Five Minutes With: Vancouver-based Singer and Songwriter Nat Jay

Nat Jay, the Vancouver-based singer-songwriter, made her impactful musical debut with a soul-stirring song featured in a poignant episode of a major ABC TV show, propelling her music onto the global stage. With a consistent stream of exceptional compositions, she has garnered an impressive tally of nearly 40 placements in film and television, spanning networks such as MTV, Netflix, Freeform, Nickelodeon, and more.

Nat Jay’s musical narratives reflect her personal experiences, resonating deeply with audiences worldwide. Her gentle yet commanding vocals imbue her songs with a captivating dynamism. Her debut album, “All I Think When I Wake Up,” earned a coveted Pop Album of the Year nomination at the Western Canadian Music Awards. Recently, her album “The Flash of a Fight” surged in popularity, riding the wave of its prominent features on Netflix’s acclaimed series, “Tiny Pretty Things,” and Nickelodeon’s hit show, “The Astronauts.”

Teaming up with the longstanding producer Ovi, Nat Jay’s forthcoming album, “Turns Out It’s Not The End,” showcases the duo’s formidable synergy and adaptability. Marking a significant milestone, her singles “Just Kids” (released on September 15) and “Feel Sad” (released on October 13, 2023) offer a glimpse into the album’s introspective exploration. Through her compelling songwriting, Nat Jay translates life’s complexities into a melodic journey, skillfully weaving poignant narratives atop Ovi’s innovative and seamless soundscapes. Deeply rooted in the theme of perspective, her latest album illustrates her ability to transmute personal struggles into poignant musical tapestries, proving that catchy pop melodies can harmonize effortlessly with profound emotional depth.

Nat Jay
Photo by: Severn Bowen

Name:

Nat Jay

Genre:

Indie Pop/Singer-Songwriter

Founded:

2007

# of Albums:

6

Latest Album:

Turns Out It’s Not The End

Latest Single:

Feel Sad

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Alanis Morissette, Boys II Men, Mariah Carey

Favourite musician now:

These days I’m more into songs than artists, and my top three right now are: “Like This” by Jake Scott,  “In The Afternoon” by Josef Salvat, and “Say Something” by Kylie Minogue.

Guilty pleasure song:

Anything *NSYNC

Live show ritual:

It used to be a pre-show meal of Amy’s Mattar Paneer and sucking a dark cherry Strepsil lozenge just before going on stage, but these days it’s been to not play live and get one of my songs on a TV show instead. (Listen closely during episode 2 of My Life With The Walter Boys, out later this year on Netflix!)

Favourite local musician:

Adrian Glynn

EP or LP?

The new album is an EP, though I would have loved to have done an LP if funds were available. However, I’ve released several EPs in my career and they all captured a short and sweet snapshot of where I was at the time. This latest EP really shows the journey I was on throughout the writing process and showcases the diverse influence in my writing.

Early bird or night owl?

Night Owl! Though every morning I swear I’m going to go to bed early that night, the owl emerges around 10 pm with eyes wide open.

Road or studio?

Studio. I never enjoyed touring – it was always very lonely. But I love the creation process in the studio and spending time with my favourite musical partners.

Any shows or albums coming up?

My new album, Turns Out It’s Not The End, came out on November 17. The first two singles, “Just Kids” and “Feel Sad,” came out on September 15 and October 13 respectively. The album explores perspective: finding a new one, looking back on something, looking ahead, finding a new way to move forward.

Where can we follow you?

WebsiteInstagramFacebookYoutube

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

The Wallflower closed down during the pandemic, so I’m open to suggestions! I loved that it had something for everyone and served breakfast all day.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Main Street. So many good and unique food spots, local clothing and thrift stores, knick-knack stores (love my tchotchkes!).

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Kits Beach Park for the sunsets and the weeping willows.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

My favourite venue has always been The Centre, and I’m so happy to see it’s starting to put on shows again.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

I can’t choose between Red Cat & Zulu – they’re both supporting indie music and still finding ways to thrive after all these years.

 

About Emilea Semancik 193 Articles
Emilea Semancik was born in North Vancouver. Emilea has always always wanted to work as a freelance writer and currently writes for the Vancouver Guardian. Taking influence from journalism culture surrounding the great and late Anthony Bourdain, she is a recipe author working towards publishing her own series of books. You can find her food blog on Instagram: