Jaylen Bradley Captures the Acute Pain of Being Burned Twice In Love with Introspective “Games”
The absolute worst in matters of the heart is when you tell someone about relationship pain you’ve experienced, and they end up doing the exact same thing to you. That’s what Jaylen Bradley’s new single “Games” is all about, and it’s bound to resonate deeply with anyone who’s been burned twice.
Bradley’s gorgeous, crystalline soprano cascades through melancholy piano and mellow beats as she takes us on a journey of a collapsing romance.
I’ll tell you what I’ve been through, tell me what’s your move
That point in time when it felt so right and
I was addicted to the old you, hate the guy that came through
Sometimes the hardest part in a situation like this is the cognitive dissonance – the heart and mind’s desire not to believe that this is actually happening … again. The song is based on a real situation in Bradley’s life, which is why it rings so true.
“I wanted to capture the idea of missing the version of him that made me happy, and that’s where the lyric ‘Addicted to the old you, hate the guy that came through’ comes from,” Bradley said. “It became hard because of how badly I wanted to be with him, yet how incredibly sick I was of the games he was playing.”
Overall, “Games” is a song about finding your inner compass and reconnecting with your self-respect, even when someone else is actively trying to tear it down.
“The song should help people understand that what can happen between two people isn’t always your fault,” Bradley advises. “It’s a song about self-worth, realizing that that person was never right for you. Realizing exactly what happened.”
Jaylen Bradley is an 18-year-old pop sensation based out of Toronto, Canada. For the last six years, Jaylen has been singing and making music through several outlets, most notably K-Tel’s Mini Pop Kids as a star soloist on the Mini Pop Kids 15 album. She was also a performer on their 2018 Make It Pop tour, consisting of 15 sold-out dates in concert theatres across Canada. Since branching out to start her solo career, Jaylen has played many shows, such as the VCR Virtual Concert series in 2021, in addition to releasing original music.
Jaylen’s influences range from ballad artists like Adele, James Arthur, and Lewis Capaldi while maintaining energetic pop production like Olivia Rodrigo and Loud Luxury. Jaylen’s first single, “Last Summer,” was released in August 2020, and she has more singles to be looking out for leading up to the launch of her debut EP.
Watch the video for “Games” below and learn more about Jaylen Bradley via our mini-interview.
Care to introduce yourself?
My name is Jaylen Bradley, and I am a singer-songwriter. My passion lies within the arts. I have been passionate about music since the age of 14. I grew up in Brantford, Ontario, Canada, with my mom, dad, and younger sister. My parents have always supported my drive for music; I wouldn’t be where I am without them.
Tell us about the process of writing “Games.”
The process began with a storyline. One that I got from my own life. The song depicts a point in my life where I was stuck trying to figure out a relationship that I felt lost in. The process began with brainstorming lyrics and coming up with a melody. After that, my producer and I began composing the music. It was all done in his home studio, just the two of us making music.
What’s it like being a musician in Toronto?
Being a musician in Toronto is exciting. There’s always stuff going on and places to perform. There’s a wide variety of diversity as well. Toronto is highly versatile in the arts. Although Toronto is a great place to be for a musician, the dream would be LA or New York.
Who was the first Canadian artist to blow you away?
The first Canadian artist to blow me away would probably be Justin Bieber. Although stereotypical, he was a Canadian boy from a small town. With a normal family who made it big. He only lived a couple of hours away from me. The first concert my mother ever took me to was a Justin Bieber concert.
You’ve been making music for a while now. What’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
The best advice I could offer to anybody starting out would be to write music that makes you feel complete. Write whatever you feel you need at the time. Music is a way of expressing yourself, and if done right can be very healing.