7 hours ago
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Soulful and eccentric are just two words used to describe Joby Jay, reggae-fusion artiste, who is all set to showcase her unique sound this weekend on stage alongside heavyweight international acts, Brian McKnight and Dru Hill.
As the countdown to Live and Direc intensifies, the rising star shared that the moment feels both surreal and deeply rewarding.
“It feels great! I’m truly honoured to be one of the few local acts on the show. Sharing the stage with artistes I’ve looked up to is surreal. I’m really excited to go out there, give a great performance and make some new fans,” Joby stated.
With a set that promises to be as soulful as it is dynamic, fans can expect a show packed with personality, smooth melodies, and a few unexpected twists. Blending original songs with familiar favourites, the artiste is aiming to strike a perfect balance that resonates with longtime R&B lovers and new listeners alike.
“I want to create a moment people will remember,” she declared.
Her musical journey began in 2019, after being catapulted into the spotlight when she performed at Unplgd, an acoustic session for reggae artistes. Piggbacking off that success, she released her début single, Big Girl Ting, in December 2019.
Her style of reggae grew from a fondness of jazz and Afrobeats, and has been heavily impacted by artistes such as Jah9, Nina Simone and Lauryn Hill. This genre-blending approach has become a defining feature of her artistry.
“Deciding which genres to blend is hardly ever planned. When producers send me instrumentals, I’ll naturally be drawn to the ones with sounds and vibe I like. If a riddim is being created from scratch for a song, it’s really about what sounds and feels right,” she shares.
SOCIAL COMMENTARY
For Joby Jay, social commentary is very important and is considering adding her voice to some of the things happening in the world that really strike a chord with her.
“Art should reflect the times, as Nina Simone once said. So much is happening in the world, at any given moment it can be very overstimulating and discouraging so I try to be very intentional with making music that can uplift people,” she added.
The year 2020 was a challenging year for her, however, with perseverance, Joby collaborated on a Switzerland compilation project, producing the track, Queen, as well as stepping out to feed her fans through well curated online events such as Kingston Creative and Harry J Live Couch Series.
She notes however, that since being in the industry, she has not faced many challenges in navigating the traditionally male-dominated space of reggae music
“I have a protective team that I think has been a filter for me, but I’m well aware of the struggles other women in the industry continue to face. I just do my best to be careful and look out for other women as best as I can,” she stated.
Joby Jay was awarded the VM Wealth Breakthrough Artiste of the Year 2022 at the JaRIA Awards, and followed that accomplishment by releasing her 2023 début EP, Love Levels.
Brian McKnight and Dru Hill will headline the Live & Direc series on Saturday at Constant Spring Golf Club in St Andrew.
English (US) ·