Stoke-on-Trent artist Darla Jade celebrates gold export success for ‘Wish We Could’

Stoke-on-Trent artist Darla Jade has been awarded a gold export for “Wish We Could”, following more than 15 million copies sold.

The Staffordshire Signal is incredibly proud to see a local Stokie achieving such remarkable success within the music industry.

Born in Stoke-on-Trent, Darla Jade has continued to build an impressive career within the electropop scene, performing at venues and festivals including Emirates Old Trafford for The Hundred and Tramlines Festival.

She has also gained support from BBC Radio 1 for her latest single, “Dirty Laundry”, and has supported artists including Dizzee Rascal in Stoke-on-Trent, Natalie Shay in London and Camden Cox & Friends in London.

Darla has performed at BBC Maida Vale for BBC Introducing, headlined The Waiting Room and had her music featured on television programmes including Love Island and The Only Way Is Essex.

Her single “Backseat Driver” was championed by Mollie King on BBC Radio 1’s Future Pop. It also appeared on Spotify playlists including New Music Friday UK, New Pop Revolution and Fresh Finds Pop.

Following the gold export success of “Wish We Could”, The Staffordshire Signal spoke to Darla about her musical beginnings, early inspirations and work as a songwriter.

How Darla Jade first became involved in music

When asked when she first got into music, Darla said:

“I got into music at a really young age, even though no one in my family worked in the music industry. My mum used to play Celine Dion to help me fall asleep, and she taught me my very first song, Eternal Flame by The Bangles. From the age of five right through to eighteen, I was always involved in performing arts and regularly took part in local amateur dramatic productions. I just loved being on stage and performing. I started gigging in pubs and clubs when I was 15, and then around 18 or 19 I began writing my own music. I've been writing and performing ever since, and it's still what I love doing most.”

The artists who inspired her growing up

Darla’s early listening ranged from Kylie Minogue to Kodaline, with several singers and songwriters helping to influence her development as an artist.

She said:

“I used to listen to a lot of Kylie Minogue growing up. My nan only had two videos, so it was either all of Kylie’s greatest hits or Mr Blobby, which was not exactly a difficult choice haha! In my teens, my favourite band was Kodaline, and they were a huge inspiration when it came to starting to make my own music. Some of my other favourites at the time were Melanie Martinez, AURORA, Tom Odell and James Bay, all of whom influenced me in different ways.”

How those influences continue to shape her music

Alongside her work as Darla Jade, she is also part of the indie band søftbleach.

Discussing whether the musicians she grew up listening to continue to influence her work, Darla said:

“Well, I'm also in an indie band now called søftbleach, so when I'm writing more indie-leaning material, I probably still subconsciously draw inspiration from the artists above as I listened to them so much growing up! I love writing across lots of different genres, and I think having such a varied taste in music growing up has probably helped with that. Listening to so many different styles over the years has definitely influenced the way I write and approach music today.”

Writing with artists from across the dance music scene

Darla also works as a songwriter within the fast-moving dance music industry and has collaborated with artists from across the scene.

She said:

“I work with a lot of different artists as a songwriter in the dance music space, which is incredibly fast-paced and always evolving. Over the years, I've had the opportunity to work with artists including Kaskade, BLOND:ISH, Gorgon City, Alok, Nico De Andrea, Westend, INNA, Au/Ra and Rebūke, to name a few.”

From performing in local amateur dramatic productions and gigging in pubs and clubs at the age of 15 to working with internationally recognised artists, Darla Jade’s career continues to grow.

Her gold export success for “Wish We Could” marks another major achievement for the Stoke-on-Trent artist and another moment of pride for her home city.

Follow Darla on socials to hear all her latest news and to find out where you can see her next @itsdarlajade