No one knows who he is, but Pale Jay, the red-masked falsetto-soul singer, has been riding a wave of popularity since his 2021 EP The Celestial Suite.
His latest record, Low End Love Songs, is a self-professed diary of love, loss and self-discovery that only took one month to create.
Jay will be making his first trip to Australia next month to play Northcote Theatre before a big show as part of VIVD LIVE at the Sydney Opera House, along with New York-based producer and multi-instrumentalist CARRTOONS.
Low End Love Songs is seeing a lot of love thanks to its seamless blend of soul, Latin rhythms, jazz and funk, helping to raise the profile of the faceless singer, but its popularity isn’t really on Jay’s radar.
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“Honestly, I try not to pay too much attention to reactions to my music, as that is a slippery slope…
“But it’s nice to see that my music seems to have a positive impact on people’s lives. A lot of albums have done the same for me personally, so it’s great to know that mine is doing something similar for others.”
Pale Jay is a self-proclaimed bedroom producer, which may come as a surprise to those who hit play on the new record and are struck by how lush it sounds.
“I can definitely see my music getting bigger in scope one day, incorporating more instrumentation and orchestration,” explains Jay.
“For now, however, the writing, editing and final production process will likely stay between me and whatever recording setup I’m using at the time. As someone who loves harmony between people, I find it easier to make quick and sometimes severe musical decisions on my own rather than discussing everything with others.”
Around six months ago, Pale Jay’s Celestial Suite EP scored a special limited edition transparent red vinyl release, which was promptly followed by exclusive vinyl colour variants of the new record.
This penchant for vinyl makes sense, as Jay’s sound marries beautifully with the noise of crackles under the needle despite the singer being presently unable to enjoy the medium himself.
“My journey into music started more as a hip-hop DJ in my teenage years rather than through playing instruments. So, vinyl has always been a part of my path as a music fan. That said, I don’t actually have a record player in my apartment anymore – I’m just too lazy, and I don’t have the space for my records. But I still love the sound of vinyl. If I ever settle down somewhere with more space and time on my hands, I could see myself going back to it.”
Jay’s homage to vinyl culture also extends to the recent instrumental releases of his records. “Releasing the instrumental versions also goes back to my days of buying hip-hop 12-inch records in the ’90s. They always had the instrumentals included, and I loved making instrumental mixtapes for my friends and me.”
Pale Jay didn’t expect to be back on stage after touring in various scenarios in the past, but being asked to play at, as he describes, “the most iconic live venue on earth (the Sydney Opera House),” made him rethink his stance.
“Luckily, I do enjoy performing, so I’m excited but also a bit nervous, not anxious though. I’m more worried about the time offstage since I’m naturally introverted and don’t like too much attention in private. Pale Jay’s success still feels a bit accidental to me and luckily, the mask gives me some protection from too much exposure.”
Social anxiety aside, Jay says he will definitely be signing records and merch after the show, but the mask will stay on. “It’s weird knowing that fans perceive me as something special because, seriously, I’m just a regular guy.”
Jump onto Jay’s Instagram and you will find a host of videos from friends answering one question: Who is Pale Jay? We figured we would get the answer straight from the horse’s masked mouth, which, according to Pale Jay, is quite simple.
“It’s up to each listener to decide. Pale Jay is just the vessel pulling the songs out of the ether.”
Pale Jay is playing Northcote Theatre on 21 May. Grab tickets here.
