After being selected to participate in the Banff Centre’s Singer-Songwriter residency in 2018, Jaya Bremer of Victoria, BC indie-rock band Wise Child, took the opportunity to pursue her solo career under the handle JAYA.
Rocktographers has the privilege of premiering her debut solo single “Maybe,” due out June 28. The new track is off of her upcoming EP, Everybody’s Getting Married.
“Maybe,” a deeply honest track, dives into Bremer’s psyche with haunting vocals, lush guitar tones, sparing synth, fuzz, and swelling horns, creating a stunningly beautiful layered composition. The single often feels reminiscent of artists like Japanese Breakfast, Kathryn Calder, Snail Mail, and Alvvays, but retains Jaya Bremer’s unique voice.
“Maybe” brings together dissonant synths with explosive guitar; all driven by JAYA’s melancholic yet sweet vocals and revealing lyrics: “‘Maybe’ captures an exact moment for me that I can remember so vividly. The feeling of lying in bed trying to disappear. It is a heavy song, but it doesn’t make me sad. When I perform it for people, I’m just so glad that it came out of me when I was feeling so lost. Life goes up and down, so does this song.”
JAYA brought together a team from across North America to Infinity Studios in Victoria, BC to record; working with co-producers Damian Wiseman (Chicago) and Rebecca Emms of TOVI (Toronto), and Kev Corbett on drums (Halifax). The track went through six different versions before settling on a final sound, which helped to guide the rest of the soon-to-be-released record: “It was the song that inspired my entire album really. Writing “Maybe” made me feel ready to record, it marked this point where it was time to invest in myself and trust my writing.”
Listen to JAYA’s debut single “Maybe” off the forthcoming EP, Everybody’s Getting Married below.
Presave “Maybe” on Spotify here.
JAYA will be performing at Victoria’s Copper Owl on Friday, June 28th, 2019 in support of Toronto’s L CON. Tickets are $10 at the door.