“Do you remember?” is a question that carries extra weight during the beer-soaked revelry of LDOC. Jay Sean doesn’t mean it that way, but you can rest assured that the British pop star will perform his hit single of the same name during a headlining performance on Duke’s one true holiday. Lindsey Rupp had the opportunity to question Jay Sean about how he made it in America, getting “Down” with Lil Wayne and almost living a life of medicine.
You started your musical career in Asia and Europe before heading to the U.S. When your career began seven years ago, did you imagine making it in America?
For us, coming from Europe, we look up to American artists because that’s what we grew up on. We grew up on your Whitneys, and we grew up on your Michael Jacksons, and all those huge artists—they were all of course from America. So you know we’re very small, the music industry is very small and America is like the Holy Grail for us. So for me to make it out here is incredible.
What do you think has made you a chart-topping artist in America? Do you attribute it to any change in your style that has made your music popular with American crowds like it hasn’t been before?
I think probably the reason for my sort of break through here was all about timing and all about the kind of songs and the kind of music I was putting out at the right time. You’ve got to remember, I came out at a moment where there weren’t many male pop R&B vocalists around, and it was a perfect opportunity for me to slot in. And I think I came doing music that I guess was easy for people to sing, but still I bring the R&B and soul influence in my album, but really it’s for a mainstream pop audience.
Some people have called you a one-man boy band, what’s your reaction to that?
I don’t really know what that means. I think it’s probably referring to the large predominantly female fan base that I have... because a lot of times people are like, “Yo, we don’t see this many girls unless it’s a boy band performing.” And so I think that’s pretty cool, and for me, I recognized over the years that that has been my market, and you know without those girls, I wouldn’t be here. So for me that’s just a huge compliment.
You have worked with several big-name artists on Cash Money Records and said in an interview that “this is just the beginning” for you. Who has been your favorite artist to collaborate with and why?
Obviously the most cherished memory is going to be [Lil] Wayne because that was for me just such a huge deal, and I really couldn’t believe the moment when it really happened. But I think probably the thing for me that has been the biggest career breakthrough has been the Mary J. Blige collaboration because for me... that’s such an incredible collaboration. And when they came to us for that I was so flattered and so humbled because at the end of the day, that’s somebody that I grew up listening to and admiring. She’s the queen of R&B soul, you can’t get bigger than her when it comes to that kind of music, so when she chose me for her song, that’s a pretty big deal to compete with Mary’s voice on the same record, you know [laughing]. So for me that was the most flattering one, I think.
Your biggest hits, “Down” and “Do You Remember,” feature other prominent artists. Do the tracks still feel like your own when you perform them alone?
Oh of course, because... the thing is, when I perform “Down” without Wayne, I mean, the whole crowd looks forward to that part. They all know the verses, everybody sings along. So I just put the mike out in the audience and basically everybody becomes Lil Wayne. And with Sean Paul, when I perform without him, you know everybody loves that verse, there’s a lot of energy there, so I find ways of working with it. I might harmonize with him or whatever it is, I’ll work with it. And it never feels like, uh oh, here comes the point where everbody’s going to be like, “Uh, hello, where is Sean Paul, I can’t see him, why is his voice coming out of the speakers,” you know what I mean? Nobody really thinks about it, they just sing along.
You just returned from a tour in Australia, and you’ve enjoyed large success in Europe and Asia. What interested you in a college tour? Is there a trait among American college campuses or audiences that appeals to you or your style?
You know what it is? These college tours have probably been, I’ve been saying to everybody, they’ve been one of the most eye-opening experiences ever because I’m performing to literally the demographic that is my fan base. And it’s not in a club environment, it’s not in an arena, it’s literally in their college where they feel like, “Wow, he’s here on our campus, in our gym, whatever, in our arena.” And the vibe is so crazy, like the energy is insane. These have been some of the most exciting audiences I’ve performed to. And to be honest, like I said, the girls—they go nuts. They lose their minds, and they’re just screaming, and the dudes that are there are just there having fun and enjoying themselves, they’ve brought their girls down there or whatever. It’s a fun night for everyone.
Is there a difference between American audiences and British and Asian audiences you’ve played for?
Definitely, the audiences are different everywhere. Australia, for example, was just going crazy because they’re so far from America that when they get American artists to come down, they appreciate it so much because they don’t know when they’re going to come again. They’re there lining up from the early hours of the morning because they don’t want to miss a thing, and they’re just an unbelievable audience. And that’s true for certain areas of the world where they’re not spoiled. But the thing for me which has been incredible is because I’m British, and because I’m new to America, my American fan base has been one of the most exciting and fun fan bases for me to perform to because I’m seeing it all grow again.
What do you consider about American audiences as being “spoiled?” That’s an interesting word.
I don’t mean spoiled in a way like they’re not enjoying themselves. It’s like, for example, you go to L.A. They’re not going to freak out when Julia Roberts is walking into Starbucks because they’re used to seeing her probably around, they’re used to seeing stars around everywhere.... So it’s very, very interesting how performing in different parts of America there’s just different responses.
I read that you left medical school to pursue music. Do you ever wonder how your life might have been different if you hadn’t taken a chance on your music?
Yeah, of course, I mean I’d probably be dissecting someone’s kidneys right now.
What advice would you give someone who’s in college struggling between those two kinds of career paths?
I go by the motto dream big, live big. You have to have a dream and go for it and chase it. But whether that dream is to become an astronaut or whether that dream is to become an accountant it doesn’t matter, chase it and do what you want to do.... As long as you’re not doing it on a whim... be responsible about it and be realistic about it. As I said, if you know you have the talent, go for it. If you don’t and you know you can’t sing—that’s what freaks me out, when you see people go on American Idol and we all know they can’t sing. Don’t they have someone in their lives who goes, “You know what, bro, seriously? Don’t make a fool out of yourself. Stay at home, finish your studies, its not going to happen for you.”
You’ve already toured in five continents; where do you see your musical career taking you in the next 10 years?
I think it’s going to be bigger and better. I have every ounce of belief in that because the music that we’re making is so exciting right now, and to be honest, I think it has to do with the receptive audience. America has embraced me really in a way I could not have imagined, and that inspires me to write more great music. I’ve already nearly finished this next album, and it’s already sounding so good, and I think hopefully it’s going to be something that the people out there are going to love. And from there, more opportunities will come. So, as I said, that’s why this is just the beginning because there’s a long way ahead and it’s going to be exciting.
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