When Jade Ell looked through the belongings her biological mother left behind, a mother she didn’t grew up with, she found a note which read: “Buy her an accordion – I think she wants to play…”. Many years later after the note was written, Jade had bought not just one accordion but several, and it was through some tones on the accordion the idea to her new single “The Riddle” was born. Rather fitting the song is about life as a riddle, a mystery we’re trying to solve where the solution inevitably escapes us by urging us out on new unknown journeys all the time.

And the song also serves some mystique in a suggestive, dreamy atmosphere emphasized by Stefany June’ reading of the lyrics while Jade’s vocals turns into a reinforced echo of the internal monologue. The song is fringed with dark synth lines, sunny strings and dramatic toms, but there is also a feeling that remains unresolved all through the track, which pushes us towards upcoming events, like in a soundtrack. And that goes hand in hand with her intention of the forthcoming tracks, which she describes as various scenes from her life, where this song sets the ambience.

Jade Ell has earlier released three solo albums and has been involved in several projects, both as a songwriter and as an artist. She is also the singer in the art rock band Xanima which I have written about before.

Jade Ell’s site – on Facebook – on Spotify – on Apple Music