Jade Williams

Last updated

Jade Williams
Sunday Girl 2014.jpg
Williams at the opening for Fendi store, May 2014
Background information
Birth nameJade Williams
Also known asSunday Girl
Whinnie Williams
Born (1988-05-21) 21 May 1988 (age 35)
Sidcup, Greater London, England
Genres Indie pop, alternative pop
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Years active2009–present
Labels Island, Polydor

Jade Williams (born 21 May 1988 in Sidcup, Greater London, England) [1] [2] [3] professionally known as Whinnie Williams, is a British independent pop singer, interior designer and presenter. She founded interiors brand Poodle & Blonde in 2018 and is host for BBC 3 show Flat Out Fabulous since 2020. [4] [5]

Contents

Williams grew up in Broxbourne. [2] During her early teenage years, Williams was employed at a local pet shop where she worked every Sunday. Having not revealed her name to the other members of staff, Williams became known as Sunday Girl, which would later become her music alias. [6] Growing up, Williams was always shy when it came to performing and singing in front of people, so her mother took her to see a hypnotist when she was 17, and it helped her to overcome the fear. [7]

With her fear of performing gone, Williams joined many cover bands including a ska band, a jazz band, and a trio who did covers of '40s blues standards with a ukulele and double bass. [8] Williams completed an Art Foundations course at University and studied set design at Wimbledon College of Art, [9] but took a gap year during her studies to travel and, more importantly, focus on songwriting, as she was getting bored with only singing covers of other artists songs. During the gap year, she was discovered by a manager one night while singing in a night club, and he helped direct her to work with other songwriters, which led to her eventual signing with Polydor Records and Universal's Geffen Records in late 2009. [10]

Career

Music

Prior to her renderings of songs for the supermarket chain Aldi, Williams released her debut single as Sunday Girl, "Four Floors", through Polydor Records on 28 March 2010. A music video directed by Elisha Smith-Leverock was also released to accompany the release of the single. On 15 July 2010, she released her second single, "Self Control", a cover of the 1984 Raf song popularized worldwide by Laura Branigan. [11] A music video, again directed by Smith-Leverock, was released to accompany the single release.

She supported Ellie Goulding on tour during November 2010, [12] and played her first headlining show at London's XOYO on 15 December 2010. [13] Her third single, "Stop Hey," was officially released through iTunes by Polydor in February 2011. [14] She wrote and produced the song (along many others from her yet-to-be-released album) with Jim Eliot, who has also worked with Kylie Minogue, Ladyhawke, and Ellie Goulding. A music video for "Stop Hey" was directed by Smith-Leverock, and themes for the video came from superstitions about bad luck. [15] In June 2011, Williams was featured on Martin Solveig's album Smash, performing "Let's Not Play Games," which she co-wrote. Her cover of "Love U More", originally by Sunscreem, was promotionally released along with its accompanying video in October 2011, but its commercial release was delayed indefinitely. That November, she also went on tour to support LMFAO on a few of their UK dates. [16] Williams then recorded a cover of Pixies' "Where Is My Mind?" for Thomson's 2011 holiday TV campaign, and the single's success helped her to be signed by Universal's Island Records in early 2012. [17]

Williams became one-half of DJ duo Ooh La La! in February 2012 with model Zara Martin . [18] The pair have since streamed mixes 90s Hip Hop, R&B and Pop at night clubs and fashion parties in London and other cities in the UK. In March 2012, she co-wrote a song titled "Turn Up the Radio" for Madonna's twelfth studio album MDNA . [19] Furthermore, she released "High & Low" from the official motion picture soundtrack of StreetDance 2 . In February 2013, Williams announced the end of the Sunday Girl project, and released her first single and music video under the moniker of Whinnie Williams, "You Don't Love Me", in early 2013, later followed by "Break Hearts in Your Sleep". Both of these singles were released free via Williams' SoundCloud page, as was her first mixtape, Mix Tape Vol 1, released in December 2013.

Fashion

Fashion has been a huge part of Jade Williams' career alongside her passion for music. Her first role as a model came in October 2010 when she became the new face of River Island's Design Forum campaign. [20] She has a fashion blog/vlog on MSN Life & Style, [21] puts together all of her tour outfits and stage design, [12] and even put out her own fashion line with Firetrap in September 2011. [22] Williams cites her fashion icons as Coco Chanel and Karl Lagerfeld, and describes her own style to be masculine, tailored, and tom-boyish.

