Jeremy Jay
American musician and singer-songwriter

Jeremy Jay

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American musician and singer-songwriter
Gender:
Male
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United States of America
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SingerSongwriter
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Music
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Biography

Introduction

Jeremy Jay (Jeremy C. Shaules) is an alternative rock American musician and singer-songwriter. He has released five critically acclaimed studio albums. Since 2015, he has also been singing with a new band, Invisible Foxx.

History

Jay grew up in Los Angeles. He then moved to Portland where he got a chance to meet Calvin Johnson, producer and founder of K Records. Johnson was immediately interested by the music of Jay who had already released a self-produced maxi single "Dreamland", only containing instrumental pieces.

His first release on K records, the Airwalker EP, appeared in 2007 : it included a cover of the Siouxsie and the Banshees song, "Lunar Camel" and one version of Blondie's "Angels on the Balcony". The EP was described by Pitchfork as "cryptic, compelling short" with "half-crooned, half-spoken vocals into a bed of interlocking guitars, rigid beats, and analogue synths, creating an air of mystery out of disconnected images."

His first full-length, A Place Where We Could Go followed in 2008, it was recorded in Olympia, Washington at Dub Narcotic studios. In its review, Allmusic pictured his way of singing as a mix between Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly, Morrissey and Alan Vega. A video for "Beautiful Rebel" directed by Austin Lovell was shot at the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles. A second video for "Heavenly Creatures" directed by Bryce Kass of Daft Arts was hailed by The Fader.

Onstage in Berlin, 2010

In 2009, the singer released Slow Dance, the album was critically acclaimed for its "frail ingeniousness" with "a warm inviting space". To promote the release, he embarked on a tour throughout the year, including dates at the Primavera Festival. The Guardian wrote that Jay's "biggest asset" is songs that "appear to come unpremeditated from his heart" like Jonathan Richman. Critic James Robinson then added, "In a world where we've become suspicious of singer-songwriters, Jay gives us reason to keep the faith". After playing in the UK, Jay moved to London and started working on new material.

In 2010, Jay described his third album Splash, as "Pavement meets Evol-era Sonic Youth played by Siouxsie Sioux." NME welcomed tracks like "As You Look over the City" and "Hologram Feather" and the "jaunty" single "Just Dial my Number". The cover picture of Splash showed him at Jardin du Luxembourg in Paris, the record was released at the end of May. A tour was later cancelled due to health problems.

In spring 2011, Jay returned with a new album Dream Diary, which was a mix of indie-pop and alt-rock. The result was compared to Scottish band Belle and Sebastian. Jay entirely financed the album on his own for the first time to spend more time on the mixing: the two previous albums had been recorded with K Records's had been recorded with full support of K Records's owner. In 2013, the singer composed one song "Ghost Tracks" for the movie soundtrack of Grand Central.

2014's Abandoned Apartments, got a four-star review on Allmusic for its "dreamy surrealism and crisp-edged pop". The title of the album Abandoned Apartments evokes an episode of Jay's life: when he was 20 years old and was looking for empty buildings in Portland to settle. After releasing this album, he worked as producer on Spanish singer Bigott's album, Pavement Tree.

In late 2014 and early 2015, a few new tracks were released on digital download via Mystery.

Invisible Foxx

Jay collaborated with other musicians. In November 2014, he formed the band, Dyspotian Violet, with several musicians including bassist Frank Wright: he was on vocals. They released one song "The Mask", and two other songs via Soundcloud. The formation then changed of name and opted for Invisible Foxx.

In March and April 2015, Jay recorded an LP with this new band, Invisible Foxx. In May, Invisible Foxx released their album online, Monitor Mixx via Bandcamp: however, after a few months, Jay decided to stop using Bandcamp and the download was not available anymore. The group performed a one-off show in London in June : according to the press release, Monitor Mixx is later set to be released via Domino Publishing and Mystery Section London, a new indie label.

Discography

Albums

  • A Place Where We Could Go (2008)
  • Slow Dance (2009)
  • Splash (2010)
  • Dream Diary (2011)
  • Abandoned Apartments (2014)

Singles and Ep

  • "Dreamland" (EP) 22 May 2007
  • Airwalker (EP) 2007
  • "We were There" (7" inch) 4 September 2007
  • "Love Everlasting" (vinyl four songs) 20 January 2009
  • "Breaking the Ice" (7" inch) 8 September 2009
  • "Just Dial my Number" (7"inch 45 rpm on Sexbeat label) 2010
  • "Into the Groove" (digital download) 11 October 2010
  • "Covered in Ivy" b/w "Situations Said" (digital download) 20 August 2013
  • "Sentimental Expressway" b/w "Later that Night" (digital download) 1 October 2013
  • "Hallways and Splattered Paintings" b/w "Window Painted Black" (digital download) 7 August 2014
  • "High Note" (digital download) 10-2-2015