By: Bakary Ceesay
David Jay, a Denmark born Gambian parent is an RnB or Soul and afro-beat Afro-hip hop artiste making waves across the globe.
David, Jay The Gambian Earning Nominations at International Music Awards. Like all youngsters, David grew up hoping to leave his mark in the globe.
He grew up in a multicultural home where both music and visuals had a huge impact. Born and raised in Copenhagen.
His first trip to fame began with basketball, starring in the top flight but an injury, precisely sustained in the knee, ended his craft and forced his switch of career.
Unable to cut it in sport which had his plans to scoop league awards go up in smoke, he felt the need to fetch a degree in a quick refocus to life. Earning qualifications in deejaying turned a requisite. Growing up, he’d had a listening hear for music and this decision made his choice much easier.
Securing his badges, he took up the trade starring at events before opting for a change of scenery to explore how things are done in the United States. This set the motion buttons and he developed contacts in the trade.
After a moment of pause, the urge to try music, as an artiste, gained prominence in his mind and being the go-getter he is, he did not look back.
“I got into a Djeeying for a while and I thought I could get my own song that led to my move to Malmo Sweden,” he tells Freshzone TV in 2018.
In 2018 David Jay has returned to the Gambia to promote his new album Island Dreams.
Comprising 14 tracks, the album received an Album of the Year nomination at the Wah Sa Halat Music Awards.
In retrospect, his transfer to music is no coincidence for a man who was star struck when the likes of Buju Bantang and Shaba Ranks sang.
Today, the 33-year-old, whose mother a Danish and father a Gambian, is booked for events around the world.
His works are well recognised and earned nominations for the song of the year Club Awards 2017 and for the upcoming artiste category of the Celebrate Africa Awards 2014.
His genre is RnB or Soul but bucked the trend of Afro-beat Afro-hip hop making recently. Testament of this is his Party Again release with Ghana’s Simmi done February this year.
Unlike most famous Gambian descents who will relate with The Smiling Coast when it fit their brand, David Jay is a regular of Gambia.
Born Dawda Jatta in July 1986 to a Danish mother and Gambian father, David Jay was raised in a multi-cultural household. His music career kicked off in 2011, the year he released the So Disrespectful mixtape. The project launched his career as a soul and R&B artist.
A year later he released a single ‘Africa is the Future’ and then released his maiden EP Evil Circle. In 2013 he released his debut album I am David Jay. Another mixtape followed in 2015.
His latest album’ Africa’ comprise of 14 tracks was released in Ghana is currently making waves across the globe. His love for Africa is unquestionable as he strongly believes that Africa is the future that’s the reason he toured African countries like The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya and Uganda.