MWN: Can you introduce yourself for us, and tell us, like a bit more about yourself?
Ajaye Jardine:Absolutely, my name is Ajaye Jardine! I’m originally from Richmond, British Columbia, so a smaller town outside of Vancouver, and really what is there about me. I’m currently living down in Nashville, doing a lot of performing and writing there. I released my first record, called Midnight & Bourbon, last May and that’s been a really cool journey with that record. It received 5 BC Country Music Award nominations! It is well; my single, Fill It up Again,is a song that we’ve cracked almost 90,000 streams on Spotify. And being an independent artist, that’s a pretty big feat[ure], so we’re super grateful for that. And recently released a music video for it, that’s available on all the platforms. I also host a weekly writer’s night in Nashville, Tennessee called The Nash-Up, and my main vision behind that project and that event that I put on, isn’t only that, that’s where I perform once a week down there. There’s so much music happening in Nashville, it’s growing. It’s not just country music, and so I really wanted to create a space that celebrates all the different styles, and so we brought on, from everything to hip-hop musicians to pop musicians to songwriters to super country to modern country. So it truly is a mash-up of Nashville. So that’s where that name got from!
MWN: Is this your first time performing at Canadian Music Week? How do you feel?
Ajaye Jardine:It is! It’s my first time showcasing here. It’s my first time spending an extended period of time in Toronto, which I’m really excited about. We have a full band showcase on Thursday, at the Paddock Tavern. It’s mentioned, which I’m very excited about. Yeah, I’m super grateful to be here explore and see what Toronto is all about!
MWN:Is there anything that you’ve done in Toronto so far? Or anything you’re looking forward to doing?
Ajaye Jardine: Well definitely, I’ve been relaxing the past day! I was out in Western Ontario for the past few days visiting some family and catching up with them. And I’m really excited to; one, try the food. I’m a total foodie when it comes to new cities. I’m excited to explore different restaurants and as well, see what Toronto has to offer. There’s so many awesome music venues, so I’m really looking forward to exploring that and seeing all the talent that’s not only in Toronto, but international as well.
MWN:Who are some of your musical influences?
Ajaye Jardine: So I definitely have, everything. Pink Floyd is a huge influence to me. Lynyrd Skynyrd, in terms of the musicality. I’ve really always gravitated towards artists that stay unique to who they are, and don’t chase any types of trends. So a few of those artists are Randy Carlyle, Sheryl Crow, Kasey Musgraves, Maren Morris, just to name a few. I’m really inspired by, even like Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, in terms of the Americana country vibe. So that’s why I gravitated towards county in this current phase of my career is because the ones who really made a staple are the ones who broke all the rules. They broke what’s expected of them! So even when you think of the Louie Nelson’s and the Merle Haggard’s, they broke what was expected of them, so it’s a whole slew, and I got everything from pop music, everything. I always listen to a lot of Max Martin content, so he’s written a lot of, pretty much everything that I’ve listened to in the nineties growing up, from Britney Spears to; just all of them.
MWN: Usually with those influences, would there be a creative process, like when you’re writing a song or album, or would it just be within your own self?
Ajaye Jardine think it depends! I’ve really, the past years, have really thrived in a collaborative environment, where two or three writers in the room. Or maybe one person brings an idea! I know when I’m writing for own content and I’m working with other people, I really like to bring my own idea, because when you’re the artist, it’s really important you have a clear vision what it is that you want to say, and then teaming up with the right people who can help facilitate that, and bring that song baby to life. One thing I am looking forward to is writing on my own and finding my own voice, that when there’s no noise or other people’s opinions around what is it that comes out of my mind and thought process. It’s a wild beast, so to speak, where you never know where the inspiration is going to come.
MWN: Usually, for other people out there that want to pursue your dreams, if there was someone that was wanting to follow your footsteps what would you like to tell them?
Ajaye Jardine: I love this question! I think for this, is [that] there are no rules, nowadays. In 2019, especially, there’s so much accessibility we have, to the tools. We need to create the music, I mean you can have; I have Logic [Pro X] on my laptop, so everything from that to being able to put stuff on to the streaming platforms, or different ways. And so really at the end of the day, it’s finding what makes you unique and letting that shine, and I think it starts from inside. It’s not from chasing what you’re hearing on the radio, because that’s two years behind, in terms of what’s happening. So honestly you find your own track and stick to it, because everything will always catch up to it.
MWN: Do you have any final words to say before we finish the interview?
Ajaye Jardine: Final words for this! I think at the end of the day, music is a universal language, when it comes to connecting with people. And if I can reach people by speaking my truth and help them live better lives, or just feel empowered to live life on their own terms, or do what makes them happy, then I feel like I’ve done my job.
MWN:Thanks for your time!