Almost a year after the emotional roller coaster that was 2020’s No, I’m Not Ok EP, Dutch-Ghanaian rapper, songster, and model Jay-Way is back to business, and the first items on his agenda are new music and new soundscapes.

Standing firmly upon a foundation of hip-hop, pop, and punk influences, the self-proclaimed “Black Avril Lavigne” adamantly refuses to shrink himself to fit into a single category and instead continues to experiment with his sound and expand across genres.

Following his months-long intermission, Jay-Way has returned to release two infectious new singles, “Coolie” and “Legend,” which serve as a tribute to where he’s been and an ode to where he's going. In May, he spoke to SVGE Magazine about his mental health, his love for Avril Lavigne, and his favorite anime character.

How are you doing?

Exhausted. Doing so much simultaneously, but [I’m] definitely blessed.

You dropped your two latest singles, “Coolie” and “Legend,” last month. What’s the story behind the release?

[The] songs have such different vibes. I made “Coolie” last year around this time. I wanted to go back to my core sound—low voice rapping, like on my first project, Jaynalysis. My new audience isn’t too familiar with me rapping. They just know me for singing mostly. “Legend” is more in line with my last project, No I’m Not Ok. These releases kind of bring the two worlds together.

Prior to that, you hadn’t released new music in almost a year. What were you up to during that time?

Doing a lot of modeling [laughs]. Surprisingly, I started getting a lot of bookings for brands. I only really started working on a new project like two months ago.

The captivating Joachim Spruijt-directed music video for “Coolie” was full of action—it touched on greed, crime, betrayal, and even kidnapping. How did your creative team come up with that storyline?

I played the song for him, [and] he loved it. He brainstormed and came up with a treatment. My stylist and best friend, Edward Boyé, and I made a little moodboard with looks I wanted to go for. We tweaked the treatment here and there, and that’s how it went. What I love about the video is that it’s the total opposite of what the song is about. Hope people enjoy the art.

Your music is a harmonious blend of hip-hop, pop, and punk rock, both sonically and visually. How did you first come into your sound and your artist persona? How have you worked to develop them over the years?

Hip-hop was the foundation, for sure. I’m happy that hip-hop keeps developing—I guess I’ve developed along with the genre. It made me combine things I was already infatuated with, such as pop music. A listener would say I’ve been through all the phases—my hip-hop phase, [my] pop phase, my emo phase. In all honesty, they’re not phases, but rather expressions. They’re all a part of the artist [and] person that I am.

You can’t box me into a genre, but at the same time, I still managed to create my own sound, if that makes sense. I feel like there’s so many ways to approach music, so I just really like experimenting.

Speaking of your sound, you’ve described yourself as the “Black Avril Lavigne.” Can you talk about that?

I have another bestie whose name is Camo, and he deserves that title more than I do [laughs]. He actually sampled her in a song 10 years ago. I’m just a trolling fan, but at the same time I do feel like I’m the Avril Lavigne of the 2020s [laughs]. Her second album Under My Skin—which is my favorite album—is literally what I write about, and I draw so much inspiration from her.

Images courtesy of The Rise of Jay-Way: Humble Beginnings. — Images courtesy of *The Rise of Jay-Way: Humble Beginnings*.

“I do feel like I’m the Avril Lavigne of the 2020s.”

At the beginning of last month, you released the first episode of The Rise of Jay-Way. Although you made it primarily for your fans, has the process of documenting yourself during this autobiographical series changed the way that you see yourself?

I love rewatching it. It reminds me that I gotta stay on track. There’s lots of work to be done. We tend to forget about our humble beginnings. I’d recommend everyone to make a documentary about themselves just for motivational purposes.

Your latest EP, 2020’s No, I’m Not OK, told a story of tragedy and triumph—it was as much a cry for help as it was a declaration of your unwavering resilience and will to survive. What motivated you to hold on, even in moments when drowning felt like the easier option?

God’s purpose for my life, honestly. I know He put me here for a reason. I was drowning in negative thoughts, but He showed me that I’m still on the rise despite my circumstances. I chose to write about that journey so that the listener could find hope.

You’ve said that you draw a lot of influence for your visuals and style from anime characters. Is there a specific anime character with whom you most identify?

Teen Gohan. That’s my dude. I don’t acknowledge his adult form. He showed that he has so much potential, and I can relate to that. I want to live up to my potential and not look back with regret.

On Instagram, you mentioned that you’re about to enter album mode. Is that what you’ll be working on for the rest of the year? What else can we expect from you?

Yes! [I’m] working on an album at the moment, and the songs are different! Other than that, I’m trying to dive into directing. Maybe see a short movie soon? Who knows?

“I want to live up to my potential and not look back with regret.”

Afro-Dutch artist Jay-Way is the “Black Avril Lavigne” that punk-rap fans have been waiting for

Almost a year after the emotional roller coaster that was 2020’s No, I’m Not Ok EP, Dutch-Ghanaian rapper, songster, and model Jay-Way is back to business, and the first items on his agenda are new music and new soundscapes.