Interview With Jay-J

What's new in the world of Jay J, what projects do you have on the go at the moment?

Mainly I have been working on a new album based around all electronic elements, in that the music is all created by me and has no organic sounds or songs with vocals, which differs from my last album "Love Alive" where I used some great vocalists and many guest musicians.  For this one I wanted a more simple stripped down approach and was interested in exploring some other genres related to house music. It has been a fun and exciting project especially when it came to the simple fact that my tried and trusted approach for many years was not going to work. I have not brought in any of the amazing musicians I have worked with so the musicality and melodic appeal is much simpler than some of my more song oriented soulful stuff. I also seem to have been doing a lot of mastering for folks lately. This is not even something I really try and push as a business but I have lots of friends in the industry and people have been reaching out in this regard. I just mastered Mark Farina's Mushroom Jazz 7 and that was a great project.

How did you first get into music production?

I was in a band for a while attending high school and also starting DJ'ing. I wanted a Yamaha 4 track cassette recorder, so I saved and saved and eventually got it. It had a little mini-mixing desk (4 tracks off cassette and 2 auxiliary channels plus a master I think). So I would record, overdub and make write songs on my guitar. Eventually I did some recording of some other bands and just sort of continued from there.

What did you listen to growing up? Any big influences, that you would say has helped mould your music into what it has become?

This is an interesting question and I always feel so weird answering it. Mainly because I was a teenager in the 80's and with my love of guitar and the launch of MTV I was sort of influenced by those 80's hair bands, other Heavy Metal groups and the softer melodic side of Rock as well. I really wish I could say I grew up listening to the disco and soul of the 70's but I was pretty much just a kid wanting to play like Eddie Van Halen. My main music career has been as a house music producer and that particular sound was influenced the in early to mid 90's more so than my 80's rock days. As I was starting my production and DJ-ing carrer I was into records by MAW, Roger Sanchez, Todd Terry, Grant Nelson, Jazz N Groove, Voctor Simonelli and I have continually created a similar sound with an organic feel and live instrumentation with real songs and singers.

What five pieces of studio equipment would you say determine your sound?

1. First and foremost Pro Tools
2. Sonnox and Massey plug-ins (among others).
3. Studio Electronics SE-1X
4. EL7 Fatso Jr.
5. Focal Monitors

You have recently constructing a sample pack for Loopmasters. How did you find this when compared to writing a song?

There have only been 2 periods of time in my career when I have worked more on the same project and those were full albums. Thinking back on the hours I spent working on this new sample pack, it’s possible I spent more time on this than either of those albums. I got a bit obsessive and just continued to create and pull from sessions and do more and more sound design then eventually started to see the significant amount of sounds I built.

Now you've made your pack are you worried that producers are going to be sampling and trying to re-create your sound?

No not at all. I have always been one to share tips and tricks and ideas and I don't get hung up on any of these things. I love the music I make for a living but it feels like a hobby because most of the time that's all I want to do.

You were at Moulton for the golden period there. Do you have fond memories of that time?

Yes I sure do. I built 2 studio complexes one (on Moulton Street, thus the name) this was 2 main rooms consisting of a live room, vocal booth and a small pre-production closet. The other was an amazing live room, mixing room and a whole other set of studios and offices all based around music and club culture.  The camaraderie, creativity and mayhem we got into was definitely an amazing experience.

You are known for your drums - do you have any key tips you'd like to share?

Use good sounds! Take the bottom end out of every element except Kick and Bass using a high pass filter. Work as hard as you can using eq to make the kick and bass both loud but not fighting each other. (I rarely sidechain)

You're well known for your remixes. Are there any that stand out as a favourite over the years?

Certainly the Jill Scott remix resulting in a Grammy Nomination stands out.  Recently, I completed a remix for Pete Moss titled Make It Real and I really felt like that was some of my best work. Although it's hard to say because being a true student of the craft I am always trying to improve, be it producing, playing, or mixing/engineering. So I most often feel that my latest work is my best.

How differently do you approach remixing to your original productions?

Well really not that much differently in that I start with the drums usually for both.  I actually really enjoy remixing in that it seems to have less stress associated with the creative process.

What are you listening to at the moment?

When it comes to my gigs I have been into a bit more of an electronic sound with a Chicago Jackin feel although everyone still knows me from becoming well known for my soulful side. I don't really listen to music for pleasure any longer. Doing what I do with music for so long has created a weird music listening experience for me. I no longer listen to music, I analyze music and that takes some of the fun out of it. It's actually distracting to me to have music on while working on my computer for emails or something.  I get sucked in to the keyboard sound that was used or the drum programming or the out of key vocal ;-)

Any new artists we should know about?

I'm sure there is... When you do find out about them, let me know.  I have been cooped up in the studio for close to 2 months putting this sample pack together so I'm a little out of the loop (pun intended)

Do you have any advice for the budding producers out there that are trying to make it in the competitive world of the music industry?

Intern somewhere, engineer for friends, and get committed to finishing projects not just starting them.  Don't wind up with many ideas not completed.  Strive to have polished sound even if the sound your going for is more dirty or gritty.