Today we’d like to introduce you to Jay Wells.
Hi Jay, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My musical journey started back in 2003 when I was in 3rd grade. I used to get bullied in elementary school and was asked if I wanted to join the band due to having good grades. I said yes initially to get away from being bullied but then it turned into a true love and passion for me. I started playing the clarinet and by the end of the year switched to the alto saxophone and was playing both at a high school level before reaching the 4th grade. In 4th and 5th grade I began marching in High School bands. I ended up auditioning for and attending the Cleveland School of the Arts for middle and high school which helped to cultivate and bring awareness to many of my other talents such as singing, dancing, rapping and my favorite, songwriting.
After high school (2012) I attended Bowling Green State University where I began taking music seriously and started releasing my own original music and traveling to different college campuses to perform. Fast forward to 2017 and everything started changing. I released a song entitled “Open” which was a huge success and was blessed with an opportunity to share the stage with 21 Savage at BGSU. 2018 I moved back to Cleveland, OH and began networking and doing events out there. 2019 I started working on my album “Legacy: The Untold Love Story” and had a sold-out album release party with over 250 people in attendance the entire night. I have since performed with Sammie, Ginuwine, Cheri Dennis, BET, Mopacino, been verified on multiple music platforms, blessed to have my own Pandora station, engineer for artists such as Kap G, Sloowtrack, Lil Cray and more.
2020 and beyond I took a backseat and decided to focus more on being a songwriter and truly telling the story. There’s a love and passion behind songwriting for me and it’s been an amazing journey to help others elaborate on their emotions. 2022 I decided to take a leap and moved to ATL to truly focus on becoming the best writer and musician I can be.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road definitely hasn’t been smooth but i mean no road to greatness is. I’ve had MANY no’s, I’ve had people be extremely rude to me, I’ve lost competitions, I’ve been broke many of times over, and a bunch of other issues. God blessed me with a spirit of perseverance though. The journey has been hard but still worth it for sure. If I had to choose the toughest battle however, patience takes the cake. It’s hard to have the co-signs, talent, work ethic, and network of people but still be told it’s all about timing. That obstacle is an everyday uphill battle, but my time is coming. Until then, I focus on creating my own opportunities.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am the Swiss Army knife in the music industry. I say that because I’m a songwriter/singer/multi-instrumentalist/rapper/engineer. I’m mostly known for writing, singing and rapping however. Something that I can say I’m most proud of is although I’m inspired by many, I’ve still managed to really grow into my own sound and stay my true genuine self. I believe that the music industry has the power to change a person for better or worse and being able to stick to my personal morals and goals is a win for me.
What I believe sets me apart in the industry is my approach to music as well as my lyrical structure and storytelling abilities. It’s something that people have always highlighted me for throughout the years of my career. I’m really a student of music. I study the history, the storyline, the melodic and harmonic structures, etc. I also listen to all genres which helps me evolve my sound and stay well rounded.
What makes you happy?
God, family, friends and nature. My relationship with God is everything because without Him there’s no me! Family is important because I’m a reflection of everything they instilled in me. They help to motivate me and feed my “why”. My friends always help to balance my life and bring fun, new perspectives, opportunities and wisdom to me and I’ve always been a big nature head. I feel most at peace and connected to God and self when I’m in nature so I like to take nature walks and study nature documentaries. I always said if it wasn’t music I would do zoology.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.Instagram.com/thelegacyofjay
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/officialjaywells
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/thelegacyofjay
Image Credits:
Ginuwine, Mopacino, Kap G, Sloowtrack, Sammie, 21 Savage, Cheri Dennis, Felicia Temple, Drumgod, Lil Cray, DaeBxy, BET
