 What's up guys and welcome to yet another episode of Bars with Stars right here on SPM Bars. My name is Miski Pinji and today I am hanging out with a star, you guys. I bet you know his song and just before I introduce him, we probably have to start with a chorus, Jay, right? For just people to know who I'm talking to, who's the star that I'm talking to today. I don't know blues, but you are the same. That's what's up guys. Now let me tell you, I was told that Jay, Jay Wills, okay? Is a bitch shy, is that true? Who said that? Someone told me, someone told me, Joy told me Jay Wills is a little bit shy, but he's very, you know, you can talk and all that, is that true? I don't know, maybe you figure out. Uh-huh, okay, okay, but I don't think you're a bitch shy, maybe because you're wearing the glasses now that there is no shyness anymore. But guys, this is the Nigerian star, the medicine hitmaker Jay Wills and we're right here to talk to him and just, you know, find out how he's finding Kenya and just so many other things. So Jay, how are you finding Kenya so far? Yeah, I love Kenya and you know, I've been wanting to, you know, come to Kenya because I've heard a lot about Kenya, they are nice people and the place is very nice. So I have, like I was excited to be in Kenya because in Africa is among like the top three countries I wanted to visit and you know, music probably brought me to Kenya and I love it. Oh, so you had Kenya, we are nice people. Have we proved to be nice yet so far? I have not met much though because I've been in my apartment all day since I came. Oh, come on. But the people I met, like the last performers that I went to, like some of them there, they, you know, they showed me love, like they were like, they were bribing. Yeah. They seem like people that love people from heart, not like fake. Yeah, they haven't even introduced some girls to you. They have not done that. Yeah, because I would like to know what do you think about the Kenyan women so far? I must say, like, they are very nice, unlike, you know, Nigeria, the girls there, there are corny, they want to see what you have before they treat you nice. Oh. They have not seen much about Kenya, but the people that I've seen, they're very welcoming. They treat people like, like the other interview, the whole places have been, you know, brought to, like, they're always like, hey, they're always acting. I don't know if it's because it's me. Yeah. They like to laugh and act friendly. Okay, but that's really good to hear anyway. So you've just mentioned to me that Kenya is the top three countries that you wanted to visit in Africa. What are the other two countries? South Africa. South Africa. And I wanted to go to Tanzania, but I've already been to Tanzania, so Kenya is like the top. What kind of Tanzania, yeah? I saw a picture of you and them on Platinum. What happened? Like, how did you guys meet? What's going on? Just tell us what's going on. You know, he put me on his song. Okay. You know, he chatted me like, I want you to be on my song. Yeah. It's obvious that maybe he likes my song and so they send the beat and I jumped on the song and the next thing is Nigeria shooting the video of the song. Yeah. Like, oh, he came to Nigeria. Oh, okay, okay. He shot with our biggest director. Yeah. The song is going to be a very big one because the guy that shot it, even the video, every, from the song to the video production is very mad. Like, the person shooting is the person shooting for Whiskey Bonoboi. Like, he's like the biggest director in Nigeria right now. Yeah. And he's very costly. So for that one to pay him for that song, that means like, this is a very big project for him and for me because I think it's going to, you know, be a very big one for me in the East. East Africa for sure. Now, you know, I would really want to know, like, when Diamond contacted you, did actually, did you know like his music prior to him contacting you? What did you know him for before he talked to you? No, at least I'm going to be honest. Like, I'm a fan of Diamond. Okay. Not like I, not like I listen so much to his songs. Whenever I see his songs or whenever I see his song, like, I always want to watch him because it's so entertaining. Yeah. Even if you don't really, really, really fall in love with that song, you would want to see what's going on because, you know, he puts out nice videos. His energy is crazy. Yeah. Now, I'm a very big fan of him. He understands the hustle right from the beginning. Yes, yes, yes. He knows the package. He knows how to do the business side and he knows how to hustle for the song. That's what matters. That's the only thing that can keep you as an artist, not just your talent. Clearly, that's 360. Like, he's an entire package for sure. Now, Jay, you seem to be very informed. I mean, we've just had that conversation for like three minutes, but you seem to, you know, to know the business aspect. Yes. How old are you? I'm 25. You're 25. Wow. And how long have you been singing? Since I was 12. Since you were 12? Oh, my goodness. Oh, professionally. I started like five years ago. Like five years ago. So 150 streams across the million, 