In 2011, a portrait of Williams was painted by British artist Joe Simpson, the painting was exhibited around the UK including a solo exhibition at The Royal Albert Hall. [23] [24]

Discography

Extended plays

TitleAlbum details
Bad Girl

Mixtapes

TitleAlbum details
Mix Tape Vol 1
  • Released: 24 December 2013
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: Independent
Mix Tape Vol 2
  • Released: 20 June 2014
  • Format: Digital download
  • Label: Independent

Singles

List of singles
TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[25]
"Four Floors" [a] 2010
"Self Control" [a]
"Stop Hey" [a] 2011
"Where Is My Mind" [a] 2012133
"High & Low" [a] StreetDance 2 Soundtrack
"Too Strong"2015
"Real Damn Bad"2016
List of featured singles
TitleYear
"Not Alone"
(DHP featuring Sunday Girl)
2012

Promotional singles

List of singles
TitleYearAlbum
"Love U More" [a] 2011
"You Don't Love Me"2013Bad Girl
"Break Hearts in Your Sleep"

Guest appearances

List of guest appearances
TitleYearAlbum
"Let's Not Play Games"
(Martin Solveig featuring Sunday Girl)
2011 Smash

^ a Released under the Sunday Girl moniker.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Bunton</span> English singer and media personality (born 1976)

Emma Lee Bunton is an English singer, songwriter, media personality, and actress. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the pop group the Spice Girls, in which she was nicknamed Baby Spice, reflecting the fact that she was the youngest member. With over 100 million records sold worldwide, the Spice Girls are the best-selling female group of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicola Roberts</span> British singer-songwriter (born 1985)

Nicola Maria Roberts is an English singer and songwriter. In 2002, Roberts was selected as a member of Girls Aloud, a pop girl group created through ITV's reality competition show Popstars: The Rivals. The group went on to receive large success, achieving a string of 20 consecutive UK top ten singles, two UK number one albums, five consecutive platinum selling studio albums, and receiving nominations for five BRIT Awards, winning Best Single in 2009 for "The Promise".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rihanna</span> Barbadian singer, actress, and businesswoman (born 1988)

Robyn Rihanna Fenty is a Barbadian singer, businesswoman, actress, model, and songwriter. She is widely regarded as one of the most prominent recording artists of the 21st century. Rihanna signed with Def Jam Recordings in 2005 and found mainstream recognition following the release of her first two studio albums, Music of the Sun (2005) and A Girl Like Me (2006). Both influenced by Caribbean music, the albums quickly earned commercial success and peaked within the top ten on the US Billboard 200 chart. Her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad (2007), incorporated elements of dance-pop, and established her status as a prominent music industry icon. Its lead single, "Umbrella" peaked atop the US Billboard Hot 100, won her first Grammy Award from three nominations, and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexa Ray Joel</span> American singer, songwriter, and pianist (born 1985)

Alexa Ray Joel is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. She is the only child of singer-songwriter Billy Joel and model Christie Brinkley. Joel released an EP Sketches (2006) and several singles on independent record labels. She has performed at numerous charity events and New York City fashion events.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keisha Buchanan</span> British singer (born 1984)

Keisha Buchanan is an English singer and a founding member of the girl group Sugababes alongside Mutya Buena and Siobhán Donaghy. With the Sugababes, she had six number one singles and two number one studio albums, making them one of the most successful British pop acts of the 21st century. Buchanan was sacked to leave the group in September 2009 and was replaced by Jade Ewen. Buchanan returned to the group in 2012 with the original lineup.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alesha Dixon</span> English singer and dancer (born 1978)

Alesha Anjanette Dixon is an English singer, rapper, dancer, television personality, and author. She rose to fame in the early 2000s as a member of the garage, R&B and hip hop group Mis-Teeq, who had seven UK top 10 hits, two top 10 double platinum albums, and sold over 12 million records worldwide. After Mis-Teeq disbanded in 2005, Dixon pursued a career as a solo artist, signing a recording contract with Polydor Records. She released her debut solo studio album, Fired Up, in 2006, but due to poor record sales of its first two singles, "Lipstick" and "Knockdown", she was subsequently dropped from Polydor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Show (Girls Aloud song)</span> 2004 single by Girls Aloud

