Jaymay has been called a folk artist and she cites Bob Dylan among her influences. But her music is more layered and unpredictable than traditional folk singers. Jaymay's debut album, Autumn Fallin', is a collection of charmingly heartbroken songs that mix bluesy-folk and pop.
"Blue Skies" opens with Jaymay's soothing, bright alto and warm strings that move into a catchy piano riff. Tambourines add a touch of color to a simple rhythm section, with a more apparent chamber-folk quality than the rest of the album. The instrumentation is full and Jaymay's voice is out front as opposed to the withdrawn minimalism of current art-folk singer-songwriters.
Autumn Fallin' features songs written in an imaginative, surrealist style. A self-taught pianist and avid reader, Jaymay has a craft that marries her talent for music and storytelling. While she is currently living in London, most of the songs depict a narrative set in her native New York, with the theme of "Autumn turning into Winter."
Jaymay's move to the UK should build her already established anti-folk fan base since she will support Teddy Thompson, Nouvelle Vague and The Bird and The Bee on their respective UK tours. Autumn Fallin', will be released on March 11 in the US.
Download this song in the Second Stage podcast.
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