London, UK – BRIT award-winning singer and songwriter Jesy Nelson reveals a new stunning single ‘Bad Thing’
To accompany the release, Jesy shares the official video for ‘Bad Thing’, which was directed by Charlie Sarsfield (Stormzy, Yungblud, Mabel)
This powerful, almost painfully gorgeous track opens with Jesy contemplating an unhealthy relationship to the sound of searing strings, it closes with a prophetic piano and a sudden spark of perfectly timed introspection.
‘You’re the worst of my habits/ And I wouldn’t fix it if I could/ Damn I’ve done a bad thing/ And I know I’m damaged goods.’
Jesy says: “I don’t feel like anyone’s heard this side of me before, it’s a real, raw, honest, vulnerable side to me”
Her vocal soars on ‘Bad Thing’ is a reminder that she is a truly gifted singer and that’s felt nowhere more keenly than on this release. The single is not only about being authentic to herself but about empowering others. “Write your own rules, take control and always speak your truth”.
The powerful music video is set in the dark underbelly of London’s East End’s in the 60’s and captures a raw and turbulent love story between Jesy & Sid – Jesy is the perfect 60’s housewife whilst Sid battles with addiction and infidelity. Viewed through a retro-tinted lens, it’s an all-too common depiction of a woman lost in love and dedication for a spouse she hopes will change, and the haunting solitude of a person tormented in a dysfunctional relationship. The unsettling closing scene shows the true reality of domestic abuse and features a powerfully emotional performance from Jesy.
Untold Studios Director and Creative Director Charlie Sarsfield explains: ‘The storyline is centered around a topic that was close to Jesy’s heart and reflects some of my own experiences growing up too. We both felt this story suited the aesthetics of the 60’s. We leaned into films like ‘Legend’ for inspiration and really drew from that era in terms of styling and art. I was focused on creating cinematic scenes that you wouldn’t normally find in a music video to really immerse viewers and transport them to London’s East End in the late 60’s. It was a pleasure to work closely with Jesy on this.”
Collaborating with Women’s Aid on the narrative of the visual, a spokesperson adds: “We thank Jesy for using the music video for ‘Bad Thing’ to signpost support for women who may be affected by domestic abuse. Jesy’s video shows her character not explicitly leaving at the end, and we know from our work with survivors of domestic abuse that this is a reality for many with as many as 1.7 million women experiencing domestic abuse in the UK and Wales last year alone. Jesy’s video highlights that it is not easy to leave an abusive relationship and for women using our network of services across the country, the average length of time in abusive relationships before leaving is just over six years.There will no doubt be many people watching the video who will be living this for real and knowing that there are people who understand and will believe you, and that there is help out there, can be the difference between life and death. You don’t have to be married or living with someone for it to count as domestic abuse – if you are living in fear of your partner, if they are controlling you and you feel trapped, you can get support from Women’s Aid to safely leave when the time is right for you.”
As one quarter of Little Mix, Jesy has sold over 50 million records worldwide, including five number one singles and won three Brit awards. The UK quartet are one of the best-selling girl groups of all time, the most streamed girl group on Spotify and are credited with using their platform to advocate for female empowerment, body positivity and LGBTQ+ rights. Jesy is also an award-winning documentary presenter, thanks to her incredible work in 2019 on BBC1’s Jesy Nelson: Odd One Out, a frank, candid look at Jesy’s experiences around online bullying and body image, which won a National Television Award and a Visionary Honour award for Documentary of the Year.
