Interviews

#GetSOM via @djspins

Recently we got the chance to catch up with North Carolina recording artist Tiffany Jaye who is on the grind and shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

The music, notes, words, pictures…everything that music and art is about is the mere essence of what I love to do and who I am.

Tiffany Jaye

DJ Spins: What is your Stage Name? Please tell us where you’re from and what first got you interested in the entertainment industry?
Tiffany Jaye: My name is Tiffany Jaye born in Brooklyn, NY raised in Charlotte, NC. The idea that one could possibly make a living off their passion was what sparked my interest. Crossing paths with O.G. Neil, at 16, was an open door that made that possible and we’ve been rocking together ever since. I had the voice that could move mountains while he taught me the fundamentals of the business.

DJ: Who and/or what inspires you to create?
TJ: Inspiration comes from the overwhelming sensation to channel my emotions and have somewhere to put them. The soundboard is like a blank canvas waiting to be painted.

DJ: How would you describe your sound?
TJ: My sound is Mariah Carey for her range. Ne-Yo for his writing. Kehlani, Yebba and Victoria Monét for the feel that they bring to the track. They have amazing flavor and what I’m feeling right now in my spirit.

DJ: What is your creative process like?
TJ: My ideal creative process is sitting with a musician and if I have something in mind, like a melody I hum it and we start from there. Or I see where their head is at and we just create. Create from different ideas/inspirations that we’re thinking of at the time. Usually, when the process is like that I find those projects to be the most successful and smooth. There’s more of an organic flow that you get when you create from scratch together with someone else versus receiving a bunch of tracks to choose from and piece the song together.

DJ: What artist(s) would you like to collaborate with?
TJ: BabyFace for his tenure with songwriting and arranging. Ryan Leslie because he’s like a modern-day Stevie Wonder with his ability to play many instruments. He dubbed himself the Black Mozart, bold and fitting. Lady Gaga for the caricatures she’s displayed to the public throughout the years. I want to learn how she channels and makes them believable on screen. Lucky Daye because since his first album “Painted” I’m loving everything he’s doing in its entirety. His choice of features, his subject matter, his vocals, the production, everything.

DJ: If you could open a show for any artist who would it be?
TJ: Lucky Daye – I believe he’s well on his way and it would be a good mix of a show with me opening for him.

DJ: What is one message you would give to your supporters?
TJ: The music, the notes, the words, the pictures, everything that music and art is about is the mere essence of what I love to do and who I am. I hope that you not only listen for entertainment but also gain some personal growth. Preserve and continue to build your confidence by being inspired so that you can be an inspiration to someone else. We all have gifts and talents so find what works for you and use that to help serve others in whatever way you see fit. Whether it’s through singing a song, saying hey, or just giving a hug or a smile. I want you to enjoy, live life, and be free. God bless you, Love Tiffany Jaye.

DJ: What is the most useless talent you have?
TJ: I know that whatever I put my mind to I can accomplish it. With enough focus and discipline one year I learned how to crochet. I started a blanket to find a new hobby to quench my loneliness. While this was successful for the time being in the since of the question I would only call it useless because I don’t have the passion to take it further as I have with my music. It was a one-time thing and it accomplished the fix I needed at that point in my life. Music is something that will never go away. It’s my drug of choice. My vice when I want to escape. Being a part of the creative process is my reason to live.

DJ: What would you be doing right now, if you weren’t doing music?
TJ: If I wasn’t doing music I would probably be more invested in my job and would’ve taken opportunities to move up in that field sooner. Use that as a stepping stone for cash flow to work on my visual art, applying and entering into contests and gallery shows to eventually make a living off of that.

DJ: Who are some artists you admire and why?
TJ: Dorothy Dandridge, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, Ne-Yo, Janet & Michael Jackson. I’m going to take time to expand upon one person here. Tina Turner. She’s like lightning in a bottle that couldn’t even contain her. She showed up and was fully present defying all odds and can now bow out gracefully with her mind, health, and a new vision of life going forward.

DJ: What is the best advice you’ve been given?
TJ: I’ve recently been listening to Brenden Burchard’s podcast called “The Brenden Show” and one of the things he suggested was to have a delayed emotional response when communicating. I’m working through being highly reactive so taking time, just a second to breathe in and out before I give someone a response has helped me provide a better, more well thought out answer. It doesn’t come off defensive or irrational which is what I want to perfect. Being proactive in my thinking is a skill I want to master.

DJ: If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?
TJ: The pay-to-play culture. I wish there was another way to weed out the riffraff to determine who’s really serious versus who’s not.

DJ: What’s next for you, where would you like to see yourself in the next year?
TJ: I would like to continue creating a few singles, not an album yet, and solidify my audience. Refining my social media and what fans tune into when they come to any of my platforms.

Check out Tiffany Jaye’s latest single “Callin Me” below and follow Tiffany on social media @tjayetaylor on Instagram, Facebook & Twitter.