For Pale Jay, asking new questions is a great starting point for growth

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COLORS x EDITORIAL | ARTIST INTERVIEWS

For Pale Jay, asking new questions is a great starting point for growth

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Pale Jay is an enigmatic soul singer and music producer. While his true identity remains unknown, since the release of his 2021 debut EP ‘The Celestial Suite’, he’s become renowned for his impeccable falsetto and dusty, soulful compositions. Since then, he’s dropped his debut studio album, and is currently preparing to release his sophomore album, ‘Low End Love Songs’.

 

Following his debut A COLORS SHOW performance of ‘Easy, Lee’, we connected with Pale Jay to find out more about the stories behind his unique sound. From an unknown location, he sent us his thoughts on on the importance of anonymity, acknowledging structural privilege, and the playful complexity of jazz, which is one of his dearest genres.

Where does your artist name, Pale Jay, come from?

The name references the fact that, as a white soul musician, I am building on the rich, predominantly African American lineage of musicians who came before me. By calling myself Pale, I acknowledge the structural privileges that come with my skin tone. “Jay” refers to my real name.

You conceal your identity not only with your pseudonym but also by wearing a trademark red knitted mask. Why is anonymity important for you as an artist?

I am an introverted and private person by nature. Preferably, the music is the center of attention rather than myself, hence the mask. It doesn’t symbolize anything in particular, but I had a very clear picture in my mind of how the character of Pale Jay should look. I also always wear a bucket hat that I picked up at a tiny hat shop about 15 years ago.

Do you think you’ll ever want to reveal your identity?

As Pale Jay, I am sure that I won’t.

You’re a trained jazz singer and pianist. When did you first get into making music, and why were you attracted to jazz in particular?

I’ve been into music since I was very young. From an early age, I asked to get the music I heard on the radio or TV on cassettes or CDs. The first song I really liked was ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ by Bobby McFerrin. I must have been three or four at the time. Since then, music always played a role in my life: from playing drums, to learning classical guitar and being a hip hop DJ in my teens.

I never thought music would be a career because my main focus was always on sports. After a heavy bicycle crash, that path ended. Only then did I decide to pursue music more intensively. I studied jazz because, at the time, universities only offered courses in jazz or classical music. During my studies, I fell in love with the playfulness and complexity of jazz. It remains one of my dearest genres.

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Your music now traverses genres including soul, RnB, disco, and Afrobeats. How do you blend all of these styles together to create your unique sound?

I don’t really think about genres when I make music for Pale Jay. Every day, I just follow where the music takes me. Being a fan of many genres, everything I listen to somehow filters into the music.

Your voice is also very unique: you sing in a very striking falsetto. Did this come naturally to you? 

As long as I can remember, singing falsetto has come easily to me. It requires much less air than singing in ‘chest voice,’ so I can sing longer lines with less tension and strain. It feels like my natural register.

Who are some of your key inspirations? Which artists have influenced you the most as a musician?

Stevie Wonder is way up there in terms of songwriting. But in terms of influence on my singing style, especially in falsetto, it’s D’Angelo. Nowadays, everyday life is much more of an influence on me than art and music.

Talking about life impacting art, your debut album, ‘The Celestial Suite’ told the story of the gradual disintegration of a family. To what extent was this informed by your own personal experiences? 

Almost all my songs are fully informed by my personal experiences or something that’s happened to someone close to me. I constantly make notes and voice recordings with ideas for lyrics on my phone. I’m always archiving life in some way. Since I work in my home studio and can play and record most instruments directly, I record songs when inspiration strikes.

In contrast, your latest album, ‘Bewilderment’ questioned the stories you have always lived with and re-examined your identity. Have you found the answers you were looking for?

I’m not sure if I found the answers, but asking new questions is often a great starting point for growth.

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“I bruise easily, but luckily writing music helps me heal and reflect on becoming a better person.”

Tell us about the song you performed on COLORS. What are the inspirations behind it?

I remember the day when ‘Easy, Lee’ came about very clearly. I was sitting on a creaky wooden chair in a small hallway in a rental apartment in Barcelona. I was very sad and confused after a heated argument with a loved one. I bruise easily, but luckily writing music helps me heal and reflect on becoming a better person.

Do you have a favorite lyric from the song? 

The wordplay of ‘Easy, Lee’ and ‘easily’ is quite pleasing from a lyrical point of view.

‘Easy, Lee’ is the first single from your upcoming album ‘Low End Love Songs’, which will be released on 6th September 2024. How does it fit into the rest of the project?

It’s the final song on the album. I thought it would be nice to leave the listeners with a slightly triumphant and conciliatory tone.

What do you enjoy doing outside of music?

My big passion is cycling. To be honest, I spend more time thinking about that than about music. Besides that, my biggest joys are spending time with loved ones, going on extended walks, preparing and eating food, and taking care of my mental and physical health.

What are your hopes and dreams for the future? 

I am very grateful for how things are going right now. My one wish is to continue to make music with people I admire. Besides that, I will take things as they come.

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Pale Jay is an enigmatic singer and producer whose A COLORS SHOW was released on 25th July 2024. You can watch the full performance on our YouTube channel.

 

Text: Emily May
Photography: Dylan James Moore (photo 1), Laureat Bakolli (photos 2 and 3), Karim Chibani (photo 4)

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