Starting with Soundcloud, the Kentucky native Jay Lei has been releasing laid-back, up-tempo new songs with hyped up lyrics perfect for any occasion. Welcome Jay Lei to Music Trails as we dive deeper into his music and upcoming releases:
Thanks for joining us! Tell us a little bit about your background and music.
Thank you for this! I appreciate it. My real name is Jimmy and I’m from Radcliff, KY. I moved there in 2005 and been living there since I graduated high school in 2015. I started music when I was in middle school but I didn’t take it seriously until I was a senior in high school. Me and my friends had this group called Youngstas Productions but everyone wanted different things so it faded out quickly and I went solo.
What projects are you currently working on?
I’m currently working on putting the finishing touches on my upcoming project “Fast Lane” but I won’t have features on that project. The next project will have a couple of collaborations. One of the songs I have coming is featuring OVRCZ from Internet Money Records.
Your debut mixtape Jimmy Blanco is what started everything for you. Which songs of yours do you mostly like sharing with new listeners and why?
Now that I look back at my first mixtape, I don’t think I would show anyone that. I would show much of my newest singles out though.
What does music mean to you? How would you describe music in one word?
Music to me means it’s for free expressions not good impressions. It makes the world go round and helps people deal with their personal issues to me. You just can’t get away from it. If I had to give it one word, it would be innovating.
You appear on the album No Frequency Collective, Vol. 1. How did you get involved with this project?
That album alone was great to make with some of my friends! There’s a lot of producers and artists on it including my friends Wonderlust, Evning, EmceeCoast, Abstract D33, Lizzardbrain, and Young Socrates. Long story short, I transferred to Middle Tennessee State University and met them all there and we clicked because we had the same common interest which is music.
Who are your favorite artists at the moment?
I have a lot of favorites! I love a lot of artists out there like Lil Skies, Pi’erre Bourne, Lil Mosey, Gunna, Guapdad 4000, Robb Banks, Yung Pinch, Jordan Hollywood, 24Hrs, and Wifisfuneral.
You’ve worked with a variety of producers on your songs. How do you know when you’ve found the right collaboration? Which collaboration has been your favorite so far?
I know it’s the right one based on their energy. When I meet people, I like to actually hang out with them and get to know them because it’s all about relationships. If it’s genuine, it’s right to me. My favorite collaboration was working with Garret Kimmel. He made a multitude of beats for me and it would be nothing but good vibes when we’re hanging out.
What were the biggest initial hurdles to pursuing your musical dreams and how did you overcome them?
The biggest hurdle was going on a whole 8-month hiatus. I was dealing with certain people passing away, dealing with a break up, and having to resolve issues with people around me back then that weren’t good for me. I fixed all of that by hanging out with my friends and them motivating me to get back in the studio to make more music. I also got motivated by watching music videos and telling myself I’m going to be in that position one day.
TAJOSKI CLOTHING embraces the individuality of everyone. How did you first get started with this?
My friends Tyler, Luis, and myself were playing video games online on Xbox and we always talk about fashion all of the time. That’s when we all thought of making our own brand and selling them at affordable prices. We’ve been working hard on it and we’re making sure that our first official drop becomes successful in some way to the public.
What are your favorite clothing brands?
Raf Simons, Rick Owens, Adidas, Gucci, Revenge, Nike, Jordan, and a bunch of others.
Thank you for speaking with us! What do you hope to achieve in the next 5 years?
Thank you for the opportunity! The only thing I really want is to have a long running music career where I can make good money and live the way I want to live. I don’t care for a Grammy, VMA awards, or anything like that. If I get a song on the top chart of Billboard, I would be more than grateful!
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