4.16.2025
Jae Stephens Turns Up The Heat With “SMH,” Her New Single and Music Video, Out Now via Raedio/Def Jam
Stream HERE
Watch HERE
Recently Announced as an Opener for FLO’s “AAA Tour,” the Dallas-Born Singer/Songwriter/Producer Continues Her Mission to Bring Fun Back to R&B, Sharing a Slinky and Shape-Shifting Single, Her First Since the Release of 2024’s Acclaimed SELLOUT EP, and Hosting a Casting Call for Potential Baes in the Playful Video
Critical Praise:
“the Internet’s ‘Black Pop Star,'” – PAPER Mag
“Jae Stephens has emerged as a powerful voice in pop and R&B, blending her exceptional songwriting and production skills to create a distinctive sound that captivates audiences.” – BET
“A CELEBRATION OF DOING THINGS YOUR OWN WAY” – NYLON
“She’s already honed a distinct sound—a mix of classic R&B influences and polished modern production” –Complex
“There’s a new era on the horizon for Dallas singer Jae Stephens, and her new single “WET” is proof. Stephens takes control of her world on the futuristic song, as it showcases her confidence and ability to shine on various production styles.” – UPROXX
“Jae Stephens is indeed an artist to watch” –Rated R&B
The Video:
Jae Stephens specializes in serving uptempo R&B and pop bangers that feel both classic and contemporary. Today, the Dallas-born singer-songwriter makes a triumphant return, sharing “SMH,” her first new single and music video since last September’s acclaimed SELLOUT EP. “SMH” shows off Jae’s skillful melodic approach and pop versatility, as she switches from conversational rhythms to swooning falsettos over syncopated handclaps and spritely synths. Adding a bouncy pop element to her R&B core, the playful new banger finds Jae flipping through her rolodex of “h*es” to find a companion for the night who will bring the most pleasure and least drama: “I got Chris, I met online/Sean aint sh*t but he so fine/I might be theirs, but they ain’t mine/I got so so so so, so many/H*es” she sings. In the video, which features cameos from Maeta, TA Thomas, Brandon Banks, and Larry Van Buren, Jae Stephens host an open audition for the perfect man, studying each with a critical eye until she realizes that she doesn’t have to choose.
A mission statement arriving after spending years as your favorite singer’s favorite singer, SELLOUT was a major moment for Jae Stephens, as she proved that she could write earworms that stand up to any contemporary pop star’s. Blending influences from all eras into six shimmering and seductive tracks, SELLOUT is a playful and energetic change of pace for R&B fans who wish their faves would be less dour and confessional and would just have more fun. Jae happily obliges, eschewing ballads in favor of songs designed to keep hips moving, packed with playful one-liners and buoyant hooks. The EP is home to the glistening “WET,” recognized by Elle as one of the Best Songs of April 2024, “Girls Don’t Cheat,” co-written by Chxrry22 and covered by BET and Rated R&B, and fan-favorite “Body Favors,” which recently passed 1 million streams on Spotify. In the fall, SELLOUT and Jae Stephens earned coverage in PAPER Mag, who called her “the Internet’s Black pop star.” Starting in May, fans can see Jae Stephens live as direct support for FLO on their “AAA Tour.”
With SELLOUT in the rearview, Jae Stephens is planning a new EP to satisfy her JaeBaes and win over new fans. Stay tuned for more announcements in the near future.
Watch “SMH”: https://jaestephens.lnk.to/SMHvideo
Stream “SMH”: https://jaestephens.lnk.to/SMH
Buy tix for FLO’s “AAA Tour,” featuring Jae Stephens as direct support, HERE
Stream SELLOUT: https://symphony.to/jae-stephens/sellout
Photo Credit: Gianni Gallant
Please contact Michelle or Chris for more info.
The Background:
Jae Stephens, is an R&B futurist originally from Dallas and now based in Los Angeles. Since emerging as a talent to watch in her teens, Jae Stephens has been carving out her own lane in R&B. The Dallas native first turned heads as a teenaged R&B prodigy, gaining notice with her soul-stirring vocals and preternatural songwriting ability. While she was a high school student, Stephens built a devoted audience on Tumblr, winning 200,000 followers with her sterling covers of pop and R&B songs and her entertaining life updates. She stepped out on her own as a 19-year-old, in 2017, releasing “24K,” a single that earned praise from The FADER and garnered Jae a performance on COLORS. In 2019, Jae released f**k it, i’ll do it myself, a fully self-written and self-produced EP, home to her fan favorite single “got it like that,” and joined her friend Khalid during his performance on Saturday Night Live. She has collaborated with kindred spirits like THEY, VanJess, Khamari, and Xavier Omar, and has racked up more than 50 million streams across her catalog. Her most recent EP, SELLOUT, shifted her sound in a more uptempo and energetic direction.
Links:
spotify | tiktok | instagram | youtube | soundcloud | facebook
“SMH”: https://jaestephens.lnk.to/SMH / https://jaestephens.lnk.to/SMHvideo
SELLOUT EP: https://symphony.to/jae-stephens/sellout
“Body Favors”: https://symphony.to/jae-stephens/body-favors / https://jaestephens.lnk.to/BodyFavorsVid
“Girls Don’t Cheat”: https://jaestephens.lnk.to/GirlsDontCheat / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jf8uwat8RcY
“WET”: https://jaestephens.lnk.to/WET / https://youtu.be/KxmD5QSbMNc