Introducing Teejay, a Jamaican artist whose musical journey mirrors the rhythmic beats of dancehall tradition. From the guts of Jamaica, Teejay has crafted a singular sound that resonates with audiences globally. His story encompasses the surprising success of his hit track “Drift” —a monitor he almost neglected—and a promising collaboration with famend artist Shaggy who serves as the manager producer for Teejay’s EP, I Am Chippy. Teejay’s rise isn’t solely marked by musical prowess but in addition by the wealthy tapestry of his Jamaican roots.
Teejay joins EBONY for a dialog about rising up in Jamaica, the success of his single “Drift,” and releasing the remix that includes Davido together with a music video filmed in Africa.
EBONY: How was your expertise rising up in Jamaica and at what level did your ardour for music first develop?
Teejay: It was great rising up in Jamaica. It was similar to another child rising up anyplace on the planet. It was all the time about music for us rising up in Jamaica. My household are my musical influences. My brother and my mother used to sing Christian music and Gospel music so that they’re my inspiration. Rising up in a musical household, I all the time wished to take the situation to the following stage.
With the brand new success and being a father of 5, how have you ever managed to steadiness fatherhood and work life?
I by no means grew up with a father so I am all the time going to spend time with the children. I am all the time working with them, ensuring I name them to inspect them, ensuring everyone is on their telephone so we are able to nonetheless talk with one another. As soon as I am in Jamaica, it is simply them. If I’ll the studio, I’ll take them with me anyplace I am going. They’re all the time with me. You are not going to see me with them all over the place everywhere in the world as a result of issues in time change. You do not wish to be that pal along with your youngsters nowadays. You wish to be a father determine for them more often than not.
How did the method of making your extensively fashionable single “Drift” unfold?
Straightforward. “Drift” was a gimmick track at first. I simply went again into the studio and tried to create one thing else beneath him as a result of I used to be fascinated by TikTok. I used to be at HOT 97 with Shaggy about two weeks earlier than we completed “Drift” and Funk Flex was there saying, “Jamaican artists must learn to cheat the code or to crack the code.” That is once I started listening to every part that he was saying, looking for some extra phrases which might be easy, so the world can perceive what you are saying after which we simply went again to the studio and we created that vibe, the identical factor that Funk Flex was speaking about.
How did the collaboration with Davido for the “Drift” remix and the video filming in Africa come about?
I believe I’ve the most effective supervisor on the planet. I all the time inform folks that. As an artist, it’s worthwhile to have anyone who’s going to consider in your profession if you end up in your mattress at evening. The remix was formulated by my supervisor Sharon Burke. She reaches out to so many individuals simply by connecting to her community. On the time, we had been attempting to do one thing totally different with our sound, so it was carried out by Sharon Burke and Davido’s supervisor. It was the vibes, there was simply this connection. I do not know. They informed me earlier than that Jamaican individuals are from Nigeria and Ghana so perhaps that is why we’re related. The vibes and vitality had been simply good.
What was the second you realized “Drift” was getting membership and radio play in the USA?
I used to be going to trash the track. I am extra of a hardcore dancehall artist however on the time, I figured that hardcore lyrics weren’t taking us anyplace at this level. So once I recorded the track, my mates had been telling me they felt it was a primary track. I wasn’t satisfied because it did not really feel like me. Ultimately, I informed my DJ to go forward and leak it and that is when he got here up with the concept to let the dancers in Jamaica do a routine for it. They only leaked the visible and dance routine for the track so individuals can get it after which it simply blew up.
To what extent does Shaggy’s music affect your sound? How did the collaboration with him as the manager producer in your EP I Am Chippy come to fruition?
Dancehall music is one thing that could be a hands-off expertise. We have now all seen different individuals doing Dancehall music and Reggae music through the years however having Shaggy as that one who’s going to information me and train me stuff is nice. He even tells me methods to reply a query in interviews or methods to get everyone to like you in that room. I believe it is a great factor and I all the time inform him I recognize him for that.
