Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with unsigned UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with unsigned Middlesbrough singer Jay Moussa-Mann to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I live in Middlesbrough in the UK. I remember singing and making up songs to myself from being very little but when I was 10 I got my first guitar and taught myself how to play basic chords. That was when I started getting interested in music in a deeper way. I loved all kinds of music, especially musicals, like Les Misérables and The Sound of Music and later I became fascinated with Eric Clapton’s Unplugged concert. I never wanted to be a singer or saw myself on stage but I just adored music and songwriting.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Growing up I liked k.d. lang, Carly Simon, James Taylor, Gerry Rafferty, Eric Clapton and a Turkish pop singer called Tarkan. These days I’ve been listening to and drawing on a varied selection: Dawes, Taylor Swift post-1989, Billie Eilish, Lennon Stella, Mandy Moore, Aurora and Maisie Peters.
How would you describe your sound?
My songs have been described as ‘sophisticated pop’ which I really liked! : )
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
My next single is called ‘Tell Me” (out 7th May) The influence for this song and I would say the entire upcoming album came from the films of John Carney, Begin Again and Sing Street. I was struggling with processing all the emotions I had during 2020 and one day I was watching Begin Again and realised ‘Oh. This feels just like a bad breakup.’ Musically I wanted to keep the album raw, kind of like the music in John Carney’s films, they sound simple and sometimes unpolished but they’re not at all. It’s much harder to get a stripped back song to sound good because there’s nowhere to hide.
What’s your local music scene like?
It’s pretty vibrant at the moment, there are a lot of great new songs being written and recorded! My top favourite local performers at the moment are Amelia Coburn, Moodbay and George Boomsma.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
I’ll be working on finalising my second self-produced album, The Breakup Album which comes out later this year. I’m also already writing and recording new music for the next album.
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
I’m going to punch above my weight here. Amelia Coburn. She’s a brilliant songwriter. As I said – punching above my weight! And if we wander over here into dreamland… I’d love to write a song with Barry Gibb from the Bee Gees.
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
It was quite funny the time I was singing my song “The Ghost of Sex Workers Past” and the kids in the back row broke into fits of laughter every time I sang that line. Every single time! : D
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
I love documenting projects and I often share the behind-the-scenes of my music making and music videos on my YouTube channel.
You can find out more about Jay on her website or via Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, TikTok, Twitter or YouTube.
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