- Fri, 2010-10-01 15:51
In 2007 Jay Mya set up Druken Boy Records from his home in South Yorkshire. Counting Chipmunk, Ironik and Bashy among its fans, the label became known as the key urban output of South Yorkshire...And now the young singer/songwriter from Rotherham releases his debut single In The Morning. We caught up with Jay to find out his ambitions.
"I Like Music because… music is my life! I have no idea what I would do without it!” Jay Mya
ILM: How would you describe the vibe of your single In The Morning?
Jay Mya: I would describe the track as having a feel good party vibe with an extremely catchy chorus. The concept of the track is one that many people in and around my generation can relate to and it also has a good element of humour involved!
ILM: How would you describe your process of making music?
Jay Mya: I love making music, and it’s great to start something new. I usually start with a concept and then play about with the melodies to build the chorus but sometimes it's just fun to jam about and see what happens.
ILM: Who are your biggest musical inspirations?
Jay Mya: Any artist that has achieved success doing what they love is a big inspiration to me. I have a very diverse taste in music and, worldwide, I would have to say artists like Usher and Jay Z etc.. Big names in the UK Urban scene like Dizzee Rascal, Tinchy Stryder and Tine Tempah are also a massive inspiration to me as they are doing a lot for UK music at the moment. But lets not forget the likes of Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Lionel Richie.. I just love good music!
ILM: What's your earliest musical memory? When did you realise it was what you wanted to do?
Jay Mya: I can remember singing Elvis’s Blue Suede Shoes in front of the School at 8 years old haha! I have always loved performing, and I was lucky enough to see Michael Jackson on his History tour when I was 11. That was amazing!
I think the decision of wanting to make a career from music came when I was about 14. I would spend hours in the garage with my decks playing about with various instrumentals and recording my own tracks. I have obviously done a lot since then days but every new chapter in my life makes me want it more and more.
ILM: What can we expect if we come to see Jay Mya live?
Jay Mya: I’m a very energetic performer and love to interact with the crowd as much as possible. I just love what I do and it shows a lot on stage. If you come to see me live expect high energy and be prepared to get involved!
ILM: What sets you apart from the rest?
Jay Mya: I suppose one good thing about me is that I write all my own lyrics and melodies from start to finish and not many do. I don’t class myself as an amazing singer but I’m not just a rapper. I don’t like to be boxed-in to one genre. I love the freedom to make whatever sounds good and whatever I enjoy.
ILM: What have you been listening to recently?
Jay Mya: I am really enjoying the music from Tinie Tempah and Example at the moment. These two artists both have a very fresh sound and have achieved a lot this year. I am also loving the very creative work from Duck Sauce.
ILM: What do you think of the current UK music scene?
Jay Mya: I think 2010 has been a really good year for UK music. We have seen a lot of UK number ones from actual UK artists this year. I think we are definitely getting stronger, especially in the urban scene. At the moment we have the likes of Tinie Tempah and Roll Deep dominating the UK charts we also have Jay Sean and Tiao Cruz smashing it over in the States.
ILM: What are your future plans?
Jay Mya: At the moment I am really focused on the release of my debut single and now that I have some big people behind me I’m expecting it to do really well. I’m also recording the debut album which is set for release next year and I'm just planning to work really hard and enjoy every minute of it!
ILM: Anything else we should know?
Jay Mya: I’m currently doing a UK promo tour so check the website for dates in your area. We are also filming each step of the way for ‘Jay Mya TV’- This can be seen online at www.YouTube.com/JayMyaTV
