by sara welden
photo courtesy of ivav, a division of curb | word entertainment
Constantly seeking to broaden his hip-hop roots, genre-defying artist Jay-Way has returned with an explosive new track, “Running Out Of Love.” Back from the road after playing sold out European gigs supporting Rini and also performing at SXSW in Austin, TX, Jay-Way is drawing massive amounts of attention, and rightfully so! Learn more about the artist below, and be sure to keep Jay-Way on your radar!
Congratulations on the release of your new single, “Running Out Of Love!” Could you tell us about the inspiration behind the track?
Jay-Way: “Thank you so much! I've been in relationship stages where things started to feel forced. Neither of us felt like breaking up, but neither dared to do it. That's where I drew inspiration from.”
Your roots are in hip-hop but “Running Out Of Love” is also infused with pop-punk undertones. Where did that initial idea come from?
Jay-Way: “I love it! I pull influences from many genres, all of which I listen to. I wrote the song in Nashville, where I connected with a producer named Sajan Nauriyal. I loved his sound, and the result felt organic. We realized our taste in music was similar, so we created the record.”
I love how your music goes beyond genre and pulls influence from multiple styles. Is there a genre or area of music that you haven’t explored yet but would like to in the future?
Jay-Way: “Definitely. I'd love to experiment with Nu Metal and Bossa Nova for sure. Also, I grew up listening to a lot of Afrobeat. My parents are from Ghana so it was natural. That's a genre I want to experiment with.”
Who are some of your biggest influences when it comes to the music that you make?
Jay-Way: “Michael Jackson, Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Tyler, The Creator, and Childish Gambino. There are so many other artists but those come to mind first for various reasons.”
What does the typical songwriting process usually look like for you?
Jay-Way: “I like recording melodies on top of a beat and the words come later. Melodies are so universal. Someone could always understand the melody even if they don't understand the words.”
You recently finished up supporting Rini on your first European tour! What was that experience like for you? Is there a favorite memory that comes to mind from those shows?
Jay-Way: “Amazing!! I loved it so much. My favorite memory was taking off my shades and the crowd going crazy. A real Michael Jackson moment [laughs].”
You collaborated with Social House on your 2020 EP, No, I’m Not Ok. What was that collaborative experience like?
Jay-Way: “For that project, I worked with their associates, Isabella Sjöstrand and Anton Göransson. I did end up working with Social House last year for my upcoming album. The experience was crazy. These guys are so talented and I can't wait for the world to hear these songs. Stadium music for sure!”
Is there anyone in particular that you’d like to collaborate with in the future?
Jay-Way: “Pharrell without a doubt. Been my dream since I was a little kid.”
Since releasing your first single, “Cool Kid,” in 2014, what have you learned about yourself as an artist along the way?
Jay-Way: “I've learned to embrace my uniqueness. That's the only way that I'll stand out.”
What’s next for Jay-Way? Any goals or hopes for what’s in store?
Jay-Way: “I'm having fun with the singles but there's an album on the way. My debut album [through a record label]. Other than that I'll be on the road a lot.”