• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

The interview: Jaya

Written by Semper Azeez-Harris
Friday, 05 March 2010 05:30

British born Jaya is the first Indian female singer to be signed to a major label, but it is her brilliant voice and very down to earth attitude that is really making an impact. With her EP out now and plans to release her single DJ Do It Again, Jaya caught up with Se7en to talk music and her wish for world domination!

Se7en: Diving straight in, were you always destined to be a singer?

Jaya: I am a true believer in things happening for a reason and I grew up not ever taking music seriously and it was not something that I really wanted to do as a career. It was only later on in my life when I was a bit more mature and I was looking at things differently and trying to figure out what makes me happy that I looked at music.

Se7en: So what were you initially going to be before you made this rather drastic detour?

Jaya: Well, I actually wanted to be a primary school teacher but it's strange because music was embedded in my life from such an early age. I look at the way I perform and what I have learnt and I realise that a lot of the things I did as a child; like my mum getting me into dance school and the fact  that my parents were so musically orientated really geared me towards music. I think I was always destined to be in music but I just never realised.

Se7en: How far did the whole primary school teacher thing go before you went 'no, this is not me'?

Jaya: From the age of five I actually wanted to be a primary school teacher. I went to high school and my studies were all according to that career and it was not until I finished college that I went “I kind of want to be a singer now” (she laughs almost guiltily). It was a bit weird for me that I suddenly change the course of my life.

Se7en: So how did your family take your decision to go from a career that inherently has more stability to one where nothing is really ever sure?

Jaya: Of course they were kind of (she pauses). They were always aware that I had a passion for performance and the creative side of things. They also knew that it made me happy but of course when I told them that I wanted to be a singer, they were hesitant because of course for all parents, they want their child to have an easy life. Music is not something that is not promised and it is a hard route to go down and it can either happen or it does not. But they supported me throughout my whole journey.

Se7en: You spoke about music being embedded in your life; do you come from quite a musical family?

Jaya: Well, my mother comes from a musical family back in India, all her brothers and her mum and dad were heavily into music and performance and so it was natural to pass it on to me. My dad is a priest and with our religion we praise God through music.

Se7en: With such a strong musical foundation in your family, why did you decide that you wanted to go down the urban route?

Jaya: When I was thinking about the style of music I wanted to do it was just a natural progression. When I was growing up I was listening to Bollywood music and that is where my first passion for music began but obviously growing up in this country I grew up listening to other genres and I basically fell in love with pop. It was not that I generally thought about it but I just wanted to make music that makes me happy. The Indian influence is still there but it just may not be as obvious.

Se7en: I read your bio and one of the amazing things is you are the first Indian, female singer to be signed to a label, so congratulations on that. Not getting too deep but as a matter of curiosity do you have any idea why it has taken this length of time for this to happen?

Jaya: I do not know enough about the industry to really say but I think it is a matter of timing. I do not think the industry would have been open to this say five years ago to an artist like me to come on the scene. Though it has taken this time for that boundary to be broken I am very proud to be part of this movement.

Se7en: Your single DJ Do It Again which is great, leans heavily towards a dance vibe is this something that you will evidently continue in your album or will you try and delve into other genres of the urban field?

Jaya: I am working on my album at the moment. My single has a really good production and it is very much a dance track but that is an expression really of me; fun and vibrant and that is in essence me. The album/singles will have different flavours and be slightly different and it will be a deeper insight into me. It will be very pop, very dance with elements of urban and other genres that I have been listening to.

Se7en: How involved were you with the creation of your single DJ Do It Again?

Jaya: I came across the track when I was at a studio. I had just finished recording a song with a producer called Hawkeye and the writer Dee Adams who wrote the track with me. We were going through a catalogue of songs and I was just going through the motions and then DJ came on and I just remember hearing the first ten seconds of the track and it literally lifted me of my seat and it takes a lot to do that! It was like I had been taking over by a spirit or something. It was just a song that grabbed me and I knew that it was just me. I heard the lyrics and as soon as I put my spin on it vocally I knew that this was the track.

Se7en: And the album, when are you hoping for a release date with your album?

Jaya: It is still really early days we have a lot of work still to do because I am taking my time because I want it to be as perfect as possible but I would like it to be released later this year or early next year. I am just trying to take it one step at a time really and concentrate on getting my single out there.

Se7en: Are you looking to collaborate with other artists for the album incidentally because I know that you have a good relationship with one of the UK's hot stars, Wretch 32.

Jaya: (She laughs) Ahh he is really cool and we have rung each other a few times and he is just a really talented and humble guy. In terms of collobos however I am open to working with anyone who had something to bring to the table. I have already had the pleasure of working with Dappy (from NDubz) and Tinie Tempah who has done a remix of my single which is really cool. Going forward however I love working with different artists and if Wretch or NDubz want to jump on a track with me then I am all for it.

Se7en: And NDubz who you toured with what was that like and did you get any good advice from the crew like Tulisia?

Jaya: I learnt a lot from them as group and the work they do on and off stage. Considering the amount of success they have had the, it has obviously not gone to their head because they will just sit there and have normal conversations. They really looked after me considering it was my first big tour, so NDubz were great.

Se7en: So what is the two year plan?

Jaya: World domination is always on top of my list but after that (she laughs but I think she is serious, President Jaya umhh) definitely having my album out there, a world tour and acting as well because that is something that I did when I was younger.

Se7en: And world domination are you looking to have some form of an army, bring in some form of dictatorship?

Jaya: (She laughs) No, it will be a nicer version but I will be having an army so if you want to join please let me know.

Se7en: Well, thanks a lot, Jaya - it has been a pleasure, and good luck with the single and the album!