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.