Jada Denise’s star may still be on the rise, but she can say one thing with confidence: “There’s no artist out there right now that sounds like me.” Indeed, her powerhouse voice punches far above her five-foot height, as adept at crooning a sultry R&B slow jam as showing off an octave-jumping vocal run.
Denise, 22, spent several years in the girl group Psiryn, which earned accolades for their lush, synthy track “Sober.” The three members split amicably in 2025, citing artistic differences; Denise is now venturing into a solo career, finding her own sound while taking inspiration from icons such as Beyoncé and Brandy. “It can be hard these days for people with strong voices to make records. There’s an emphasis on being something people can sing along to,” she says. Her goal is different: “I’m really mastering the idea of making my voice be true to myself.”
Denise has a formidable mentor in the form of Kandi Burruss, who organized and managed Psiryn and is now helping Denise launch her solo career. “Kandi is one of those people who truly thrives off of seeing other people’s dreams come true,” Denise says. “And because she grew up in the industry, she knows what it’s like to be out here as a young artist.”
Earlier this year, the two spent a week at a Miami studio, where Denise recorded song after song whipped up by Burruss and an all-star production team, including Hitmaka and Goldie. “It was such a vigorous, productive time,” Denise says. The new album is set to be released in 2027; the lead single, “Skip the Party,” hits music platforms soon.
Denise moved to Atlanta with her family in 10th grade and still finds it an inspiring city to call home. “Music is so deeply connected to the culture here,” she says. “It’s made me ambitious, because you see so many people from here who have created something so huge.”
She’d like to see the city invest more in up-and-coming artists—by organizing festivals that highlight them, for instance, or issuing micro-grants to help get their careers off the ground. But between Burruss’s guidance and her own raw talent, Denise says she has all she needs to seize her future. “I’ve been singing since birth, practically,” she says. “I’ve always wanted to build my life around music, and here I am.”
Viral moment
In June, Jada Denise lit up the stage—and then the internet—singing Deborah Cox’s “Nobody’s Supposed to Be Here” with the artist Kyng Music at a birthday party for the influencer Big Sexy. “It was this cute moment, but after it went viral on social media, [the producer] Hitmaka saw it and reached out to Kandi, and from that point forward, my life kind of changed overnight!”
Favorite Kandi Burruss song
“Don’t Think I’m Not” from Hey Kandi (2000). “It’s such a timeless R&B record, and I love the confidence and attitude behind it.”
Best Atlanta venue for live music
El Malo (Reynoldstown). “They’ve got the best Caribbean music!”
Instagram
@jadadenise
Back to “Legends Look Ahead.”
This article appears in our November 2026 issue.
