13.04.09
Featured Artist Of The Week (Week 3)
BRITNEY SPEARS
taken from BreatheHeavy.com
(I'm trying something new - open the biography with the link below!)
05.04.09
Featured Artist Of The Week (Week 2)
JAIME JAY
Jaime Jay and friend Liz McClarnon in Sweden for the recording of "Lately", released May 18th.
Jay Z described her as ‘a talented musician, and a cutie who knows what she’s talking about when it comes to her music’ at a party in New York, and her debut single ‘To Make You Feel Alright’ has already stormed the Upfront club, dance and commercial pop charts in the UK, along with ‘Can’t Do It Like Me’.
2009 is certainly getting off to a great start for singer/songwriter Jaime Jay but for our feisty girl from Manchester this is only the beginning...
‘To make you feel alright’ has been skilfully remixed by some of the hottest producers around including Wideboys, who have also recently worked with Rhianna, Janet Jackson and Snoop Dogg, and Michael Woods (Out of Office). After reaching No.1 in M8 magazine’s February dance chart in 2008, No.2 in the Music Week commercial pop charts and No. 4 in both UK Club Chart and Breakers Chart. It has also received airplay from the likes of Radio 1, Hed Kandi, Ministry of Sound and has been B Listed on Gaydar Radio. Jaime Jay is certainly a girl of many talents and was in fact on her way to becoming a top music lawyer – even turning down a job offer from Paul Rosenberg, Eminem’s manager and head of Shady records, before a conversation with her late Nan made her turn her attention to music.
Jaime recalls “My Nan told me that I should always follow my heart and from having that first conversation with Jay-Z in New York to sitting on the sofa with her in Manchester I knew music was what I had to do.”
And so the 26 year old ex-British baton champion set out to do what she loves and began penning songs and laying down raps, taking inspiration from her many nights partying at the notorious Hacienda nightclub (at the age of 15!) and her hours of listening to her brother’s Run DMC, Cookie Crew, Monie Love, Salt N Pepa and Public Enemy albums.
As her connections in music began to grow, Jaime started co-writing for a number of successful music acts from mainstream pop act Blue to underground artist Hoodman, as well as working alongside top producers such as Stargate and Deekay and Cutfather and Joe, before turning her full attention to her debut UK album.
Her many influences are evident in her music, coming not just from rap but also from pop.
Describing her influences Jaime says, “Ideally I would love to have the business savvy mind of Madonna, the attitude of Cyndi Lauper, the body of Janet Jackson and the rhymes of Q-Tip and Betty Boo mixed together...Oh and the wardrobe of Gwen Stefani!” Quite an ambition!
But ambition, after all, is what has got this young girl far and she has continued to work with a number of esteemed producers including, Bimbo Jones who is currently No.1 in the U.S dance charts, top Swedish duo Rob n Razz, Digital Dog and has many more exciting collaborations lined up for in the near future.
Currently in the studio working on new material and with the continued success of ‘To Make You Feel Alright’, and ‘Can’t Do It Like Me’, Jaime Jay looks set for big things in 2009.
And recently, Jaime Jay went to Sweden to record "Lately", Liz McClarnon's new single, part of the Global One Music Project. The single is released May 18th. Jaime says: "So I'm just sat here listening to to my ipod thinking how lucky I am to be working with my mate and releasing a track together. It's rare in the music industry that you actually get to work with your mates and of course it's also an honour. Liz and i had a wicked time out in Sweden....thanks to everyone involved for making it all work. I want to be in Sweden now!"
For the young girl who was brought up in Manchester’s infamous Openshaw Jaime Jay has certainly had some amazing highs in her young life and in the words of one of her favourite pop acts, Yazz, ‘the only way is up….Baby!’
Taken from Jaime's official Myspace