Jay Sean
Doing things my own way

2008 has been quite a year for Jay Sean. With his latest album now soaring up the charts Xcel’s Editor, Emma Salt, caught up one of the UK’s hottest rising R’n’B stars to find out just what it takes, what the expectation are of him now and why he’s choosing to do things his own way.

What sort of student were you like at school?
I was a bit of a nerd to be honest! I’ve always enjoyed learning. I’m still very studious now, even in the music industry. Whatever I’m doing I like to know about it, I’m like a sponge!

Was music part of your life when you were growing?
Oh yeah it was always there. Choir, piano lessons and lots of school theatre productions!

What sort of school productions
We used to write them ourselves. We did the major ones of course, but I also used to write lot of them. I still dabble in it now, I really enjoy it!

You dropped out of medical school for your music career but what was it about medicine that appealed to you in the first place?
I’m just fascinated by the human body and mind and how we are able to repair ourselves.

Do you remember that defining moment when you knew you had to make a choice between the two?
It only really happened when the record deal was in front of me. In all honestly, I would not have had the balls to have quit medicine on a whim. I had to get it secure I had to make sure there was a plan.

Medical students have a certain reputation – work hard play hard – why is that?
They are nutters! You have to be though! The course is so intense that you need to unwind. That’s why they are the biggest party animals, they need to take away the stress.

Tell us about the single “Maybe” – what is it about?
“Maybe” is just a great Pop/R'n'B song. I concentrated on trying to doing something that was non-production driven .When I say that I mean, take away the production and play it on the piano and it still sounds great. It was a personal challenge I set myself!

The video is quite racy did you enjoy making it as much as you seemed to it!
(He laughs) I love making music videos. In terms of the girls, if that’s what you are referring to the little naughty bits, well its acting init!

Do you find that embarrassing – perhaps you are a method actor?
(Laughs) Errr no, I just love acting. It’s not hard to do that, particularly when you have a fit bird in front of you! I always pick the girls myself ‘cos it’s important for me to have vibe with them on set.

So, what do you look for in a female in general?
Honestly, when you are in this industry you’re surrounding by beautiful women all the time and after a while they all start looking the same. So, what is going to separate them, for me, is their personality. I’ve got to have fun with them and have a laugh! They’ve got to be my best mate. More than anything though I just need to be me around them.

 So, when you are being you, what would you say your worse traits are?
I’m so disorganised! I’m pathetically disorganized. I lose things I’m careless. Also, I don’t pay attention to certain things because I get caught up talking and having a laugh. That’s probably my worst quality.

Are you your own worst critic?
I am very hard on myself but that’s how I’ve always been. It’s the only way I know how to get better.

Your name isn’t Jay Sean is it? What is your real name?
My birth name is Kamaljit Jhooti. People at school used to abbreviate my surname to Jay. I just stuck with it for my stage name.

As you become more successful are you finding that you are developing a persona that is “Jay Sean” then?
I think it’s the other way round. I think it used to be like that in the beginning I liked to keep the two very separate and I realized that I was just making things harder for myself, ‘cos where do you draw the line? I’m not superman and Clarke Kent! I did it in the beginning ‘cos I refused to let the media to suck me up and expect me to always be “on”. I learnt though that if I was someone in the middle, if I have an “off” day its ok!

How do you deal with the press invasion in your life?
Everyday I look on Facebook and there’s another thousand pictures tagged and you realise how public property you actually are! That’s when I realised that there was no point in trying to be two different people. This is my life now and you have to appreciated and enjoy it!

It didn’t matter about my race, religion, background, colour. Nothing! It was the music that mattered and that’s what matters to me. That’s the one thing I’m trying to show the world, music should have no barriers.”

You are one of the first Asians to break into the R'n'B scene when so many haven’t. What’s your secret?
I’ve tried hard to hone my skills in every aspect. One thing I’ve realised about the people I look up to, like Justin Timberlake and Usher, is that they look after everything. Their voices are amazing, their media training is immaculate and they always look great. The quality is right up there! If you’re anything less than that you can’t cut it. I just thought, who the hell do I think I am if I am to try and cut it with those guys if my videos aren’t tight, if I’m not looking right, if I’m not singing well. As long as you have got a quality product people can’t knock you for that.

Congratulations on your two awards at this year's Asian Music Awards! How important for the Asian music scene are these awards?
For the Asians, it’s like their Brits! We’ve got a long way to go but it’s a big thing for us!

In terms of achievements, is there any ultimate goal?
I would love to be sitting at the Grammy’s alongside all those greats I don’t even need to win, just the nomination. I’m usually not one for awards but it would finally show that, in the grand scheme of things, it didn’t matter that I was Indian, it didn’t matter that I was from England, it didn’t matter that I was a brown boy doing R’n’B music. It didn’t matter about my race, religion, background, colour. Nothing! It was the music that mattered and that is what matters to me. That’s the one thing I’m trying to show the world, music should have no barriers! Why do we put so many barriers up? “He’s not R’n’B, he’s Asian R’n’B.” There is always a pocket, a niche! “Oh, he’s UK R’n’B”. What is that? It should have no boundaries but we always them up!  

Do you feel any pressure to conform within the Asian community?
I try not to conform to anything. I try, if anything, to lead by example. I think that’s what’s needed from my community. I don’t feel there are enough icons out there that are putting out a true reflection of what our community is like. Icons for me are people like Sanjeev Bhaskar, who can show that Indians have sense of humor and we can take the piss out of ourselves and that we don’t have to marry the first girl we date! I love that he has done that for us.

Is there any pressure for you to marry within your community?
No!  My parents have been very good. My dad has always said “your partner and your career choice are the two choices that you have to make ‘cos it's you that has to live with them.” I respect him for that!

Finally, if any student wanted to follow in your footsteps what would be your advice?
I’d hit them with the reality first. It’s tough! There are millions of wannabe singers, actors and producers. Millions! It’s going to be difficult, but there is no way on earth that you should let anyone take away your dream or what makes you excited to live your life. You should do things your own way.