Jai’Len Josey (2026). Courtesy of QualityLenz
Jai’Len Josey has been effervescent beneath the floor for years, and with Romantic sequenceher main label debut, the Atlanta native steps into the highlight. The Def Jam launch arrives with sturdy help, together with government manufacturing from Difficult Stewart and a variety of collaborators who helped deliver his imaginative and prescient to the fore. But the inspiration of the undertaking lies with Josey herself, from her songwriting to the angle she brings to every file.
Earlier than absolutely pursuing music, Josey developed his voice on Broadway, showing in The SpongeBob Musical: Stay on Stage!an expertise that sharpened his efficiency instincts. However his transfer to the recording trade was born from a need to inform his personal tales. Early unbiased releases launched listeners to his fashion, whereas writing theme songs for different artists confirmed his vary behind the scenes. Since signing her contract with the label, she has continued to refine her sound, drawing on R&B, home and southern influences.
Romantic sequence focuses on love, with Josey actually tackling her tales about relationships. Songs like “Housewife” and “Will not Power You” are a testomony to her expertise, and the album as a complete displays an artist who understands the place she is in her life and is keen to look at it in actual time. Forward of the discharge, Josey described the combo of pleasure and uncertainty that comes with bringing a debut album into the world. “I really feel a variety of feelings,” she says. “On the one hand, I really feel like I may cry on the spot simply feeling overwhelmed, and then again, I really feel like I am able to get within the ring and lift my fist to struggle.”
The undertaking’s highway to launch has been regular, with a rising viewers drawn to its covers, writing credit and previous releases. With Romantic sequence Now launched, Josey enters a brand new section, one which extends past recording to reside efficiency, and far more. For this episode of R&B Rising, she talks in regards to the journey thus far, the delays behind the album, and what’s subsequent.
ESSENCE: So inform me about the way it feels when your debut album is lastly able to be launched?
Jai’Len Josey: I am feeling a variety of feelings proper now on the similar time. I am glad we really listened to an album right here in New York so I may actually see folks’s emotions and the way they react to the music. It was slightly aid, figuring out I hadn’t made horrible music, however then once more, it is that feeling afterwards. There’s a variety of anxiousness in my head proper now, but additionally gratitude. I am unable to wait to see what occurs.
I used to be in your Instagram web page and noticed that the album had been pushed again a number of instances. Was it inventive, such as you felt prefer it wasn’t prepared? Was it a query of etiquette? What was responsible for the pushbacks?
There have been many causes. Above all, we wanted visuals. We wanted issues to truly transfer the undertaking ahead, so it wasn’t nearly releasing music with nothing to help it or get folks enthusiastic about. We wished to launch a music video, so we needed to pivot, be versatile and discover other ways to advertise every single.
In order that led us to create visualizers, which is among the causes they obtained pushed again. One more reason was that we did not have all the required paperwork collectively. A number of instances you will have artists that you just’re collaborating with, and in case you’re ready for his or her paperwork to be signed, you are ready for them. They’ve their very own lives, so you aren’t listening to them, however you might be ready for them. It made extra sense to launch the album as soon as every little thing was signed and finalized. One more reason was timing. The query now’s when can be the very best time to launch it. It wasn’t about being upset in regards to the delay. It was extra about asking, “When is the best time?” »
How did you join with Difficult Stewart?
The label introduced us collectively and began this relationship. Def Jam undoubtedly pulled off an excellent feat by bringing in somebody like Difficult to assist me end the songs I already had.
I do know you began your profession on Broadway. What led to the transition into the music trade?
Transitioning was my love for it. I spotted I did not wish to sing another person’s music. I used to be already doing my very own songs in my dressing room between matinees whereas I used to be on Broadway.
I used to be like, I can simply transfer ahead with this. Anyway, the present was about to finish and my mother and I had been about to go away New York to return to Atlanta. I knew I needed to do one thing, so I made a decision to leap in and pivot this fashion. It went easily. Then COVID hit too, so I could not actually keep there anyway.
I used to be really launched to you thru the tune covers you do. You execute them very effectively. The place does inspiration come from?
I all the time prefer to let folks know the place I get my inspiration from, and I feel the easiest way to do this is to sing the songs which have impressed me alongside my journey. Most not too long ago I lined Stevie Marvel. A lot of his affect may be discovered within the album. I really like Michael Jackson – I simply lined his tune – and there is a variety of Michael on the album too. I have never lined Nina Simone but, however a variety of emotion comes from her.
I keep in mind being residence and listening to my mother play ghetto tech devices, despite the fact that she was visiting from Detroit. She performed The Hole Band and plenty of artists who leaned into instrumentation. I feel singing their songs or paying homage to them is a small factor I can do to indicate that I am always impressed by the individuals who got here earlier than me.
You smoked that Stevie cowl. I watched it the opposite day; you probably did rather well. I am from New Orleans however have lived in Atlanta since 2012, so I really like town. Inform me about how Atlanta influences your music and sound.
Atlanta influences my sound by way of the little issues that occur, like going to QuikTrip and somebody asking me for cash, or listening to loud music at fuel stations, or going to the Westside Motor Lounge and seeing how a lot the neighborhood has modified. These moments are a part of me.
The music shall be southern by default. It is going to carry that vitality it doesn’t matter what style I faucet into. The place the place I used to be born and raised will all the time be there. I went to Tri-Cities Excessive College, and OutKast went there, Kandi Burruss went there, and a variety of Broadway stars got here from there. Understanding this historical past and being part of it ultimately means one thing. There’s additionally the musical theater facet. There’s New York theater, however Atlanta has its personal fashion. You’ve got black field theater, barefoot singing and really expressive performances. This comes by way of in what I do.
I feel it is one thing you always reward and really feel obligated to have in your music. I like Romantic sequence. Inform me about the way you earned this title and what it means to you?
Nicely, the title monitor was written earlier than we thought the album can be known as Romantic sequenceand we got here to the conclusion that originally the album was going to be known as Josey’s coronary heartimpressed by Frida Kahlo’s picture the place she is sitting on two chairs and her coronary heart is linked to the opposite model of herself. However then I spotted it was slightly too darkish. A number of the songs are upbeat, energetic, ghetto tech, home. We solely have perhaps three or 4 actually sluggish songs on the album, and that does not essentially mirror who I’m. My supervisor steered I title him Romantic sequencebecause it was already a tune and it mirrored what I used to be going by way of.
Being a serial romantic shouldn’t be what folks suppose. It is in regards to the trials and cycles you undergo in your relationships, what number of instances you stumble and fall, and the way you ultimately love your self again or determine to cease that cycle. It additionally means being optimistic which you could proceed to like, regardless of how painful it might be, or being keen to start out once more regardless. Regardless of if trauma happens, in case you mess up, or if the connection hurts you, we nonetheless have the flexibility to proceed to like. That is what being a serial romantic is all about: being optimistic about falling in love once more.
Do you will have a favourite tune?
My favourite tune is “Gained’t Power You,” I feel. I imply, everybody I’ve produced is my favourite, however I feel “Will not Power You” is my name for liberation. It is that second the place I really feel like I am not forcing anybody to like me the best way I wish to be cherished, as a result of I do know I may give that to myself transparently.