After introducing himself with a string of impactful offerings these last few months, emerging artist Lesser Jay is back once again to deliver his vibrant new single 'King Of Empathy'.
Bringing back more of that shimmering indie-electro aesthetic he is quickly earning a reputation for, 'King Of Empathy' sees him return to the fold in fine form throughout. With its humorous lyrics and captivating production throughout, he is certainly one to keep a firm eye on for the months ahead as well.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
My parents put me in classical piano lessons growing up and I wouldn’t say it was love at first sight. In fact, at one point my piano teacher asked me if I even wanted to be there because I never practised. It wasn’t until I started writing my own songs that I really clicked with piano, and now my childhood piano teacher is a big supporter of my music!
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
I definitely gravitated towards alt/indie singer-songwriters like Fiona Apple and Imogen Heap. I went through a big feminist phase with riot grrrl and Sleater-Kinney.
What was the first album you remember owning?
Pretty sure one of the first CDs I ever bought on my own at the FYE store in the mall was Blink-182. I could lie and say it was something really hip and indie but I think that’s more realistic.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
My favorite band of all time is Self/Matt Mahaffey. I take major inspiration from them, the clean and clear production, the silly and surreal lyrics, catchy hooks. So maybe anything off the album Gizmodgery, which they recorded using all toys. It’s brilliant.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Even when I’m writing music that is electronic-heavy, I make sure to spend some time writing at the piano with some staff paper. If I notate the melody and it looks varied and interesting, and if I can play the song acoustic and it still sounds good, then it’s a song worth finishing!
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
As I get deeper into producing electronic music and releasing music as an indie artist, I’m gravitating towards other solo artists who share those values. Who self-release, produce, perform and write their own music. Unfortunately, dudes who fit that description tend to come with inflated egos. So lately it’s been a lot of women/nonbinary artists like Rachel K Collier, Bad Snacks, Karra, and So Wylie. It’s probably my worst fear that I’m one of those dudes with an inflated ego and I’ve re-written this like a dozen times trying to avoid coming across that way.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Maybe Beck? I feel like if ANYONE out there wants me to open for them, they’re my new favourite band!
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
It’s probably weird to say this as a solo artist but it’s definitely the moments where I feel a connection with other people through music, whether when playing with other musicians or performing for an audience or just talking about music with friends. It’s like this magical way to be in community and build relationships.
And what is the most frustrating part?
I’ve been joking a lot lately that when I was a kid, I would say “I want to be a musician when I grow up” but I never said “I want to be a social media influencer when I grow up” or “when I grow up I want 100,000 followers on Instagram”. I never fathomed what music marketing looks like today, and how big a role that would play in my life as an adult musician. Sometimes I can feel kind of whiny about it but at the end of the day, I’m getting over it and learning to have fun creating social media content.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
When I think of the people in my life who are still working in the music industry, it’s people who had perseverance and persistence. To be a musician takes resilience just as much as (if not more than) talent.
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Lesser Jay's new single 'King Of Empathy' is available to stream now. Watch the new video for it in the player below.