’t perfect, love is still worth pursuing. And sometimes, that’s all we need to hold on to: the simple, ordinary love that makes us feel understood and connected.

Have you listened to Ordinary People yet? Which song is your favorite? Drop your thoughts in the comments or hit us up on Instagram and X.

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Artist Facts:

Name/Stage Name: Juhyeon/Jade

Birthday: November 2

Nationality: South Korean

Zodiac Sign: Scorpio

MBTI: INFJ

Fave Foods: My mum’s kimchi stew

Fave Drinks: Latte

Fave Movies: Soul (2020)

Day or Night?: Night

Song/cover you’re most proud of: “My Violet and My Blue”

Edited by Divina Aloisa Tolentino

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