150 million, you know, streams across all the platforms. How does that make you feel right now? You know, because this is like your biggest hit, you know? It's so, it's so great. Like, I feel so, so great. Like, you know, I wake up, I see people, you know, on my DM, like in my DM, I see people, they come and see. Since I saw, I came across your song, like, I've been depressed. Your song is what I play. You heal me. So I feel like, you know, some people, like some men, they come and say, bro, you're not like a singer. To me, you're like a preacher of love. Yeah. So like, I feel great, you know, people, you know, celebrating me for my hard work, because I've been wanting that for so long. Yeah. So it's a very happy thing for me. So how many songs did you have prior to medicine? Like, that I put out? Yes, that you put out professionally. It's been played. Like, I have many songs online. Like how many of them? I would say like 17 to 20. Oh my God. Yeah. Then then it took, you know, medicine. You know, I was, you know, basically, I didn't have a record deal then. Okay. And I didn't have like money to push it. Yeah. So I would say I started pushing when I had the label. That's two years ago. So I would say I just, this medicine is like the second song I'm putting money on in my life. Yeah. Yeah. The first one was Abena song. You know, I put money, it went far, but not that far. Medicine is, I think I'm lucky, because many people, they get signed to use the put money and keep pushing, you know, because before I would just sing, put it online and, you know, it doesn't work that way. Of course. It doesn't work that way. But medicine is like the second song, you know, I put money on and I'm very happy, you know, it gives like foods of double of what we put, like times 10 of what we've put in. Yeah. That's a very good thing and I feel blessed. So that's it. I mean, that's really great to hear. And I clearly, it takes resilience and just hardworking and just not giving up because 17 songs and then now medicine is here. It's a hit. You're even now doing like a tour, like a country, you know, an African tour right now. I can imagine now, you see, I saw somewhere that you, you are raised in London. Is that true? No, I was, you know, I was born in Nigeria. You know, I grew up with my auntie in London. And I came back to Nigeria again. Okay. So now how was it in London and what exactly were you doing there and why did you come back to Nigeria? You know, I lost my mom when I was little. Oh, yeah. Sorry. Yeah, my my auntie, she took me there. But then later, you know, my dad, he got married again and I had to come back. Because my auntie, she stayed in London and then, you know, nobody was there to take care of me and all. So she took me then. Yeah. But then my dad, you know, he insisted that I come back. Yeah. Ah, okay, okay. But how was the experience there? Is that something that you can remember? Were you like very young? Yeah, I was very young, like just the primary school. Ah, okay, okay. It was, it's not that big because I've never had phone like that. Yeah, yeah. That's it. Now that's, we are in Kenya now, yeah. Are we expecting any collaboration with any artist? Yeah, but not now because I've not really gotten a chance to meet the artists in Kenya. Oh, okay. Uh-huh. But are you planning to? I would like to, like, Southie. So, like, I like, I like what they are doing. He likes Southie, so what they are doing, yeah. I like everything that he does. Uh-huh. I've watched, I can't remember the names, but I've watched most of their, you know, their works and I like the, the dark one that has, like, you know, their shapes. Like, you know, his, the tall dark one. Bien, it's called Bien, it's called Bien, yes. I like his vocal energy, you know, it's strong, like. Okay. I like it. Okay, we hope to, you know, I mean, we hope you're gonna, you know, the management is gonna talk to Southie Sol. And I think if me and Southie work, it's gonna be great because I'm all like, I have this Aroha and Beatles kind of, you know, songs to, like, voice. Yes. So it's not like I'm a rap, you know, my kind of music can blend with that. Yeah, yeah. Is there any female Kenyan artist, you know? We all know Kimani, you know. Victoria Kimani, yeah, yeah, because she's been out there and, you know, of course Nigeria has been like her second home, yeah. So there's no one else apart from Victoria Kimani. I don't know, I'm sorry. Oh my goodness, our Kenyan female artists have to do a lot more to get their music out there clearly. But now you see, I've seen that you have a new project out called Sunflower. Oh, it's not yet out, but you're probably just telling people that is coming out here because you posted last, I think last night. So why Sunflower and what are we expecting, you know, into Sunflower? Sunflower is, you know, now I got a, you know, when you keep doing music like me, I keep doing different type of songs, different, different type of sound to know the one people is going to accept more. And now I just got the idea, okay, this is medicine, right? This is what people want to hear from you in particular. So that sunflower is like, and