Richard Jay is a creative centipede
Richard Jay is a very ambitious 16-year-old from the Midlands who writes his own music, plays every instrument on his tracks, sings, records and produces it himself. He’s recently been selected as number 52 on the New Year Ninety ones to watch in 2010 and is planning on going to LA to record some new songs. He is currently working on more songs as well as directing his new music video – all while attending college. He explains how and why he’d like to be the best in music, period.
http://www.myspace.com/therichardjay
You are quite young, so we guess you have been making music almost all your life. Are you from a musical family? What instruments do you play?
Well, I started out when I was 5 but I’m not sure you’d call it music really if you count strumming open strings and singing about being a cowboy.
I really got into music when I was 13, when my parents booked me into a studio, I came up with the song the morning I was going in and I came out with this cool, and now a little cheesy, song. I made a few bands at school and stuff but the others never really showed the same commitment and I just thought that if they’re not bothered, then I’ll do it by myself, I don’t need them. So instead of writing all the songs for the band I decided to keep the ones that I really loved for myself and use them for something more purposeful.
So your parents support what you’re doing. You compose and record the music all by yourself, do you enjoy being a ’solo’ artist?
Yeah! I love it! it gives me total freedom and control over what I want to do with my music. My sound is different from other people out there and it doesn’t necessarily stick to the one genre the whole time and can range and branch into different things.
What part of the creative process do you enjoy more? Writing the lyrics or the melody, or mastering/recording?
To be honest I love it all just the same, I can’t really pick just one, I love how it all comes together seeing and hearing it turn from an idea in my head into the real life sound recording. Although I love doing them all the same I’d love to try my hand at producing for other artists as well.
What inspires you? Who are some of your favorite artists and influences?
Everything! I remember seeing it in a film once where they said everything that happens makes something else happen and I guess just anything and everything that’s around me inspires me, whether it’s writing about a relationship, a girl I like, parties, heartbreak etc. I love anything that has a good melody, there are so many young girls out there making great music, I think it’d be cool if a guy was too.