A Chat with Bradley Jago (06.11.25)
With an unapologetic autobiographical discography, Bradley Jago’s music is intimate and personal but still highly relatable, resonating with audiences. We speak with the UK-based singer-songwriter about his new single, ‘Killer Queen’, inspiration, and much more.
OSR: What inspired the story behind your new release, ‘Killer Queen’? And what does it represent in your own life right now?
Jago: It’s about my first love. One of the moments was when I was telling him secrets about one of my old friends, and I thought damn, if he wanted to, he could really ruin my life. He knows my weaknesses and secrets, my trigger points, but he chooses not to. It was a scary thing learning to be this vulnerable for the first time.
OSR: You describe your music as “queer soul for queer souls.” How does that identity shape the way you write and perform your songs?
Jago: It’s more so that the music shapes the tagline, haha. I never intentionally write “queer soul” music, but I’d been writing for a while and thought these stories are all so queer, and the music is obviously soulful, so of course it’s queer soul! I actually try to leave this label of “queer soul for queer souls” out of the writing room, just in case I want to make something that isn’t that.
OSR: The production on ‘Killer Queen’ is lush and groove-driven. Can you tell us about working with Logan Aspin and your creative process in bringing the track to life?
Jago: So, I started writing it with Tony Sage and Oscar Gross, and that was where the main part of the song was written, including the basics of the key bass line. But then I took it to Logan, and he has a way of bringing the songs to life. This song was a bit more fully formed than others I’ve taken to him in the past, so it felt quite collaborative, which I think is the best thing!
OSR: What story or emotion were you hoping to capture visually that complements the music?
Jago: To me, this song represents the darkness and playfulness of first love. It can feel so dangerous and serious, but the next minute, you’ve forgotten about it because you’re wrapped up in something so special for the first time. I wanted both the serious and whimsy to carry over to the visuals, too. For example, on the cover, I’m wearing a noose as a tie and in other shots, my tie has a wire in it to make it look like it’s blowing in the wind. These fashion choices represent the song for me.
OSR: You’ve said this single marks the beginning of a new chapter, leading up to your next EP. How does ‘Killer Queen’ set the tone for what’s coming next in 2026?
Jago: Finishing up this EP now, I’ve realised it’s about queer first love, and everything that brought it up for me. I found a lot of insecurities within myself that had shape shifted from insecurity about being single to then more internalised beliefs. I basically thought being in a relationship might sort my head out, but it just changed it, haha. There are definitely some ballads on the EP, and it’s darker and more dramatic than my debut EP.
OSR: There’s a real tension in the song between vulnerability and empowerment. How do you navigate that emotional balance when you’re writing?
Jago: For ‘Killer Queen’, it was a lot about how clear can I make the lyrics for people to understand the push and pull. The chorus is two halves lyrically, with the first half being the doubts and the second being the acknowledgement of my mind. The strings play a big role in creating the tension musically, and the bridge is probably the most important lyric of the song, “I don’t want to leave you. I just want to leave me.”
OSR: Your sound blends timeless soul textures with a modern pop polish. Who are some of the artists or records that have most influenced this fusion in your music?
Jago: Adele is my number one. I love her so much, so her whole discography, haha. Also Amy Winehouse – Back to Black, Sam Smith – The Thrill of it All, Olivia Dean – Messy, Lauryn Hill – The Miseducation, Stevie Wonder, Donny Hathaway.
OSR: You’ve been championed by BBC Music Introducing and Future Hits Radio, how has that kind of support shaped your journey so far?
Jago: It’s been so gorgeous to be supported by people who care so much about independent artists. It’s given me a sense that I’m doing something right.
OSR: You’ve spoken about growing up in Portsmouth and finding your creative freedom in London. How has that personal journey shaped the stories you’re telling now?
Jago: A lot of my figuring out my sexuality in Portsmouth was in secret, because none of my friends were queer or that I knew of at the time. So I’d meet guys, but it would always be quite quietly, and the choices are very limited, haha. Then, when I moved to London, it also felt kind of secret because I felt so anonymous. I didn’t know anyone, so I could literally do whatever I liked without many consequences. These stories of both cities have really shaped my music up until now.
OSR: Finally, what do you hope listeners take away from ‘Killer Queen’ and your upcoming EP?
Jago: From ‘Killer Queen’, I just hope they enjoy it, honestly. It’s a song I really enjoyed making, and obviously, there’s a depth to it, but I didn’t feel particularly heavy when making it, unlike a lot of the EP.
The EP is quite dark and introspective, and I just hope that if there are people who relate to the stories, then my music can be a soundtrack to whatever is going on in their lives. My favourite music is when someone is so honest that it makes you realise things about yourself you didn’t know before listening to it. And if I can do that, and make people discover things about themselves, then that would be amazing.
Many thanks to Bradley Jago for speaking with us. Find out more about Bradley Jago on his Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Spotify.
This artist was sent to us by Renn PR.
