Of her third studio LP, this Canadian singer-songwriter says “The album is a therapy session for me.”.
Jade Turner is proud member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation, an indigenous community in the province of Manitoba, but the songs are not specifically about her upbringing. Instead, they include reflections on general anxieties and specific insights gained after becoming a mother and when navigating divorce (We Said Yes) .
A key track has the self-explanatory titleYou’re Only Nice When I’m Leaving .
Despite her personal struggles, the mood is upbeat and affirmative.That Wind uses weather metaphors to convey a strong statement on the value of finding and holding onto one’s self-worth: “Don’t let no one try take the crown/They’ll grab at anything to bring you down.”
The closing track is Deadweight, a defiant song about overcoming the damaging impact of bullying co-written with Crystal Shawanda. The lyrics express a determination to “turn off the voices, make my own choices” a line which encapsulates the overriding philosophy behind the songs on the this record. The trick is to keep breathing.
Turner has a strong voice that effortlessly straddles the genres of country and pop. It’s all quite conventional, even a little predictable, but the polished production and slick arrangements serve this solid set of songs well.
