{"id":844605,"date":"2025-04-29T22:13:11","date_gmt":"2025-04-30T03:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/29\/pltfrm-jay-prince\/"},"modified":"2025-04-29T22:13:11","modified_gmt":"2025-04-30T03:13:11","slug":"pltfrm-jay-prince","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/29\/pltfrm-jay-prince\/","title":{"rendered":"PLTFRM: Jay Prince"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Music <\/p>\n<div>\n<p>There\u2019s an old saying in the music industry that an artist has their entire life to construct their debut album \u2013 and that\u2019s certainly true for <strong>Jay Prince<\/strong>. A vastly creative UK figure whose work crosses multiple lanes, his debut album flits between London and Los Angeles, hard-hitting hip-hop and soulful introspection. Finally set to be released this coming April, \u2018Shine\u2019 is a multi-dimensional audio feast, one that finds room for jazz drummer Yussef Dayes and R&#038;B star Estelle, while also re-asserting his unique voice.<\/p>\n<p>Sessions for the album spanned an entire pandemic, and when CLASH chats to Jay Prince a few days before the big announcement he\u2019s all smiles and confidence. \u201cIt\u2019s just relief,\u201d he expresses; \u201cRelief that it\u2019s finally happening!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Chasing Thrills\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/r5Lzb18HpqQ?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<p>The material on his debut album spans a number of years. Those pre-pandemic London sessions, and his life-changing move to Los Angeles; the return home, and his fresh vantage point as a man. \u201cIt was a good time,\u201d he notes. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t something I meant to do, I kind of stumbled into it. It was amazing, it taught me so much about other people\u2019s processes, and how I can apply that to my own process. It was good training. It\u2019s another excuse to make music.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Intro \u2018Nation\u2019 was made \u201cbefore I even knew I was making an album! When it came to making the album, I already knew it would be the first track.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<figure><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"675\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1219.jpg\" alt  ><\/figure>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<p>From the introduction onwards, \u2018Shine\u2019 moves with purpose; rooted in hip-hop, Jay Prince is able to dart between soulful R&#038;B loops and jazz virtuosity, without missing a beat. \u201cIt\u2019s a demonstration of my musicality,\u201d he says. \u201cWith my previous projects, I\u2019ve sprinkled my musicality here and there. I feel like I\u2019ve never shown all the facets of my creativity in one project before. So when it came to this album, that\u2019s what I wanted to demonstrate. It was definitely intentional.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI mean, there were definitely moments when I got lost! But during those moments, you tend to figure out what it is you want to talk about, and that forced me to move with even greater intention. Every detail spoke to the next. It\u2019s a project where I had to push myself, but also have confidence in myself as well.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"675\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1235.jpg\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1235.jpg 675w, https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1235-225x300.jpg 225w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px\" ><\/figure>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s more than a few surprises here, too. Take \u2018Cold Hearted\u2019 \u2013 sculpted alongside Dominique Sanders it offers \u201calternative-sounding music\u201d inspired by Tame Impala. On each track, Jay Prince seems willing to spin the dials, and see where his passion takes him.<\/p>\n<p>Having spent a lifetime avoiding being pigeonholed, the breadth of this debut album will take even hardcore fans by surprise. \u201cI describe my music as experimental,\u201d he notes. \u201cIn the sense of approaching music from as many different influences I can get from the genres I enjoy. I make music I would want to listen to outside of me creating it \u2013 whether it\u2019s jazz, or whether it\u2019s soul, or whether it\u2019s indie, I can experiment with all of it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverything I\u2019ve done has always been rooted in hip-hop,\u201d he insists. \u201cThat\u2019s just what I\u2019ve been able to understand initially. And hip-hop, I think, is one of those genres that can branch out into so many different other genres. It crosses over to soul, it can cross over to pop music, across over to so many things.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"675\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1246.jpg\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1246.jpg 675w, https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1246-225x300.jpg 225w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px\" ><\/figure>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<p>The London artist\u2019s debut album is certainly a crossover experience. Take the righteous \u2018Us\u2019 \u2013 propelled by drums from <strong>Yussef Dayes<\/strong>, it\u2019s inspired by the work of Ghanian musician Ebo Taylor. \u201cIt just made sense,\u201d he says of the inspired recording session which birthed it. \u201cI was Invited into a session with Yussef, and played him this song \u2013 he loved it! I felt like it\u2019s probably my, one of my most ambitious records. So seeing it actually like reach the finish line was really enjoyable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His time in Los Angeles was also pivotal in Jay Prince bringing the record to life. Finding his crew out there, he\u2019d link up with fellow Londoners for five-a-side football games, bringing a taste of the UK to the West Coast. Invited to a party, the actor \u2013 and close friend \u2013 Daniel Kaluuya introduced him to a familiar face, the R&#038;B queen Estelle.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe just hit it off!