We are back with an exclusive interview with Will Jay! Will is a singer-songwriter hailing from Los Angeles, California. Within his career, Will has amassed 35 million streams and 25 million views on his videos. He is a talented musician and has had his songs recorded by a multitude of artists, including Grace VanderWaal, NCT 127, Royal, and the Serpent, and even featured on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.
Not only is Will an incredibly talented songwriter, but he is also a talented performer. He recently released his new song, ‘Glory Days,’ and we are absolutely obsessed. We are honored that we had the chance to sit down and interview Will on his inspirations, AAPI month, and being on America’s Got Talent.
We know you’re really inspired by Jon Bellion and Elton John, but who have you been listening to recently that you’ve found inspiring? What in life inspires you most when it comes to songwriting?
Recently, I’ve been listening to all sorts of music lately. Some of my favorite artists are Kacey Musgraves, Arlo Parks, Moses Sumney, Victoria Monet, BORNS to name a few. And honestly, everything inspires me! Movies, books, great conversations with friends, paintings; the inspiration is all around!
You’ve been making music for a long time and have evolved so much as an artist over the years. What are some things you’ve learned that helped shape you into who you are today and what do you want to express through your music?
I honestly just want to do my best to make music that reflects where I’m at that given moment. That’s why my music has changed so much because I’ve changed so much! And I’m excited to keep people on their toes.
What does ‘Glory Days’ mean to you? Is it a moment in time or a collection of moments that mean something? Do you think you’ve hit your glory days yet or do you have an idea of what that might look like for you?
To me, ‘Glory Days’ is all about nostalgia. It’s all about celebrating the past without wanting to change it. And I definitely feel like the best is yet to come! But I’ll always feel that way because I never want to stop evolving and pushing myself.
Your songs have been recorded by artists like Grace VanderWaal and the cast of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series. If you could pick one artist to create a new version of your current work, who would it be and why?
I would love to just do a duet with Kacey Musgraves. I don’t care which song. Or write a new one! I love her so much.
You’ve referred to Sam as your “Partner in life and writing.” What is that like having your partner also be the person you can create art with?
It’s amazing. We know each other so well at this point and are able to bring out the best in each other and really get vulnerable. That’s when the real magic happens!
You touched many generations with your appearance on America’s Got Talent, what did you learn the most from this experience?
That I don’t fit on reality TV! Kudos to anyone who can thrive on a show like that but it’s not for me.
Being Asian American, talk to us about the diversity in the industry. Was there ever an instance where you connected with an entertainer of the same background that helped you see your way in this industry? How do you hope to bring more awareness to the issue?
I don’t see nearly enough Asian American creatives. While a lot of progress has been made, I really think it’s high time for Asian artists to really take over the western music world. BTS have really opened up the door and Olivia Rodrigo is the biggest new pop star; I’m excited to see more Asian artists occupy space on the charts.
How do you think your heritage has influenced your experience as a musician?
It’s honestly made me strive to be excellent. Since there aren’t a lot of us still, I want to represent and hopefully inspire other Asian Americans to pursue creative careers.
With AAPI month going on and the rise of hate crimes in America, what do you think is the most helpful way for people to get involved to help stop this ongoing problem?
Call it out! Speaking from experience, I think Asians have been subject to a lot of casual racism and I hope that the ongoing conversation will put an end to it finally.
Many have started to use their social platforms to start conversations around racism. Do you think these platforms help this cause or does it hurt more in the long run?
It only helps in my opinion. The conversation is the most important way to create tangible change!
We are so happy that we got to speak to Will Jay all about his inspirations, new music, and AAPI month. Be sure to stream his new single, ‘Glory Days’ here!
What was your favorite part of the interview? What did you think about Will Jay’s new song, ‘Glory Days?’ Let us know in the comments below or reach out to us on Twitter @TheHoneyPOP. We are also on Facebook and Instagram!
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Featured Image Source: Dante Velasquez Jr; Brittaney Penney- THP Graphic Design Team
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