it's like a complete work of that same medicine sound, like, you know, the afro beat with no stress, with, you know, with some kind of, you know, making it sexy kind of song. So Sunflower is love. Yeah. It's a motivation. And it's like, it's like, sunflower is just like, when you're making love with your someone you love, that sunflower is for lovers, like some album for people that like to love. Yeah. You know, I read that you called it sunflower because you call your sister sunflower. Is that true? My sister? Yeah. Because, okay, like what brought the name? Yeah. Okay, the thing is sunflower is, has always been something I like to call. Oh, people you love. That I really, really love. Okay. So I said, when we are thinking of a name to call the, the EP, I was like, why trying to go heaven and earth to find a poetic name, something extraordinary? You could just, you just call it something simple, like sunflower. That's, and that day I decided it like not to change in that. Yes. Actually, I would really like to know what, what time did you realize that medicine is a hit? What, what period did you realize this one is a hit? When people were, the time it was blowing up, it started from here, you know, people were like, Jay, everywhere, everywhere your song. But I wasn't seeing it. People were telling me. Yes. And I'll be like, they will tell me, Jay, your song is everywhere. Within the album, I will be like, you hear me now? Yeah. What did you see? Yeah. That's what, even when, even when like someone will tell me that I will still go and ask another person, like, did you hear this song? So I was curious, like, I was like, wow, what's happening? What's happening? Yeah. But when I now knew like, okay, it's, it's over is when I, you know, open my Apple music chart. Yeah. Yeah. You know, top 100 Kenya, top 100 Uganda, top 100 Nigeria, top 100 Ghana. You know, do you know what it means? Like in, in Kenya, people drop song every day. Yeah. In a month, I'm sure, like, 500 songs have been put out. Then in two months, I'm sure, like, like 10,000 songs come out of Kenya, both upcomers and new ones. Every known ones, yes. And on serious ones, everybody keep dropping, everybody's doing music now. Yes. Yes, for sure. Then in Nigeria, I'm very sure, like, you know how competitive Nigerian music is? It is. It's good and singing. And actually giving out very dope videos, putting in the money. It's very mad and it's very crazy. But, you know, when I now come out and I see top 100 Nigeria, my song is in top 10, in top 100 songs in Nigeria. Yeah. For you to be in 99 in top 100 in Nigeria, that means your song is known. It's a hit. For you to enter top 100 in Nigeria, you have a blown song. But then medicine was in top 10 in top 100. That was when I knew it was over. It's a hit. You're like, now I have made it. It's a hit. Then when I now felt like okay, okay, was when I dropped the video, two weeks inside the video dropping. Yes. I was number one on TV in Nigeria, like, wow. Top 10 bangers in MTV base. Yeah. I was number one. That day, like, I couldn't hold myself. I was like, I was like, you know, everybody go to hell. I'm actually feeling the goosebumps on your behalf, you know, because I can imagine it's quite a big deal. Yes. Yes. It was, you know, God is great. Yeah. He is indeed. He saw the effort I put into over the years. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So do you feel the pressure to now remain on top right now? How do you feel? I wouldn't lie to you. Yes. This is from my heart. Yeah. This is something I don't, I wouldn't discuss on public. Yes. I've been pressured, like, even though I know the songs I'm dropping. Oh, I hear you. You know, I was like, I think I know really like him. But yesterday, when I posted the snippet of Sunflower, the one I posted where I was pushing the car, the song was playing a little. I check it on my page. When I posted it, under 16 minutes, I have like 500 comments already. Under 16 minutes, I have like 10,000 views already. I just saw that, okay, my fans, they're ready to scatter. Yes. So it just made me know that this particular song that I just displayed out of the album shows that no people are ready to see more of you. Yeah. Yeah. And you know, I've delayed people a lot. Like, after medicine, they've been asking, you don't want to drop me a song? Yeah. Some people may feel like, oh, that's just the song he has. But they don't know I've been working arranging it. Because me, I don't want to be in the competition whereby he competes me with people that are doing well. Yeah. I want them to keep me one side or more. Leave that. The way they keep Asa in Nigeria, Asa, you know Asa, I want people to keep me in a place where Liv J. Wiozo is on his own lane. Yeah. He's going to get us Grammy one day, like on a board. Yes. So if you hear Sunflower, you might not dance so well because I just have like two dancing songs out of the whole album. But Sunflower is something you could go home to after work and you listen to every door of your life. Yeah. Guys, I hope you guys are ready for Sunflower from J. Will. And in case you have not subscribed, are you loving J. Will's