Today we’d like to introduce you to J’ray .
Hi J’ray, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
The journey to “J’ray” began at a very young age, I’d always been in and around the music scene in church, at home, and in school.
Music really began for me after my mom got me a saxophone as a birthday present (I was probably around 8 years old at that time), and I pretty much had no choice but to learn how to play it even though the Piano was my first-choice instrument.
My mom went on and signed me up for Saxophone lessons, but every time I went for lessons, I ended up playing the Piano or at least tried to play. Eventually, I picked up the basics of the Piano and the Saxophone (after actually attending a couple of lessons).
Whenever I wasn’t playing around with the Sax or Piano, I was watching other kids play the guitar, through which I picked up the basics as well. Coincidentally, my mom purchased a guitar for my brother and I would always put a few chords together while singing and writing sometimes. I wrote close to 50 songs before actually putting out my first single in 2016, surprisingly, none of those 50 has been released. The reception and feedback I received from my first single “Sisi” assured me that I had music within me and I just never stopped since then, and I probably never will.
I went on to release singles, videos, and extended playlists (EP), with my most recent release being my first solo body of work “UnJ’rayted” which as the name implies suggests that J’ray is/was often underrated. “UnJ’rayted” is a 4-track extended playlist with a variety of music genres which aim to give fans and listeners a 360 experience of J’ray.
“UnJ’rayted” features my biggest song yet “Dance”, topping charts across Nigeria and Africa as a whole and an official video is slated to be dropping soon.
More than anything, I would say the biggest factor that has brought me this far in my musical career is my passion for music. Music literally gives me more joy than anything else in the world, and that only keeps me going.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wish it was, but the journey wouldn’t be so fun now, would it?
It definitely hasn’t been easy. Definitely not. Firstly, my main genre of music is Afro beats which is slowly catching up in the United States. So, it is kind of difficult pushing and promoting my music here in the states with a lot of listeners having other genres of music they listen to.
Secondly, there is a common stigma surrounding “non-A-list “artists, a lot of folks don’t pay attention to us and are not willing to support until these “non-A-list” artists become more mainstream. Hence, a lot of us have to do more to get our songs heard… It’s definitely not easy, but I’m getting there.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I think most importantly, I’d like readers to know that more than anything I am a “musician” and not just an “artist”. I have a strong musical background, so I’m definitely not your basic artist and you can tell by listening to my most recent project “UnJ’rayted”. As far as what I’m currently working on, in the next couple of weeks I will be putting out the video for my biggest song “Dance”, and I will also be putting out more collaborations this year so definitely be on the lookout
What do you think about luck?
I really don’t consider myself a lucky person nor do I believe in the term “luck”. What I do believe in is destiny, fate, and grace. In everything I do, I constantly have it at the back of my mind that what will be will be and I continually pray for grace.
As always, I put in my best, and let the universe handle the rest.
Contact Info:
- Email: jraybookings@gmail.com
- Website: www.jrayworldwide.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jrayofficiall/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Jrayofficiall/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jrayofficiall
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzPgUoywreWbXdEPxuRmmeQ
- Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jray/unjrayted
Image Credits
Ernesto Juarez
Ann Alva Wieding