"The Show" is a song recorded by British girl group Girls Aloud for their second studio album, What Will the Neighbours Say? (2004). It was released by Polydor Records on 28 June 2004, as the lead single from the album. The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins, Lisa Cowling, Jon Shave, and Tim Powell. The synth rhythm, composed by Shave, represents a change in musical direction from the band's previous releases. "The Show" is an uptempo dance-pop, electropop and Eurodance song with elements of the 1990 rave records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Speak French</span> 2008 single by Girls Aloud

"Can't Speak French" is a song performed by British all-female pop group Girls Aloud, taken from their fourth studio album and serving as the third and final single from the album Tangled Up (2007). The song was written by Miranda Cooper, Brian Higgins and his production team Xenomania, and produced by Higgins and Xenomania. Described as "a swirling, slower cut with great jazzy guitar changes," Higgins said it was "the easiest Girls Aloud single they made." Upon its release in March 2008, "Can't Speak French" charted within the top ten on the UK Singles Chart, continuing their five-year streak of top ten hits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diana Vickers</span> English singer-songwriter, actress and fashion designer

Diana Vickers is an English singer, songwriter and actress. She was semi-finalist on The X Factor in 2008. Vickers signed a record deal with RCA Records and, after touring with her fellow finalists from The X Factor, played the title role in a West End revival of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls Aloud discography</span>

The discography of British-Irish girl group Girls Aloud consists of five studio albums, two compilation albums, twenty-three singles, one promotional single, two live albums, one remix album, two box sets, eleven video albums and twenty-four music videos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Roux</span> English synth-pop act

La Roux is an English synth-pop act formed in 2008 by singer Elly Jackson and record producer Ben Langmaid. The act's debut album La Roux (2009) was a critical and commercial success, winning a Grammy Award and producing hit singles such as "In for the Kill" and "Bulletproof". Recording of a follow-up album was marred by unsuccessful collaborations, the cancellation of two planned release dates, and reported conflict between the duo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jade Ewen</span> British singer and actress

Jade Louise Ewen is a British singer, actress and a former member of the girl group Sugababes. She began her singing career in a girl group named Trinity Stone, which signed with Sony BMG in 2005 but disbanded in 2007 without releasing an album. In 2009, after winning the right, she represented the United Kingdom in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest by performing the Andrew Lloyd Webber / Diane Warren penned "It's My Time". She finished in fifth place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">About a Girl (Sugababes song)</span> 2009 single by Sugababes

"About a Girl" is a song by English girl group Sugababes from their seventh studio album, Sweet 7 (2010). RedOne produced the song and wrote it in collaboration with Makeba Riddick. It is an uptempo europop and future house song with a dance-inspired middle eight. The song was released on 8 November 2009 in the United Kingdom and Ireland, as the album's second single. "About a Girl" is the first single to feature vocals by band member Jade Ewen, following the departure of Keisha Buchanan, the last remaining original member, in September 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dionne Bromfield</span> British singer (born 1996)

Dionne Julia Bromfield is a British soul music singer, television presenter and television personality. Her debut album, Introducing Dionne Bromfield, was released in 2009 by Amy Winehouse's Lioness Records label. She first came to public attention after performing on the British TV show Strictly Come Dancing with Amy Winehouse on backing vocals. She is known for being one of the former presenters on Friday Download. On 15 July 2021, Bromfield released the single "Silly Love", nearly 10 years after the death of her godmother Amy Winehouse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Florrie</span> English pop singer-songwriter, drummer and model

Florence Ellen Arnold, better known as Florrie, is an English pop singer-songwriter, drummer and model. Closely associated with the Xenomania production house, since joining as their in-house drummer in 2008 she has played live and on record for popular artists such as Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud and the Pet Shop Boys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Promise This</span> 2010 single by Cheryl Cole

"Promise This" is a song by English recording artist Cheryl Cole, taken from her second studio album Messy Little Raindrops (2010). It was released in the United Kingdom and Ireland as the album's lead single on 24 October 2010 by Fascination Records. The up-tempo dance-pop song was written by American songwriter Priscilla Renea Hamilton, British music producer Wayne Wilkins, and Christopher Jackson and produced by Wilkins. The lyrics to "Promise This" reference Cole's personal life and relationships, as well as incorporating the French language. The single's release came in the aftermath of a public divorce from footballer Ashley Cole, as well as a life-threatening battle with malaria.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Give Me All Your Luvin'</span> 2012 single by Madonna

