Amy Jay

Amy Jay‘s music will remind you of Laura Marling and by reaching the first spot of iTunes’ New Artist Spotlight, she shows that she is maybe as talented as her. The New York-based singer-songwriter will drop her debut “Supposed To Be EP” on July 15 and the second single, “Only One”, is a smart mix of folk and atmospheric pop music. - HighClouds

Amy Jay has been studying music since the age of 6, when she started playing the violin. This youthful sophistication is readily apparent on her debut EP, Supposed to Be, best described as string enhanced, lyric driven indie folk pop (think early Sara Bareilles).

Produced by Jon Seale of Mason Jar music who has worked with the likes of Alicia Keys, Feist and Andrew Bird, Supposed to Be is soft and brightly nuanced. Jay’s voice is elegant and self assured, and the smooth production envelops us into her world with no complaint. Thoughtful and at times melancholy, the music manages to beguile us with earnestness. Listening to it feels like floating down a dreamy river, calmly propelled by the current.

Jay also has a knack for turns of phrase that invite us to examine something familiar with fresh eyes: “I am your porcelain laced with gold, easily broken, yours to behold,” she murmurs on “Fragile.” Her lyrics serve as metaphoric vessels that convey a feeling directly to the listener.

In the midst of the final track, “Miles,” just as I was starting to grow a tiny bit weary of the breathy folk vibe, something shifted. The internal rhythm of the track picked itself up and momentum began to build, while Jay repeated the line “miles and miles and miles away,” with a mesmerizing lilt. I was once again drawn inexorably into the current and my heart cracked a little when we reached the line: “We’ve always shared the same soul, it’s such a shame we’ll never get the chance to have it whole.”

Amy Jay is a promising, talented artist and has also been fortunate to partner with a producer who knows how to highlight her strengths. It’s no surprise that she has been featured on iTunes New Artist Spotlight and Spotify’s Fresh Finds: Six Strings. - EUPHORIA

Everyone has either confronted, or I believe will eventually confront the idea, that the world is a messy, broken place. As for me, after surviving being hit by a taxi and witnessing my friends and family change negatively or pass away, I got to thinking about life. And how short it is. And how things are a little wonky. But it makes sense – being imperfect humans in an imperfect world makes an interesting conundrum.

That’s what spurred the writing of my debut EP Supposed To Be. It is just that – things are not the way they are “supposed to be.” I’m not even sure what these things should even look like in a perfect world (since it doesn’t exist here), but something in my soul knows they do not look like this.

That theme seeped through all my songs. When I realized this even before stitching the songs together, it was clear what the title of the EP should be. And so it went.

My first single “Only One,” is about a deep longing for security that lasts a lifetime. It’s realizing that feeling of security may require taking a leap of faith – believing it exists for it to be true. It’s allowing your heart to lie in another person’s hands with hope they will protect it like you have for as long as you’ve known and then trusting that they will never let it go. For some reason I found myself trusting, and to my surprise it didn’t end poorly. My leap of faith ended in love.

In my next song “As I Am” I realize that I am the way I am for better or for worse, and that doesn’t make me less or more worthy. During “Fragile,” I process the delicate nature of the heart, amidst having vulnerability that scares me to death. “Aimless Wanderer” is a story of two lost souls who realize they are lost when they find each other and feel belonging. And, lastly (at least for the EP’s sake – for there is so much more I could say), “Miles” is about the challenges of a long distance friendship that once was so much more. And still wanting it to be like it was – supposed to be.

With the help of a small team and amazing musicians and artists, these songs really came to life way more than just putting them to tape, so to speak. I discovered parts of myself I hadn’t known before, and had the pleasure of letting go of my expectations to make room for the crazy talented musicians and artists to put their stamp on these songs. It was… freeing! In the end, the songs became much more than what I could have made on my own. It was truly a collaborative process, and it was amazing. Art is definitely meant to be shared. I wouldn’t know the freedom of collaborative art had I kept these songs to myself like I’ve done for the past 10 years.

Similarly, the recording process could not have been done in a vacuum either. In the most challenging parts of the process I questioned my motivations and abilities to make it happen. Was it worth it? Is it good? Why am I doing this? But in the presence of others, you are just making art, and that alone makes it worth it. On the flip side – the best parts were where I completely lost track of time and space and felt I could keep on going forever. I had found my home. It didn’t matter whether or not it was good – it was my heart.

All that to say, I think the biggest thing that came out of this EP is that there is beauty in the messiness of life. I have learned that through everything that goes wrong you can find hope in it all.

I can’t wait to share this EP with those who might feel they are in the process too. - PLAYTOOMUCH

With some very modern elements as well as a very grounded sense of artistic narrative, Amy Jay brings us a Mason Jar-produced single with impeccable groove. Her vocal are reminiscent of the pop power of a Natasha Bedingfield, with an underlying sense of emotion and lyrical facility stolen from her idol, Laura Marling.

It’s a surprisingly moving track, with a long cinematic crescendo and a wonderfully-managed dynamic framework. Grief is a track that deals with a difficult subject by using catharsis, by replacing the sense of loss with a feeling of accomplishment. By the end, it delivers a shuffled punch of carpe-diem enthusiasm, for use in fighting off the clouds of regret.

New York based singer-songwriter Amy Jay creates thoughtful acoustic folk that is gentle and lush with strong emphasis on genuine, reflective lyrics. This song is featured on our Roots Collection playlist. - Chillfiltr

NY singer-songwriter Amy Jay releases “Hourglass” – the second single from her forthcoming EP So It Is. The single is a mellow, gentle record that captures the essence of her unique take on acoustic folk. Over a surreal, nostalgia-inducing soundscape provided by Brooklyn based producer Jon Seale of Mason Jar Music (Feist, Josh Garrels, Aoife O’Donovan), the soft-spoken act delivers a rich, expressive performance that resonates deeply within the soul. Her passionate vocals are only matched by the smooth ambient soundscape she sings over and her genuine, reflective lyrics that everyone can easily relate to. Thematically, "Hourglass" is a classic love-laden track that dwells on falling for someone and hoping to grow old together.

“Hourglass” is taken from Amy Jay's sophomore EP So It Is. which is a follow up to her debut 'Supposed to Be' - EARMILK