Cody Jay is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born in Burbank, CA he has been surrounded by the music industry his entire life. His debut album “Off the Vine” was released earlier this year and is available on iTunes, Spotify, and other online retailers. Be sure to subscribe to his fan club for updates!!
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What at-tracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
I’ve always been interested in a variety of genres, but I never really knew which one I wanted to choose for my career. It actually took me a while, through a lot of trial and error, to decide which style I wanted to pursue. Sometimes I go back and listen to music I made in the begin-ning, and it’s hard to believe how different it sounds from what I’m making today haha. Artists like but not limited to Justin Timberlake, Pharrell, Timbaland, John Mayer, and Michael Jackson have had great influence not only in changing the direction of popular music, but also establishing a platform for artists like myself to be creative in their own way.
What led you into this journey with music? And further, what drives you to push it out to the public?
Some say that I’ve chosen one of the hardest careers you can choose….and I agree. But that’s part of the draw for me. I like chal-lenging myself to be better, striving for new & inventive ways to cre-ate, and having a goal that’s just as attainable as it is difficult to reach. As a performer, it’s always nice to hear when people like my mu-sic…but that’s not why I do it. I continue to put myself out there be-cause I love it. It’s how I express myself to the world.
Who or what influences your creativity? Have your tastes in music changed over time?
Artists & music of all types – both classic artists, as well as innovators in the industry influence my sound. I grew up listening to James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot, Michael Jackson, Lil Wayne, Tupac, Mozart, you name it. I think that’s why it was so hard for me to narrow down what style I wanted to choose. My style has DEFINITELY changed and shifted over time…and I hope that it continues to do so.
You just released your album Off The Vine (acoustic). Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or other-wise?
Subconsciously, I think I wanted the world to see a different side of my artistry. Having studied all different types of music, I appreciate when songs can be stripped down and exposed in their most raw form. I didn’t write these songs with the intention of doing that – it just sort of happened. And I’m really glad it did.
What was the last song you listened to?
“Change” by Flume
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Never MP3’s…haha. It’s a compressed format and doesn’t sound as good as the full quality files. I think Vinyl is still badass (can I say that?)….Vinyl just says so much. It’s simple, it’s old school, it makes it about the music….not about the likes, or the streams, or comments. I think we often get lost in the response from music, rather than the creation of it.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I prefer Spotify over everything. Almost any song I want to listen to is readily available, without ads (with $10/mo. subscription), and I can make custom playlists both for myself and shared ones with friends to discover new music. It’s a fantastic platform.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what is the biggest challenge you face when trying to connect with or find new fans?
I find it really hard to maintain a relationship with everyone. I want to have a connection with my fans, and I do my best to interact as much as I can – but sometimes I get so busy that I don’t have a chance. I want my current fans to continue to listen, and share my music with their friends, because I want my success to come organically. I know many artists who paid their way to the top – when I get there, I’ll appreciate it more because I had to work really hard to get there.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more music?
Anywhere! I’m on Instagram, SoundCloud, iTunes, Spotify, Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, etc. under “codyjaymusic.” If I had to choose though, I think Instagram is probably the best platform as a one-stop shop.
Anything else you’d like to add before signing off?
Thank you for the interview! The most important thing to me is to continue to gain as much exposure as I can, so people can hear the music I’ve worked so hard to create. I write & produce it all myself – and it means the world to me to be able to share it with the world. Like, share, love!