"Give Me All Your Luvin'" is a song by American singer Madonna from her twelfth studio album, MDNA (2012). It features guest vocals by Trinidadian-American rapper Nicki Minaj and English rapper M.I.A. The song was written and produced by Madonna and Martin Solveig, with additional writing by M.I.A., Minaj and Michael Tordjman. After working with Solveig on one song, Madonna continued recording others including "Give Me All Your Luvin'". Madonna chose to work with M.I.A. and Minaj on the track since she felt they were both strong women with unique voices. She also liked their music and what they represented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turn Up the Radio (Madonna song)</span> 2012 single by Madonna

"Turn Up the Radio" is a song recorded by American recording artist Madonna for her twelfth studio album, MDNA (2012). It was written by Madonna, Martin Solveig, Michael Tordjman and Jade Williams, and produced by Madonna and Solveig. The song was released as the fourth and final single from the album on June 29, 2012. The single was also released as a digital EP, and included a remix featuring the group Far East Movement. "Turn Up the Radio" is a dance-pop, electropop and Euro house song with a French house-inspired chorus.

<i>MDNA World Tour</i> (album) 2013 live album by Madonna

MDNA World Tour is the fourth live album by American singer and songwriter Madonna. It was released on September 6, 2013, by Interscope Records as a full concert on all formats including a double-disc CD, DVD, and Blu-ray. Madonna had embarked on the MDNA Tour for promotion of her twelfth studio album MDNA. The tour was a commercial success although it courted a number of controversies. The performances at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida during the North American leg of the MDNA Tour were documented for video release. The recording was directed by Danny B. Tull and Stephane Sennour who included footage from other shows of the tour.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raye</span> English singer-songwriter (born 1997)

Rachel Agatha Keen, known professionally as Raye, is an English pop/R&B singer-songwriter. Her debut studio album, My 21st Century Blues (2023) was released independently to critical and commercial success, and won Album of the Year at the 2024 BRIT Awards. Among five other awards for which she was a recipient, Raye broke the record for most wins and nominations for an artist at the ceremony in a single year.

References

  1. "Post on Facebook page". Whinnie Williams. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 "Interview: Jade Williams". Hertfordshire Life. 13 June 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  3. "Sunday Girl". UK Festival Guides. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  4. "Flat Out Fabulous: renters will love this BBC home makeover show with a difference". Stylist magazine. 26 July 2020.
  5. "Flat Out Fabulous". BBC. 27 July 2020.
  6. Paul Lester (30 April 2010). "New band of the day – No 777: Sunday Girl | Music | guardian.co.uk". London: Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  7. Alice Fisher (28 March 2010). "One to watch: Sunday Girl | Music | The Observer". London: Guardian. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  8. "Biography: Sunday Girl". MSN. 19 October 2010. Archived from the original on 13 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  9. "Changing Face". Vogue UK. 25 May 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  10. "Sunday Girl Interview". The Student Pocket Guide. Archived from the original on 15 December 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  11. "Big Tune: Sunday Girl | The Ruckus". Whatstheruckus.com. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  12. 1 2 "Sunday Girl: on tour". MSN. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  13. "SUNDAY GIRL Live at London XOYO". The Electricity Club. 19 December 2010. Archived from the original on 9 October 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  14. "Stop Hey – Sunday Girl". Record of the Day. 19 November 2010. Archived from the original on 15 March 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  15. "Sunday Girl: Making a music video". MSN. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  16. "Sunday Girl To Support LMFAO on UK Tour!". Sunday Girl Official Website. 10 October 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  17. "Sunday Girl". Glamour Magazine UK. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  18. "Ooh La La!". JP Talent. 18 April 2012. Archived from the original on 30 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  19. "Madonna, 'MDNA': Track-By-Track Review". Billboard.com. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  20. "Sunday Girl". Vogue UK. 5 October 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  21. "Sunday Girl". MSN. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 5 November 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  22. "Firetrap by Sunday Girl". Firetrap. 30 November 2010. Archived from the original on 6 January 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2012.
  23. NME "Musician Portraits – Joe Simpson's paintings of rock stars" "2011"
  24. Emily Wadsworth "Whinnie Williams on being Mark Ronson’s DJ, nerves and Coco Chanel",LOOK,February 4, 2016
  25. "Chart Log UK – 2012". Zobbel.de. Retrieved 24 May 2020.