I started playing music when I was 8 years old. At the age of 2, my parents took me to a bluegrass barn up in North Carolina. I absolutely fell in love with a guitar. Immediately, I loved how the music brought people together and allowed people to get away from their problems and not act like an adult for at least just a little while.
I begged for a guitar from age 2 to age 6. On my 6th birthday, my parents made a deal with me. If I said nothing more about it – and I mean NOTHING – I could get a guitar for my 8th birthday. I zipped my mouth, locked it up, and hid the key for 2 years. I remember waking up on my 8th birthday and running out to the living room so excited. And don't get me wrong - they had gotten me a couple of yes for my birthday wrapped all nice and neat and waiting for me, but none was big enough to be a guitar.
I didn't even open them, turning to my parents demanding, "Yeah, but where is the guitar?"
They were shocked.
To give better context, I have always been extremely ADHD & talkative - they thought my silence meant I had forgotten, which is what they were hoping at the time versus having an already loud 6 year old having a guitar to make even more noise. I didn't forget.
Being the amazing parents they were and staying true to their word, they took me to the store to buy a little $69 China-made guitar.
I had to wait a few months before being able to get into lessons with an instructor, but on my 1st day of my 1st lesson my instructor, Tim Avalon strummed a G chord and told me to strum mine. I did and promptly instructed him to strum his again, and then I strummed mine. I immediately looked at my dad and said, "I need a better guitar."
That little starter guitar is what I wrote my first songs on. Funny side note, my first song was six pages long.
Fast forward past many years of playing multiple instruments, writing and singing my heart out, and many performances on various stages, I have FINALLY recorded my music! I stopped making music for the last decade while in an abusive marriage - but now I'm back and more fueled than ever.
I am in the process of recording my debut album out of RCA Victor Studios in Nashville! It has been a long road of figuring out copyrights, self-publishing, making my own label for distribution, marketing and more, but I've finally done it!
Writing is my therapy, and I'll forever heal through music. Enduring a brutal divorce, with the Mississippi judge denying my request with the statement that I "didn't act like an abused woman" and "seemed to give it as good as I took it", there have been many days that getting out of bed took 99% of my energy for the day.
But I reminded myself that this too shall pass - I'm taking it day by day & have finally started healing. ❤️🩹
"Hard to Trust a Man" & "I Learned the Hard Way" are 2 singles from my "Honky Tonic" album that will be releasing in early 2025.
Give them a listen. Let me know what you think!
ABOUT ARIEL JADE
Independent Recording Artist
Professional Musician for 15+ years
Guitar & Mandolin
Jackson, MS | circa 2002
1st time on stage (age 9)
Performed with Bryan Sutton
Jammed backstage with Bobby Hicks
Wayne Henderson Fest
Mouth of Wilson, VA | circa 2006
Performed with Wayne Henderson
Bluebird Cafe
Nashville, TN | circa 2008
I got to join Carl Jackson & friends on stage
Monticello, MS
Nashville Performances Since 2023:
Nations Bar & Grill | 51st Street, Nashville
Drifters' BBQ | East Nashville
Bluebird Cafe
Jane's Hideaway
Virgin Boutique Hotel
Co-writes with:
Wood Newton
Steve Dean
Mike Loudermilk
Renee Martin
and more!
Trained Vocally with
Rene Grant Williams
Renee Martin
Trained Musically with
Tim Avalon