AJAY is a young musician worth taking time to listen to. The 23-year-old singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist encompasses the best parts of modern production, along with the smooth, soul-drenched ingredients that defined the sound of Philadelphia for decades. Equally comfortable with the nuances of Alternative R&B, Neo-Soul, Hip Hop, or Bedroom Pop, AJAY’s production and musical prowess blend seamlessly with his vulnerable, yet confident falsetto voice.
Phantoms is a laid back a blissed-out joy, providing a well crafted and mellow funk tone, with funky synth bass lines. AJAY’s vocals seem somewhat fainthearted but work with the quirky lyrics that complement the catchy, automated melodies and guitar riffs reminiscent of 70’s soul classics, the influence of an earlier Maxwell, and a touch of vintage Jamiroquai, particularly with his track ‘Muse’ which features on the EP ‘Sun Go Down’.
Discussing ‘Phantoms’, the artist states, “Musically the song references the guitar tones and harmony of ’70s soul/fusion while the bouncy programmed drums and clouds of synthy textures shout out future electro R&B. The song is two years old to me but will ironically relate to the mass angst of our 2020 lockdowns…
The song was self-produced, written, and recorded in his bedroom two years ago. AJAY says. “It was a rough time in my life where I had to leave Philadelphia for a year and work a day job in my hometown, Harrisburg. The lack of interaction with people I identified with (young artists and creatives) caused a morbid sense of isolation. I was starting to notice how adults can get caught up in their repetitive everyday lives and often let their social interactions be influenced by alcohol and happy hours. “…and they ain’t here to fuck with me, it’s just the hour.. buck fifty.”
AJAY’s sound has a welcomed refreshing feel worth checking out! I’m confident we’ll see more of his talent in the coming years. His social media links are as follows.
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