Jay Slay

BIO

Jay Slay is an award-winning Canadian music producer who loves creating original songs in a wide variety of electronic subgenres, best known for his original track “All Night Long”. A collaborator with local and international vocalists, formally trained classical pianist, musician mental health educator/speaker/author, festival DJ, and event host/organizer who can play anything from all original sets with vocalists to drum and bass to hard electro to electro swing, accomplishments include radio play across North America, a Best Music Video Award, and 1 million streams across music platforms. 20 years of formal piano training and music studies, along with extensive work in the classical music world as a professional collaborative pianist, have left an undeniably sophisticated understanding of the inner workings of music. This knowledge translates beautifully into the near limitless possibilities that the tools of modern music creation offer. Memorable melodies, complex chords, interlocking rhythms, and groovy basslines come to him with ease.

With 21 releases to date (some under previous artist name J-Hamz), Jay has a proven track record of creating appealing original lyrics and vocals that have so far performed well, as demonstrated by Digital Empire Records hosting 5 remix competitions for his original tracks to date. He's played at festivals including Wubs in the Woods and The Womp, and previously direct support for Defunk. He is also recognized for polished and consistent branding, and for bridging the physical/digital divide, such as his signature DJ-ready bottle opener USBs and use of scannable links and codes. Future direction will include mainly originals, with a few cover versions of popular songs with vocalist collaborators in a variety of trending genres mixed in.

Formal education includes University of Alberta Bachelor of Music degree and Royal Conservatory Piano Performance Diploma. Work as a collaborative pianist includes choreography, pit orchestras, choirs, solo vocalists, other instrumentalists, for individuals, groups, and organizations such as Edmonton Public Schools and the University of Alberta Concert Choir. 



MAJOR MILESTONES & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

•Best music video award for “All Night Long” (jayslay.lnk.to/allnightlongvid) at The Indie Gathering International Film Festival 2021, and an official selection in music video/short film/horror/children’s film categories at nearly 20 festivals including New York, Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Moscow
•Festival performances include Wubs in the Woods, NextFest Arts Festival, The Womp, and Emotion Music Festival 
•Other notable performances include HB Agency's night at Amsterdam Dance Event, direct opening for Defunk in 2019, direct opening for Vekked 2020 (7 World DJ Championship wins), and sharing the stage with Borgeous 
•1 millions streams on large DSPs with major playlist support
•Contributing author in “Touring and Mental Health: The Music Industry Manual,” funded by Live Nation, wrote sections on mental health related medications (amazon.com/Touring-Mental-Health-Industry-Manual/dp/1913172341) 2023
•Featured artist/interviewed by Modern Luxuria magazine (modernluxuria.com/culture/art/music-is-not-always-what-it-seems) 2022
•Bass Coast music festival (a highly respected and progressive west coast music festival) Musician Mental Health workshop speaker 2022, read my self-care tips! (jayslay.com/basscoasttips)
•Bass Coast music festival’s Sanctuary Radio (harm reduction podcast) guest interview October 2021, aired on Dash Radio’s (12 million monthly listeners) Tastemakers Channel (soundcloud.com/bass-c0ast/the-sanctuary-with-staysee-marie-eps-32-blue-matter-w-jay-slay)
•3 Beatport Staff Picks
•5 remix competitions for original tracks hosted by Digital Empire Records, most recently “Love Your Guts” fall 2022
•#1 most added charting on North American indie FM radio stations in May 2020 for the All Night Long originals and remixes (jayslay.lnk.to/allnightlong)
•Edmonton Journal newspaper interview (bit.ly/edmontonjournalvems) 2020
•Nominee for Electronic Recording of the Year at Edmonton Music Awards 2017
•FM radio play on 120+ CA/US stations 
•Collaboration with Nevve on “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” for Vibe Raiders’ “A Very Vibin’ Christmas” EP (Nevve has 1 billion+ streams across platforms, vocals for world-renowned producers such as Illenium/KSHMR/San Holo/Seven Lions, appearing on labels like Spinnin’/Armada/Monstercat/Dim Mak, and being the audio engineers who produce and record for artists like for Justin Bieber, 50 Cent, and countless others) and American Idol finalist Robbie Rosen on same EP



ASSETS & LINKS

DJ photos bit.ly/jsdjepkphotos
DJ logos bit.ly/jayslaylogos
Download and play with any of the remix stems from my previous remix competitions hosted by Digital Empire Records at bit.ly/jayslayremixstems
DJ tech rider bit.ly/jayslaytechrider2024
Selected past DJ sets jayslay.com/djsets