Twenty years on from the release of “Step Up” – Samantha Jade’s glossy, Diane Warren–penned introduction to the pop world – it’s striking how aptly that title has come to describe her career. Again and again, Jade has stepped up: into new creative arenas, back into an industry that repeatedly underestimated her, and into her own artistic power with increasing clarity and confidence. As she prepares to release her new single “Very That” on February 20, 2026, this feels like the perfect moment to reassess a singer whose talent has long outpaced the level of recognition she has received.
Back in 2006, “Step Up” announced a singer with an immediately recognisable tone: bright, breezy, polished yet emotive – a light-lyric soprano capable of crystalline clarity and surprising warmth. Even then, Jade’s voice stood apart from many of her contemporaries. It had a Mariah-esque shimmer without imitation, a Beyoncé-like precision without over-singing, and a distinctly Australian ease that made her feel both global and grounded. Yet the song, and the early chapters of her career, arrived in a fickle pop landscape that didn’t quite know what to do with her.
The years that followed could have broken a lesser artist. Jade experienced the frustrations of the industry firsthand: a shelved debut album at Jive Records, dropped contracts, delayed releases, and the precarious reality of working independently. Instead of retreating, she persisted – working, writing, experimenting, and quietly honing her craft. Her co-writing for artists like JoJo and Ashley Tisdale, and her collaborations with figures like David Guetta and Laidback Luke, revealed a songwriter with a sharp ear for melody and structure, even when her own projects were stuck in limbo.
Her career-defining pivot came in 2012 with The X Factor Australia. Jade didn’t just win, she transformed public perception of her. Week after week, she demonstrated technical command, emotional maturity, and a stage presence that felt both intimate and arena-ready. Performances like “Wide Awake,” “Heartless,” and “Scream” showcased a vocalist who could handle vulnerability, power, and pop spectacle with equal authority. When she became the first woman to win the Australian series, it felt like a long-overdue coronation rather than a reality-TV surprise.
Post-X Factor, Jade delivered some of the strongest mainstream pop Australia has produced in the last two decades. “Firestarter” was sleek, modern, and perfectly tailored to her voice; a Platinum-certified hit that deserved to place her alongside the biggest names in regional and global pop. “Soldier” and “Up!” further proved her versatility, while her album Nine revealed a more personal, reflective artist who could balance commercial instinct with authentic expression.
What has always set Jade apart, however, is not just her catalogue but her artistry. Live, she is a natural: poised, charismatic, and genuinely connected to her audience. Her vocals on stage are consistently controlled yet full of feeling. She doesn’t hide behind backing tracks or overproduction, because she simply doesn’t need to. Her phrasing, breath control, and tonal consistency put her above many artists who have enjoyed far greater commercial success.
Creatively, Jade has never been static. From disco-inspired covers on Best of My Love to the more contemporary pop-R&B textures of her EPs Love.Sick Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, she has shown both reverence for her influences (Brandy, TLC, Jennifer Lopez) and a desire to evolve. Her music has increasingly reflected her own tastes rather than chasing trends – a move that has made her work feel more confident, cohesive, and distinctly “Samantha Jade.”
And yet, there remains a lingering sense that Jade should be a bigger star than she is. Not bigger in terms of relevance – she is still a respected, visible, and admired figure in Australian entertainment – but bigger in terms of industry recognition, international profile, and chart dominance. Her voice alone places her in a league with artists who have built global careers. Her songwriting instincts, pop sensibility, and professionalism have always been there. What she has lacked at times is not talent, but timing, support, and the kind of sustained momentum that the industry often grants more easily to others.
What makes Jade truly remarkable, though, is her resilience. Few artists could endure the setbacks she has faced and emerge still ambitious, still creative, still hungry. From working in her father’s mining factory to headlining tours, from soap opera stardom on Home and Away to commanding the stage in Pretty Woman: The Musical, Jade has refused to be boxed in or written off. Tenacious, adaptable, and deeply dedicated to her craft, she embodies the kind of longevity that comes from genuine passion rather than fleeting fame.
Now, as she readies “Very That,” there’s a sense that Jade is entering another defining chapter. The title itself feels playful, self-assured, and unapologetically pop – a declaration rather than a question. After two decades in the industry, she no longer needs to prove herself; she simply needs to be heard on the scale she deserves.
Twenty years after “Step Up,” it’s time for the industry – and the wider pop audience – to fully step up to Samantha Jade. She has the voice, the artistry, the work ethic, and the star power. What remains is the recognition that has always felt just slightly out of reach. If “Very That” is any indication, Jade isn’t slowing down – she’s arriving, again, exactly on her own terms.
And that, ultimately, is what makes her such a compelling artist to celebrate.
