Simon Jay gives a glimpse into his life in music - Q&A
Taking the time out of his incredibly busy schedule, Simon Jay was nice enough to answer our questions regarding what he’s been up to, the process of creating music, plans for the future, and so much more. If you’re unfamiliar with Simon, he’s a songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist that has a super impressive list of artists that he’s worked with. With a laundry list of accolades under his belt, we sincerely can’t wait for you to learn a little bit more about him. Check out our full Q&A below.
WWAM: Hey Simon! Appreciate you taking the time to answer, how have things been on your side of the world?
Simon: Hey We Write About Music, thank you so much for having me! Everything has been amazing, been building up a bunch of new artists to release to the world over the past few months, and some of them are getting some major label attention, hoping to finish the year strong!
WWAM: To begin, would you mind breaking down the message of your music? What would you like the listener to take from this?
Simon: The important message in all of the music I produce is to always tell the story. Every lyric and every note has to come from a truly authentic place, so every time I sit down with an artist, it’s important to get to know them on a personal level. Sessions can kind of be like the “speed dating” of the music industry, so I really try to personalize every session that I have with an artist.
WWAM: The production here is wonderful, do you have any outside help putting the pieces of the puzzle together?
Simon: Thank you so much! The answer is yes, always, and every time. I am a firm believer in teamwork and I would be nothing without the support and creativity of my peers, fellow writers/producers, and my team. I’d also like to recognize all of the musicians that pour their heart and souls into all of these records too, it really brings it to life.
WWAM: If you had to give an elevator pitch of your music, how would you describe it?
Simon: We bring the top musicians and creative minds of the industry together to tell unique stories in a new way.
WWAM: Are you going to be looking to experiment in the future?
Simon: Always, musically and just in life in general. I’ve had the pleasure of having really great mentors in my life. I’ve noticed that all of my peers around me that have been in the industry for many years all have the same general philosophy, always searching for ways to improve or re-invent. It would be ridiculous to think that any one person had all of the answers, so I’m happy doing what I’m doing as long as I’m experimenting with new things or learning new skills.
WWAM: Do you work on songs one at a time or in batches?
Simon: At any given time, we’ll have around 10-20 clients and artists, so that’s around 30 or so songs at a time. It’s definitely a lot, but it keeps me on my feet and certainly makes sure I don’t get stale.
WWAM: Were there some key artists or albums in your life that inspired you to take this path as a musician?
Simon: When I was younger, I was always into pop-punk and emo music. Albums like The Black Parade by My Chemical Romance, Everything In Transit by Jack’s Mannequin, and From Under The Cork Tree by Fall Out Boy were really important records in my life.
WWAM: What’s your process? How do you go about creating a song?
Simon: Creating a song is always different. I always start with the story, that could be either what the instruments are doing, what the lyrics are, or what the melody is, but songs start in every way you can imagine. Some of my favorite songs were started off of a voice memo, and other ones from things like bass lines or lyrical hooks.
WWAM: Trying to tour this year?
Simon: No, I spent the whole summer on the road this year, and I’m really hoping to stay home and lock in with artists for the rest of the year. But if something came up, it’s something I’d be open to!
WWAM: What are you looking to accomplish with this single?
Simon: We have another song coming out with Tayler Holder. We co-wrote this song with Shay from Dan + Shay and a bunch of other really talented producers (Daniel Ross and Benjy Davis).
WWAM: Who’s a dream collaboration for you?
Simon: A dream collaboration for me would be Jon Bellion. I really admire the way he reinvents his sound, but always works in service to the artist he’s working with.
WWAM: What’s a favorite song of yours to perform?
Simon: I don’t really perform much, but I love putting bands together for the artists we produce. One of my favorite songs to perform is “Feels Like You” by Faime. The song blew up online, and it’s so fun to play for a group of people who know and love the song.
WWAM: Hypothetically speaking, what does the next year of your life look like?
Simon: I hope the next year of my life will be focused on putting consistent effort in over time. I’ve been fortunate enough to work in music for the past decade, and I’m most looking forward to taking the time to grow as a producer and a human being in order to grow in new ways musically.
WWAM: What are some goals, musical or not, you’ve set for yourself in 2021.
Simon: A goal of mine is to serve as an executive producer for our artists and really set them up to be sustainable in their careers, and to give them the tools they need to have a successful music career.
WWAM: There've been so many incredible releases this past year, what have you been listening to in your free time? Watching anything maybe?
Simon: We’re always looking for new acts and new undiscovered talent that could add value to the music industry and share stories in a new and unique way.
WWAM: For the person who's going to discover you from this and listen to your music for the first time, what's an opening message you'd like to pass off to them.
Simon: We hope that you can hear all of the hard work and love that went into making this song. Each song, we spend hours, if not days, talking to the artist, learning about them, and figuring out the best way to tell their story. Every aspect of the song, from the writing to the production and the brand, has been carefully thought through with the artist to make sure that what you’re hearing reflects the story of what they went through.
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