RNGLDR: Obviously, these four singles don’t define a life that has been largely driven by music. Can you tell us a little bit about your creative and musical background, and how that background still plays a role in the kind of music you make today?

JORDAY: I come from an African background and when I moved to the UK at the age of 7, I got around a lot of Caribbean culture, which I believe has plays a huge role in the type of music I make. 

RNGLDR: Closer in particular has been an international hit. And for the most part, that’s because it does a great job of immersing the listener in the range of your sound. Your vocals have always been a focal point, but Closer really takes advantage of a moment in music history embracing the sounds and beat patterns of West African Afrobeat’s and Caribbean Dancehall. Why are you, as a vocalist, drawn to the sounds of those scenes?

JORDAY: As already mentioned, I come from an African background, but grew up around a lot of Caribbean people. I was influenced by old school dancehall and reggae but when I was home there was always traditional Congolese music being played.

Dancehall and reggae have always had a stigma around them, it feels good to see afrobeats be so acknowledged these past few years and I think it will only become more popular. 

RNGLDR: As an artist from the UK where the Afrobeat’s and Dancehall scenes are gaining exposure through more traditionally popular realms like hip-hop and R&B, why do you think that quite suddenly, there is a lot of international popularity with those scenes? And why do you think the UK in particular has become a hub for experimenting with those sounds?

JORDAY: The internet has allowed us to create our own platforms, which lets us choose who we want to listen to, opposed to having to wait on the radio to play our favourite artist. 

I believe the UK has become a hub for experimenting with these sounds because people are finally acknowledging them, and internet platforms allow artists of all genres to be heard. Music has always been popular within the UK, but social media allows artists to expand their reach.

RNGLDR: As a vocalist from the UK, what do you think is to account for this generation of young UK talent – Ella Mai, Mahalia, Kaleem Taylor, certain tracks by Kojey Radical – that is leading and defining Neo-Soul and R&B at an international scale?

JORDAY: I think they are all representing the UK amazingly, especially Ella Mai, her music is sending shock waves throughout the world. For most artists, it’s a dream to one day be in a position similar to Ella Mia’s, and seeing her attain so much shows it is achievable. On the other hand, I do feel that UK platforms and radio should be pushing more of our music because America has certainly played a huge role in Ella Mia’s success, when she is a British native.

RNGLDR: And other than yourself, who are some UK vocalists that you feel the world should be on the lookout for?

JORDAY: I feel that there are so many UK artist on the rise and who the world should be on the lookout for, but I really enjoy Mnelia, Lotto Boyzz and Wauve. A member of my team, Logan, should also be looked out for, he assists in me executing my sound and has played a huge part of the establishment of my career; he has his own music on the way too.