Sometimes it happens that art is created not for outsiders’ eyes, but primarily for oneself. Creativity is, after all, first and foremost a way for any creator to reflect on their thoughts, to feel once again the emotions they’ve experienced, and to bid farewell to all negativity by expressing it through the form of art.

Speaking of which, Austrian musician Jaden Sade, who has only recently begun his full-fledged career, initially had no intention of sharing his music with a wide audience. It all started with the album “endless time“, released in November 2024. The release is thoroughly saturated with deep melancholy and self-analysis. It’s understandable why Jaden didn’t want to share something so personal for public scrutiny, and yet, whilst his first album can still be called a “trial run” of sorts, it has already established Sade as quite a promising artist. He truly skilfully combines lyrical sincerity and distinctive pleasant sound in his music. This deserves attention, and such things are always worth discussing.

Certainly, the latest and currently best work by Jaden I can confidently call his newest album “Tidal Wave”. It contains 10 tracks, but we shall focus on the 6 most interesting ones in my view, which are worth paying attention to and which fully reveal the main essence of the entire record.

I think we should start with the opening song “Blue“. What immediately strikes the eye, or rather the ears, is how repetitive and even monotonous the instrumental of this song feels. Whichever moment you choose—everywhere sounds the same barely perceptible melody. It seems to me it can be compared to a weak wave, as if carrying away the lyrical hero, that is Jaden himself, into the very depths of an ocean of gloomy reflections. Any attempts to swim away are absolutely meaningless, leaving Sade with no choice but to humbly accept his fate and face his fears head-on.

Incidentally, it’s quite symbolic that literally the very next song is called “The Ocean”. And you know, if after listening to “Blue” one is left with quite a bitter, I would say gloomy, aftertaste, as if all hope and joy were carried away somewhere by blue waves of sorrow, then “The Ocean” produces a completely different impression. If the first song resembled more a monologue of a desperate drowning person who had already come to terms with his tragic fate, then “The Ocean” offers a different perspective: allow this longing and bitterness to swallow you entirely, so that having found yourself at the very bottom, you might find within yourself the strength to swim back to the surface. In a very interesting way, this far more life-affirming atmosphere is complemented by notes of dance electro, which only enhances the contrast between the first two tracks on the album.

The song “The Life We Never Had” sets a slightly different, more romantic, yet still extremely melancholic atmosphere. According to Jaden’s own admissions, this is a song about those imagined moments we create, spent with people who were never actually in our lives. Night drives through the city, warm beaches, big cities and adventures: none of this he ever saw, though he always dreamed of experiencing it personally. Should one regret this after many years? Hardly. Jaden rather experiences these moments in his fantasy with a slightly sad smile, whilst realising that one shouldn’t dive too deeply into these thoughts.

“Love Me Right”, however, goes fully into love lyrics. It’s not like many other songs on “Tidal Wave”. Here, complex existential questions aren’t explored, complex and sometimes frankly depressive themes aren’t raised, one doesn’t feel bitter despair seasoned with despondency and hopelessness. “Love Me Right” is rather a love ballad, only dedicated not to some specific person, but rather to the very desire to feel love, that very right kind of love that can pull one out even from the darkest depths of the ocean.

The track “Carry Me Away” feels different due to its accelerated rhythm, which I consider an extremely correct decision. This song brings a bit of dynamics and variety to the album, creating a good balance with the more calm and thoughtful compositions. Thanks to this contrast, the entire release begins to sound much more interesting, as if the oscillations of waves are constantly changing, not allowing the listener to become bored.

The tracklist concludes with the touching and thoughtful composition “Drive Me Home”—a touching final chord of the entire album. The song is filled with warm emotions and gentle melancholy, its rhythm and melody invite one to stop and reflect. The vocals and instrumental part sound particularly sincere here, creating a cosy atmosphere, whilst the slow tempo gently leads the listener home, where peace reigns and everything breathes with harmony and kindness. Sade departs, or rather returns home, but everywhere he has been, in the heart of each of his listeners, he will leave an indelible mark thanks to his music.

Drawing an overall conclusion, the album “Tidal Wave” is executed in Jaden’s already familiar melancholic style, but with inclusions of uncharacteristic musical and lyrical elements. To be honest, all of Sade’s previous work can be called somewhat monotonous and oppressive—after his songs, one only wanted to stare at the ceiling and rethink one’s life with tears in one’s eyes. The album “Tidal Wave” doesn’t leave such saddening thoughts behind; rather, it allows one to feel them and wash them away with an ocean wave, so that in the end both the musician himself and each listener could transform and emerge onto the shore as completely different people. To put it briefly, Jaden’s album beautifully illustrates the idea that one shouldn’t fear drowning in one’s own sorrow—sometimes one needs to plunge into it headfirst in order to finally return home afterwards.

“Tidal Wave” is a powerful leap forward from both musical and textual perspectives: more life, more experiments, and more variety. Whilst Jaden Sade’s works remain noticed only by a narrow circle of listeners, I can say that he definitely has potential.

*This review was made possible by SubmitHub