The next full rotation will be up either next week or the week after. =)
Some of you may have heard of JAY'ED - I uploaded his song "Superwoman" as part of rotation 40. I've only recently discovered him, but I was hooked and started looking for more of his releases. Here's a couple of his singles/songs - I hear he's also scheduled to release an album soon, too! Unfortunately what I've uploaded below is all I have by him, if anyone has any of his other singles, I'd love it if you could share them with me - I'll be happy to upload something for you in return.
Please comment/leave a rating if taking!
JAY'ED is a Japanese R&B singer, born in New Zealand to a Japanese father and a New Zealander mother. So far he's released six singles, from "Why?" in 2005 to his most recent single, "Everybody", which released on October 14, 2009. He is currently signed to the label Toy's Factory.
Single:ずっと一緒 (Zutto Issho)
Release Date: 08.27.2008
01. ずっと一緒 (Zutto Issho)
02. This Summertime
03. Missing
ずっと一緒 (Zutto Issho) is breezy and summery. The combination of light acoustic guitar and rich keyboard is lovely, and I love the sincere, optimistic nature of the song. It's the perfect mixture of catchy and relaxing. JAY'ED's smooth, textured vocals and warm harmonies are fantastic. It plays around with many different sounds, from pop, acoustic rock, R&B, and even touches of reggae. One of my favourite songs by him. This Summertime takes on stronger R&B routes. I was hooked from the electronica-laced, layered harmonies of the opening line. The subtle synths and soft, creamy keyboard might go unnoticed at first, but they form a solid base for the song, creating an airy ambience while remaining steady. It's sophisticated and ambient. Missing starts off with a full-bodied piano intro, which becomes more chordal as it fades into the background. JAY'ED's expressive voice really shines through in this song. It's another one of my favourites - although not as catchy as some of his other songs, that definitely doesn't mean that it's not memorable. I love the smooth melody of the chorus.
Single: Cry For You/Can't Let Go
Release Date: 07.22.09
01. CRY FOR YOU
02. Can't Let Go
CRY FOR YOU is a smooth, slightly downtempo track. I love its sweet but sad atmosphere. The chorus is gorgeous, filled with emotional harmonies. It's crisp and clear, yet smooth and flowing. I love 1:35-1:38 when JAY'ED sings "Hoho tsutau namida wa cry for you", the way the accompaniment drops out just at the very last note of the phrase is stunning. As in many of JAY'ED's songs, a strong piano base is evident. I love the transition at 2:52 into the bridge. Can't Let Go begins with a pretty, isolated piano melody, then quickly picks up the pace with ambient synths, a repetitive, steady beat, and light, creamy vocals. It's a good song, but I have to say I found it a bit disposable. I wanted a little more power and originality.
Single: Everybody
Release Date: 10.14.09
01. Everybody
02. Do I Do
Everybody is a song that I had some mixed feelings on. I love his reggae-influenced songs like Superwoman and Zutto Issho, and I have to say I was hoping for something similar to that in his most recent single. But Everybody is quite different - it's an upbeat, confident pop song with splashes of electronica and dance. It's catchy and fun, but I sometimes find myself wanting a little more from it. Do I Do was definitely the deciding track for me: it's a charming, mid-tempo song with lots of watered-down jazz influences and a slightly dated feel which only adds to its unique flavor. Complete with brass riffs, clean guitar melodies, warm synths, and stylized vocals, it definitely shows JAY'ED's versatility and talent.
Labels: JAY'ED
