STAY JAY Interview

William Kojo Johnson, better known by my stage name Stay Jay,is a Ghanaian rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and part time actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip-hop artists and entrepreneurs in Ghana. Check out his inspiration interview below

What inspired the name STAY JAY?

The “Stay” stands for remain. The “Jay” stands for Johnson, my last name. Together you have “Stay Jay”—the inspiration is to stay true to myself, to remain the same no photo copy or duplicate of another person.

How long have you been doing music? 

Music has always been a part of me since birth and for Christ Knows how long.I think  whatever I am  today is a testimony of what God has done for me.

You were schoolmates with artists like  Sarkodie, Yaw Siki, Ikonz(Zixu), Stonebuoy, Ruff N Smooth, Vibz etc . Looking back do your ever get amazed by how many people you grew up in the same environment with are prominent musicians now?

Yes I do and I thank God for bringing us this far and pray we all move to the next level of careers and stay succesful till we retire.

How difficult was it for you to get in the music industry?

It was a bit difficult from the beggining but as time went on  certain people saw the potential in me, they therefore supported me in various ways that made things a bit easier for to be where I am today.

When did you get your first break?

My breakthrough came when I released my hit single “Shashee wowo” which was produced by Killbeatz. This song introduced to the music world.

Who are your musical influences?

Michael Jackson, Kanye West and Whitney Houston .

What message do you want to convey with your music?

My music is meant to make people happy when they are down and also to motivate them to do great things in life. It is therefore entertaining and motivational.

What makes your music different?

My style of music, arrangement and concepts varies from others. My songs are quiet personal and relatable, that is people can relate to it.

Tell us about your album Repetition , what was the concept behind the album? How long did it take you to work on it?

Repetition was my first album .The concept of my album was based on the analogy that, if you try to do something through a process and it doesn’t work, you have to repeat the process till you achieve your aim. It took me less than a year to compile the album and it became one of the greatest album ever Upon its release, it was hailed one of the best music masterpiece among those in the afro pop,hiplife,hilife scene.

You won the Ghana Music Awards Best New Artiste of the Year 2011-2012. What did that mean to you?

It meant a lot for being recognised as one of the best musician in the country and also being rewarded for my good works and creative ideas. I feel very blessed and thankful to the Almighty God.

Where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favourite part about the process?

Anything can inspire me, really. I draw my inspiration from real-life situations and sometimes it comes from the idea of a situation. I like being lyrically creative and really enjoy writing melodies and background harmonies. Those things really come natural to me. When I listen to some of my favourite artists my favourite parts of their songs are usually the background vocals. Background vocals are my favourite thing to record when in the studio. I like stacking harmonies and playing with the different textures of my voice.

What has been some of your biggest achievements yet?

Becoming one of the best artists in Africa and beyond, also securing financial stability as an independent artiste, headlining big shows outside my country and rocking the same stages with some of the big music icons in the game.

What do you think are some of the challenges facing African youth today?

The youth today are faced with so many challenges such as War, corruption and access to quality education.

What advice do you have for young people who also want to pursue a music career?

They should work very hard, if music is really what they want to pursue and they should stay away from social vices.

What do you do for fun?

I play video games on my leisure time.

Who is your local celebrity crush?  

Becca a Ghanaian and African music icon.

Are you working on a new album? 

Yes my second Album Repetition ii

Where can people buy your music?

On iTunes and Spinlet