story? Please come on, subscribe to SPM Buzz. Now, J, you see, when I look at the Nigerian industry, I would like to ask a very controversial question, you know. Given a chance, at gunpoint, you have to choose one between Bonnaboy and Wizkid to do the first collaboration with whom would you choose and why? You know, I love Bonnaboy and Wizkid. Yes. But I'm going to choose Wizkid because his sound is more affiliated to my sound. That was a nice answer. Yeah. But then I would like to work with Bonnaboy too because he inspired me a lot. But Wizkid is kind of like my kind of sound. Okay. So if we put like, you know, imagine Bonnaboy in medicine, it would have been some distraction because the voice is not like, he's not that love thing. But, you know, coming from, I've seen my fan base, you know, girls lately, like they take a personal with my sound. So, you know, business wise, you don't have to deprive them of that your sound. Okay. So you continue giving them. So thinking of Wizkid and Bonnaboy, I love both. If you remove the gun, I will literally choose both. But if you point the gun at me, choose one and choose Wizkid. Okay. Well, that's a good, that's a pretty good answer. I mean, Bonnaboy would not be mad at all at all at all. He would definitely give you a collab. So, let me be mentioned, girls take it, you know, very close to them, themselves about your lyrics and all that. Are you dating someone? Do you have a family? What's up? The thing is, the thing is all like, I've tried to do motivational songs. Okay. I do hustle songs and love songs, but you know, I think when it comes to the love song I do, it's the beats. Okay. There's a kind of piano or guitar that I hear, and it's like a spirit, it comes inside of me. Yes. I don't really have to think of a girl inside of me. I just feel so emotional. Like, I put myself in the shoes of, okay, you are here and I'm singing for you. And the lyrics, they keep coming to my head. Yeah. Then when they're all over my head, I now bring them and I place them one by one and arrange them the way it should be. Because I think, apart from, you know, singing, I'm a very good poet. Okay. I used to write poems and love stories like novels when I was little. I will write novels and I'll keep it. Waiting for someone to help me publish it because, you know, I'm a good, like, I, literature is my thing. Okay. Yeah, yeah, I can see from your lyrics actually. Yes, yes. It actually helps me because, you know, I go, I don't, it's not like I go extra mass to get the words. You know, it keeps appearing. The only issue is how to arrange it so that it doesn't misplace it because one single mistake, you misplace the words. Yeah. So technically, what Jay is trying to say is there's no one specifically, he's been telling you, my queen, and I don't need no rules. That's true, right? So Jay is single, guys. The DM is open, comment. I hope you can just, you know, Kenyan, Kenyan women, please just talk to Jay. Okay. Now, as we finish, I wish we finish up. So I would like to know what is the craziest thing a fan has done so far, either on your DM or either physically when they see you. What is the craziest thing someone has done? I don't think, I don't think, okay, okay, let me, this one was a message I saw on my DM. Okay. I just laughed. But, you know, one girl, the day before yesterday, I saw it in Nigerian girl, she was like, did you know how long I've been saving money? But it's not still up to your payment money. But I wish this one I've saved would be enough for you to just come and sing on my birthday. Oh, okay. I laughed. I wanted to reply. I wanted to reply. But then I said, no, no. Yeah. Because the thing was so cute. It was so cute. She said she's saving like, but yeah, I have time to say that. That was really nice. I mean, you felt like, okay, I probably would perform in her birthday for sure. Because I know girls, for girls to save is for her makeup and nails. Clothes and all that. They don't pay for artists. That felt good. That felt good, I bet. Yeah. I actually smiled. Yeah. So now, is there anything else that you're planning to do to Kanyaratana Media Tour? And when are we expecting, you know, one of the songs in Sunflower to drop? On February 11th. Okay. I have a show tonight at this new club here in Nairobi. Yes. Black Stars. So I'll be performing tonight. But soon now I'm planning on the concert. Yes. After Sunflower, I'll be doing like proper Africa concert. Yes. Yes. I'll be going to UK to Dubai, Turkey, Europe. It's going to be big because you know, I'm pushing the sunflower now overseas, the whole of Africa, like the promo is going to be on a very big platform. Yeah. Oh, okay. I see your management is overworked and clearly it's just been, you know, the first few weeks of January of 2022. And you're already out, you know, out of the country doing your thing. But Jay, thank you so much. We wish you all the very best. I mean, we are looking forward to the song, you know, that you're dropping on February 11th. Yes. And we hope we're going to put it up on our TikToks and our videos, you know, and just jump to it. But thank you so much for talking to us PM Baz. You're welcome.