Written By: JoAnn Snavely

Embracing the weird and painful, Boone local JAYUH is telling his story, one song at a time. Since his first release in 2019, JAYUH has fueled a passion that’s existed since his youth. With his latest album Euphoria being released today, No Regards sat down to chat with the person under the name, read to learn about JAYUH's musical journey, starting with his Louisiana roots and early inspirations, how personal loss shaped his dedication to music, his creative influences, the conceptual nature of his projects like 5sog and Euphoria, his unique writing and recording process, and his commitment to making music that connects with everyday people.

First, let's learn about who JAYUH is. If you had met someone who had no idea who JAYUH was, what would you tell them?

I would say that JAYUH is a weird, nerdy guy who likes to make music that’s also weird and a little bit nerdy.

Let’s go back in time and talk about your music journey, where did it all begin for you?

The first time that I learned that I loved music was when I was like four [years old], and I was at my grandpa’s house. He had a little studio room where he had all his guitars and his piano and everything. He would always play- because he’s from Louisiana- so he’d play all the old Louisiana delta blues and all that. I got into that and since then I’ve always liked making beats, recording vocals, writing songs, or anything like that.

Your mom's passing inspires a lot of your work. How did you use that grief surrounding her passing and channel it into your work?

I didn’t know whenever she did pass away that music was going to be what I used to handle that. I was just starting out, literally the week before I was recording a song and trying to get into it, and then that happened, and I went through the whole thing, and I was like I might as well keep going. Right after that point I just went 100% and started recording ten times more than what I usually was doing.

What inspires you musically, whether it’s a musician or a sound?

It’s just whatever I hear in the moment that catches my attention. It’s always been Childish Gambino, or Mac Miller kind of like Tyler, The Creator, Jaden Smith was a big first one for me. Definitely, in the past two years, it would be Childish Gambino with how many different genres he attacks. That’s always kind of been what I want to do. There’s not one set thing I want to do, especially on a project I’m working on now, I want to do a lot of pop, rock, rap, electronic, and those sorts of things.

Was there a specific moment when you knew music was what you were meant to pursue?

Kind of like what I said in the second question, whenever I was in the room with my grandpa listening to him play. Since then, I’ve always had a crazy love for music. Listening to it, seeing album art, singing, that was when I knew I wanted to keep working on it.

Since pursuing music, what has been the most fulfilling moment you’ve had as a musician thus far in your career?

There’s been a couple of big times for me. The biggest one for me, would be most recently I was doom scrolling on TikTok and somebody messaged me and they were like “Were you the guy who made ‘Acceptance 2”’ and I was like ‘Yeah who is this’ and they said ‘I’ve always kind of listened to your music since the first stuff that you put out, and this is my first time I’ve come across your account, and I just wanted to say I love everything you do.’ That was big for me. The first album I came out with was a really big moment for me because when I was making it, I just knew that it was done.

You dropped your album 5sog this past summer, walk us through the making of the album- how did it feel getting this full-length record out after years of releasing?

Like I said, it was really big for me. Most of my music is conceptual, so this album is kind of conceptual but I wrote it off the feelings I had at the time. Me and a girl had just split up at the time. Usually, when I’m feeling something I try to write something about it. So I was trying to think what I could write about it, and I thought the five stages of grief, or 5sog would be a great idea. That’s why in the titles it’s “Denial 1”, “Denial 2.”

What is one feeling you want fans to take away from your music?

I want to help people be able to connect with something. I feel like today people aren’t listening locally, they’re kind of listening out to all the bigger musicians. I’m just not a bigger artist, I have normal problems and I want to make music that normal people connect with.

With making music, what is your writing and recording process like?

Usually, it just depends on who I’m working with. If it’s just me- it’s really weird how I make music. I’ll sometimes just come up with a beat in my head, or a metronome- something like that. I’ll look for a beat that’s close to that, or I have a friend who makes beats and I’ll have him make something similar. I always start with a melody first, a lot of people start with lyrics and then try to make the lyrics fit a melody. I’ll always make the melody first, and then worry about the lyrics later. After I write the song, I go and record it myself, usually, I try to always do it in one take but sometimes it’s two or three. After I record it, I mix my vocals and master them, then mix and master the beat- make sure both of those sound good, then go over it one more time, then I’ll finally release it.

Finally, are there any new projects or events that fans can look forward to coming up?

Me and my friend TRAVISTY just finished an album called Euphoria, it’s going to have seven tracks on it, it’s a collab album. It’s another conceptual album (it came out today, 11/29!) I have another project that I’ve already started, it’s going to be weird like I said all my music is. Kind of a mixture between pop, rock, rap, and electronic- a lot of goofy stuff. Next year I have something even bigger I’m working on.

JAYUH’S album Euphoria is out now!

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