JAY RICO // Interview

We went to Brighton to meet Jay Rico, this young 20-year-old rapper from Spain who grew up in the south of England. It is with a lot of maturity and kindness that he told us about everything about his background and especially the projects he wants to see happen. Between sincerity and a heart full of hope for the future, Jay gives us a real testimony here about what has led him to become the young artist he is today, and who has been able to live a daydream by going to MTV Award in Bilbao.

Can you tell me a bit more about you? What’s your background? I started doing music when I was around 13. I was just putting out little videos with my friends. I wasnʼt really doing much. And then last year – e.d 2017 – I started taking music seriously and trying to make a career out of it.

When you were a bit younger, was it obvious for you that you wanted to be rapper or did you struggle to find your way? To be honest, I wanted to be rapper, but I didnʼt expect it to be. I didnʼt think it could happen because of my resources as I didnʼt really know anyone in this industry. I didnʼt know how everything was working so it never saw it like a possibility.

Do you think that it’s difficult to get into the music industry and to make connections? I think itʼs easier for the people who are London based because obviously it’s the capital and where everything goes on.

Do you want to move to London? Not really... There are lots of things going on in Brighton and Iʼve recently opened a recording studio down here. To be honest, I’m not a big fan of busy places.

Why did you decide to open this record label? I wanted to do anything involving music in my career. So Iʼm just trying to work with everything possible such as running a recording studio and working with others.

How is it going? Did you already sign new artists? For now itʼs going well. Iʼve been in touch with a few labels and Iʼve signed few things. Right now, Iʼm under All Blessed Records. Itʼs difficult at some point as a record label as you have a goal and you always try to reach it but for some reason, you might not hit it.

'' My manager called me and he was like 'You’re going to the MTV Awards’'

You went to Bilbao in Spain for the MTV Award 2018... Can you tell me more about this dazzling experience? I went there through my booking agent. I met some really good people from Capitol Extra, so we got in touch with them, it was really great. Weʼre now talking, as networking. Iʼve never ever seen anything like that before... Going to MTV Awards for a first time was overwhelming.

In one interview you said ‘I promise my family that I’m gonna be nominated one day’... I guess your family is really supportive in your career? Yeah they are. Theyʼre from Bilbao as well! So it was just a mad coincidence! I remember like a year ago, my mum told me "Oh this year the MTV Awards is in Bilbao". I didnʼt think much of it, I never thought I will ever have the chance to go so... And then a month before the ceremony, my manager called me and he was like "Yo, what you doing on this day? Youʼre going to the MTV Awards". I was a massive surprise for me.

What do you love the most as being an artist ? I love making music. It’s a way for me to express what I’m going through. Whenever I make music, my close people and my family learn more about me. I just enjoy making music. Itʼs a good way to get things off your chest.

Is it easy for you to talk about your feelings? Kind of. I donʼt really talk about me to be honest. Itʼs weird, because Iʼd never ever talk about my feelings, ever. Iʼd never sit somewhere and be like "I feel like this, I feel like that". But in music, thatʼs what youʼre supposed to do. I like to keep it a bit mysterious, not to give everything away.

Can you tell me more about your writing process? Sometimes, I might be sitting in the car with my friend, and I might hear a beat and be like "I wanna write on that". Other times, it will just come to me freely and Iʼll take out my phone and Iʼll write it down and then I’ll start developing a song.

‘Clouds In The Sky’ your last release reached 23k in 3 days...it’s huge! Did you expected that? Not really, because all the other songs released before this one were a little bit more commercial so they appealed to a wider audience. This one is different, so it wasn’t expected. With ‘Clouds In The Sky’, Iʼve had less views but more positive feedback which is great in some ways.

Is there any artist youʼd like to do a featuring with? Yeah, thereʼs few artists. I mean, thereʼs a few things in the pipeline at the moment that weʼre working on, like few featurings that we want to keep secret for now.

'I just enjoy making music. It’s a good way to get things off your chest.

Do you have any influences in your music? Yes, a lot. You know what? Iʼm inspired by lots of people around my age from the U.K. Many people would be like "I donʼt listen to anyone from here" because it’s like a competition. But people like me — other rappers, singers or whatever — who came from nothing and now are making something out of themselves are the kind of people that truly inspire me.

Are social network important to help you build your career? Yeah, it’s very important. I should use it more because everything is online nowadays. Before when I was 13, I used to walk around my school and tell everyone "I’ve got this new song" and bluetooth it to people. No-one does that anymore, everything is sharing on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook...

Can your fans expect an EP or an album soon? I’ve got like 170-something songs recorded and ready to be released. But every time I go to the studio I feel like I can get better. I’m still improving on everything and I want to release something close to perfect. I can’t say too much just yet, but there is a plan in place, I’ll release a project in 2019.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I donʼt know... Hopefully I’ll be performing at Glastonbury and Reading festival. If Iʼm not there, then Iʼll definitely still be working towards it. So, it depends on how my luck is.

Words © Fanny Hill Scott