When Ikonz were asked if we wanted to meet up with Jay Sean to interview him hours before he hit the stage in Birmingham for his concert we jumped at the chance. After all, Jay's an old friend of Ikonz and like his other UK fans we've really missed him. Ikonz Editor Reena Combo spoke to Jay and asked him how he felt being back home in the UK, how life in the US has changed him, when the long overdue new album will be out and if he'll work with Asian acts in the UK again….oh and lots more!

Reena: So Jay, how does it feel to be back home – touring in the UK?

Jay: its great man! Feels so good! I come back every 6 or 8 weeks anyway, but to come back for a full on tour with a live band etc is something I’ve been looking forward to for a while.

 

Reena: What’s the response been like from the show you’ve just done in London?

Jay: You know what? I think my fans there were really shocked and surprised, because I don’t think they actually expected what I was going to do. I don’t think my fans have ever really had the chance to see me sing my songs in the way that I’m singing them on this tour. You know if you look at when I first began, which was nearly like ten years ago now, my shows generally used to be in a night club; the DJ would play the song and I would sing over it but my fans would still be happy because they just wanted to see me or hear me sing the song and I’d be really happy because I’d just want to see my fans, however now we’re in a day and age where real talent is the most important thing in music. So I realised it’s important for me to put everything into production. That’s why absolutely everything about this show is live; the music is being played live, I’m singing live, the lights, the visuals – all life, Its a whole other experience.

 

Reena: On a personal level what does this tour mean to you?

Jay: The UK is where it all began for me and to come back and perform 10 years of music to the fans who have supported me is amazing. This makes me feel really old but I have girls who tell me they grew up listening to my music, and I’m like ‘what do you mean – grew up listening to my music?’. But then I start to think about it and I think ‘hold on – you were like 13 at the time, no wonder. And you’re like 23 now so you really did grow up listening to my stuff’!’ So for fans like that there’s an emotional attachment and for me it’s great for me to be able to sing for those same fans who followed me as teenagers…BUT I’M STILL 25 OKAY! (Jay says looking into the video camera recording the interview) We believe you Jay! But quite frankly it doesn’t matter as you look 21 to us!

 

Reena: So when you’re in the US, do you miss home?

Jay: Oh of course! However, USA has become very comfortable for me. I love it out there, it’s amazing. The mind-set of people over there is so different. They encourage success. There’s none of this maliciousness of when someone wants success they pull you back down. I like that; I think it’s a beautiful thing to encourage success. You do miss home though. Home is home – this is where I was born. I miss the British sense of humour, English food sometimes and I miss my family & friends the most.

 

Reena: How are things for you going in America?

Jay: It’s amazing! It’s been really great. I’ve just moved out to LA now as I’m trying to get more into the TV and Film work – which is fun (there’s an exclusive for all our readers hey). Music wise it’s incredible. I’ve managed to work with some great artists and got to know some great artists too. The possibilities are endless there.

 

Reena: So after this tour, what are you working on next when you get back to the US?

Jay: Well (another exclusive….) THE album will actually be out next year! There was whole a legal drama that stopped that from coming out which I won’t bore you with the details of but the album is able to come out now.

 

Reena: When the opportunity came up for you to go to the US and do your thing, what was going on in your head? What were you feeling at the time?

Jas: You know what I just thought whatever happens, happens. I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t scared – I was just like ‘let’s see what happens’. If it didn’t work out I would have been like ‘okay peace out, least I tried’.  For me, I felt like I can only gain something and that’s the same wherever I go.

 

Reena: How would you say life has changed for you?

Jay: Very busy now! That’s the one thing that is crazy! I don’t have a day off…like ever! It’s insane, there’s always something going on. I’m on a plane like 3 times a week! I don’t know what time zone I’m in sometimes, or the day or date for that matter. But I think it’s actually really nice for me to be able to just live in music.

 

Reena: You started out working with Asian acts, in the Asian scene, then moved on to the mainstream and been hugely successful – is that it for you now in the Asian market?

Jay: I never really did Asian music though. I wasn’t a Bhangra artist or sang Asian songs. I’ve always done RnB music, but started from a scene where majority of my fan base were Asian, but I was always singing English music. That was the biggest obstacle I had to overcome, people kept labelling me as an Asian artist but I wasn’t doing Asian music ever. I never did Bhangra music but I was in that circle.

 

Reena: Would you work in that circle again?

Jay: Well Rishi and Juggy – they’re my boys! The one song I had which had Punjabi in it was ‘Dance with you’, but that was one song out over like a hundred. It was right at that moment in time, it was new and it was fresh. If you look at where music is at now though, it’s all dance now.  I don’t believe in going backwards, I always believe in going forwards. I’m always looking at what’s going to be next. You can’t stay stagnant, the minute you stay stagnant you can’t grow anymore. I always look at the likes of Michael Jackson and Madonna – these people who have lasted so long in the industry and they went where the music went. As long as I’m writing the songs, it’s always going to be a Jay Sean song, but musically you have to grab what’s going on. So now, I’m moving forward.

 

Reena: How do you think you’ve grown as a person over the last 10 years?

Jay: Oh my god as a person I’ve seen so much! I’ve been through so many ups and downs – some beautiful moments and some really hard times. I’ve had some really difficult times too where I even thought do I really want all this, but I had to go through all that to get where I am now. Things are beautiful right now…touch wood and thank god that things are going really well. Onwards and upwards!

 

Reena: So when can we expect the new album then?

Jay:I’d say early quarter of next year

 

Finally a message for all the Ikonz readers:

I just want to say thank you so much. 10 years in the game, it’s very difficult to even last a couple of years in this game so thank you. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t even be around today! Thank you so much.

 

Look out for the filmed interview on Ikonz soon by Qube…Thank you to Qube Productions