\u201d Jay recalls. \u201cDaniel put in some very good words. He was just like, yo, you guys got to work together!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was so natural,\u201d he beams. \u201cBut I was like: oh my gosh, do I even bring up the album to her?! I just thought, you know what? You only get one shot in life. I messaged her, and I said to her, I\u2019d love for you to be on the album. She just said, Let\u2019s do it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll never forget the Estelle I met at the party versus the Estelle who operated in the studio!\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019m telling you: class, she has class. That\u2019s what I\u2019m gonna say. She came in professional, focussed, locked in. She didn\u2019t miss a beat. And I was like a little kid in there, laughing at every joke she said!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<figure><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"675\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1263.jpg\" alt srcset=\"https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1263.jpg 675w, https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/Jay-Prince-_Shine_-PressShots-1263-225x300.jpg 225w\" data-sizes=\"(max-width: 675px) 100vw, 675px\" ><\/figure>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis whole album, in its entirety, is about collaboration, and that was also intentional. And everyone that you collaborate comes with a different story,\u201d he says. For Jay Prince, making music reflects his experiences \u2013 whether in London or LA, he\u2019s continually meeting people, forever seeking out new voices.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust being a Londoner, I think you meet a lot of creatives,\u201d he says. \u201cYou meet a lot of musicians, artists. It\u2019s a cultural hub. I think it just rubs off on you. It\u2019s almost like when you\u2019re taking the underground \u2013 everyone\u2019s in a hurry, in a rush, like you just end up just doing the same thing. It just rubs off. It\u2019s that kind of city.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Now firmly ensconced back in London, Jay Prince is ready to move forwards. \u2018Shine\u2019 is complete and in his locker, with the past few months spent editing, and reinforcing the project\u2019s sense of creative unity. \u201cI think every album I\u2019ve listened to that I\u2019ve enjoyed or that\u2019s had an impact on me, it\u2019s been cohesive,\u201d he notes. \u201cumber one thing for me, was creating some kind of cohesion throughout the whole album, from the beginning to the end. I think it keeps you engaged, especially in a time where music is coming out every week and it\u2019s constant. I wanted to make a project that would keep the listener engaged.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>With Jay Prince now working on the live aspect of his work, fans can expect to see him in their area this year. Festival slots and tour dates in being lined up, with the \u2018Shine\u2019 era set to produce something very special indeed. For its maker, his long-awaited debut album has been a process of self-discovery. \u201cI\u2019ve learned to trust myself musically a bit more,\u201d he says. \u201cI think this album brought me a lot of confidence in just trusting my creativity a bit more. Everyone I worked with helped instil that confidence in me to keep doing what I\u2019m doing and sharpen my skills.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u2014<\/p>\n<figure>\n<p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Solitude (ft. Estelle &#038; Oddisee)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" data-src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/lpZDAbUiM48?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen src=\"data:image\/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==\" data-load-mode=\"1\"><\/iframe>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\n                                                        <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.weare8.com\/\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n                                                            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"250\" alt=\"music Join us on Weare8\" src=\"http:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/themes\/chop-child\/images\/WeAre8-banner.jpg\" previous-src=\"http:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/wp-content\/themes\/chop-child\/images\/WeAre8-banner.jpg\"><br \/>\n                                                        <\/a>\n                                                    <\/p>\n<p>Join us on WeAre8, as we get under the skin of global cultural happenings. Follow Clash Magazine <a href=\"https:\/\/app.weare8.com\/@clashmagazine?share=mobile\">HERE<\/a> as we skip merrily between clubs, concerts, interviews and<br \/>\n                                                        photo shoots. Get backstage sneak-peeks and a view into our world as the fun and games unfold. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.clashmusic.com\/features\/pltfrm-jay-prince\/\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Music There\u2019s an old saying in the music industry that an artist has their entire life to construct their debut album \u2013 and that\u2019s certainly true for Jay Prince. A vastly creative UK figure whose work crosses multiple lanes, his debut album flits between London and Los Angeles, hard-hitting hip-hop and soulful introspection. Finally set [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":844606,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[131522],"class_list":{"0":"post-844605","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-business-news","8":"tag-podcast-music"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=844605"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/844605\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/844606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=844605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=844605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=844605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}