Jeremy Jay

“I’m living in Paris at the moment. I took up a flat here for the time being. I’ll be splitting my time between here and L.A. I’ve put on my list to go to all the 1970s disco clubs here. There’s a really cool one called Le Regine that I already went to. It has these prism-style mirrored ceilings that are amazing!”

Jeremy Jay, California native and K Records doyen, is a living anachronism. He’s from the Pacific coast of America, but he grew up in a Francophone household (his mother was French). It makes sense then that’d he’d divide his time between the centre of the Old World, lavish with art and… retro discos… and the most boisterous representative of the New World, slick and image-driven. What was it like, growing up like that?

“It only broadened my awareness that there was something other than MC Hammer. We were listening to Francois Hardy, Edith Piaf, Jacque Brel…”

Two worlds means two different sources of inspiration, but that doesn’t seem to be a problem for Jay, whose sound spans and transcends 1950s teen melodrama, 80s pop, anti-folk and the aforementioned French singers. But then, it’s not only music that can provide direction.

“Everything inspires me really. In my next video for a song called Lite Beam off of the Love Everlasting 12” single, there are neon lights from the Parisien Pharmacie lights. Anything can be inspiring.”

Jay’s last record, A Place Where We Could Go, emerged midway through 2008, produced by K Records founder Calvin Johnson. The reverb-soaked work with a monochrome cover photo was every bit the embodiment of French film noir. Even so, songs like the title track and ‘Heavenly Creatures’ had an approachable, human quality to them, and the album was one of the sleepers of the year. This April, however, Jay releases the follow-up, Slow Dance.

“Slow Dance is a winter-themed disc. Filled with romance in ‘Winter Wonder’, super-tuff R ‘n’ B in ‘Slow Dance’, hanging out with the pizza club gang in ‘In This Lonely Town’, lost love in Breaking the Ice and night escapades in ‘Where Could We Go Tonight?’ It’s about the possibilities of being human and also love and life. Very, very wintery. A lot of ice and snow. A Place Where We Could Go is more mid-tempo whereas Slow Dance is more up-tempo in general. ”

Jay is perpetually touring, and still remains pretty prolific in the studio, with a 12” single accompaniment to Slow Dance due to appear this year as well. Being on the road’s not a strain, however.

“I am constantly touring the world and recording. Last year I toured the USA, UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. I love travelling, so it fits in rather nicely. I love exploring and meeting cool people, seeing what people in the world are into and excited about.”

Slow Dance is out April 6th on K Records. Find Jeremy on MySpace.

Jeremy Jay – Airwalker

Jeremy Jay has a new LP called ‘Slow Dance’ coming out on K Records on the 20th of January. He’s also releasing a single in March called ‘Love Everlasting’ which I really like, it’s got a really nice funky bassline and a disco-esque synth pulsating in the background. You can hear both lead tracks on his myspace, check em out!

Slow Dance LP
1. We Were There
2. In this lonely town
3. Gallop
4. Canter Canter
5. Slow Dance
6. Winter Wonder
7. Will you dance with me?
8. Breaking the Ice
9. Slow Dance 2
10. Where could we go tonight?

Love Everlasting Single
1. Love Everlasting ( single version )
Side 2
2. Lite Beam
3. Jet Stream
4. Love Everlasting ( Winter Version )

Jeremy Jay also has a European tour in February but unfortunately there’s no Irish or Uk dates. He was meant to play in Whelans in October or November but the gig was cancelled at the last minute without explanation… Hopefully he’ll make it here sometime in 09.