Ever been cut short? Could have been that you started a project too late, and the deadline came smacking you upside the head. Could be that your picnic in the park took a turn for the worse, when increasing winds announced an unwanted storm. Could be that the first guests to your birthday party came ahead of your given starting date, wanting to be extra nice, but really just cutting into your final prep. All of these aren’t particularly fun – it’s nice to have the amount of time that is needed to complete what you set out to do.
Back in 2013, British artist Jai Paul had released two singles, “BTSTU” and “Jasmine”, both of which immediately made waves in the music industry on account of Paul’s distinct style. A bidding war among record companies started, seeking to add his fresh take on electronic pop music to their rosters.
So here Jai was, living his best life off the popularity of his initial releases, building momentum towards his intently awaited debut album. Tinkering on beats in a backroom, putting all his creatively flourishing Id into his music. Working onwards undeterred, despite the weight of growing expectation resting on his shoulders…
And then, on April 14 of 2013, he awakes to a brash reality: Somehow his unfinished material has leaked. Not only that, but whoever got their hands on it had taken this ‘music in the making’ and published it on Bandcamp, a famous audio distribution platform for up-and-coming artists.
Jai Paul, somewhere around 25 years of age, an avid producer that leaned into building out each last crevice of his soundscapes, found himself with the carpet pulled from beneath his feet. No longer in control of his creation, no longer the power to determine the narrative, no more hand on the steering wheel of distribution.
It would be 2019 before he reemerged on the musical stage again, re-arranging the stolen material to the best of his knowledge on the album “Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones)”, without actually completing the pieces. It was a way of taking back control of his own art, while closing down a chapter that weighed heavy. (Please take that into consideration when listening to the songs that bleep into nothing every now and then, unfinished as they ever were.)
Sometimes, that is what being cut short feels like.
Despite all that, Jai Paul’s music remained a beacon, an inspiration. His influences, sometimes more, sometimes less directly, being heard (/sampled) and felt in the music of the likes of Drake and Beyoncé.
More recently, Jai Paul has started stepping back onto stages internationally, putting out new music. Good on ya, mate.
No matter what might hit: keep going. Might take a while, but there’s always tomorrow 🙂
…and tomorrow is Saturday – so go out there and enjoy that weekend, y’all!
Cheers from Amsterdam
Coryphe 