Bradley Jago - 'Killer Queen'
Bradley Jago turns first love into confessional soul with single ‘Killer Queen’.
Led by diaristic instincts, Bradley Jago treats his music as a place to lay things bare, and his latest single, ‘Killer Queen’, leans heavily into these confessional roots. Now London-based but raised in Portsmouth, Bradley blends the warmth of classic soul with a modern pop sensibility, with each release serving as a clear-sighted snapshot into queer love and self-discovery. Bradley’s discography has always been anchored in autobiography, from his 2021 debut ‘Moonstruck’ to his recent arresting ballad ‘People Need People,’ his sound is routinely tender and unafraid to delve into the complexities of these stories. Bradley shares,
“I’ve grown up listening to soul music, but none of the songs spoke about queerness front and centre or in intricate detail. So, I want to make songs I would want to listen to for all the queer people out there that love soul music but don’t hear themselves in it.”
At its heart, ‘Killer Queen’ is a study in vulnerability, as it explores the uneasy spin that comes with falling in love for the first time. Through groove-heavy bass riffs and swinging drums, the single traces the thrill and vulnerability of falling so deeply it’s almost lethal. True to form, its emotional centre takes shape through Bradley’s own reflections on entering his first relationship. He embraced the excitement, yes, but was confronted with the intrusive questioning of whether it could be trusted, Bradley explains, “It’s about surrendering my reservations in the name of love, and how being so vulnerable leaves your life in their hands.” With his tongue firmly in his cheek, Bradley questions, “Am I in love with a killer queen?”
It’s Bradley’s signature vocals that bring the story to life with striking emotional depth. Bradley’s ability to convey nuanced emotion through tone alone is a hallmark of his craft, and ‘Killer Queen’ lays that talent bare. While his performance prowess nods gently toward the emotional candour of early Sam Smith or the lyrical sensitivity of Joy Crookes, Bradley’s presence is wholly his own.
Beneath him, the arrangement keeps its palette lean. London-based producer and rising artist Logan Aspin sculpts a backing that threads neo-soul tradition through a modern pop needle. With subtle synth details, soft harmonic layers, and the measured sweep of Shirin Nisametdin’s strings, Logan Aspin lets a nostalgic air drift through an otherwise crisp soundscape. With a creative team including Rotem Aberbach, Joseph Burnett, Tony Sage, Oscar Gross, and Shirin Nisametdin, ‘Killer Queen’ may mark Bradley’s most pop-leaning release so far, yet there’s no loosening of the emotional closeness that anchors his artistry.
As the lead offering of his upcoming EP arriving next Spring, ‘Killer Queen’ affirms what his earlier releases have steadily revealed, Bradley is carving out a space where queer stories sit at the heart of soul music, shaping them into songs that feel both resonant and emotionally universal. And once you’ve stepped into his radiant world of ‘queer soul for queer souls’, it’s hard not to fall for the sound shaping his ascent.
Words by Sasha Renn
