Getting To Know: Jaela

1. Hi Jaela! Your music is described as an alluring blend of Trap and R&B with a fearless approach. Can you share what inspires this unique fusion of genres and how it reflects your personal style and creativity? 

1a. I’m lucky to be gifted with the ability to sing and write my own bars. I enjoy experimenting with sounds and testing my potential. My love for different genres has influenced my personal style. 

2. Congratulations on being named BBC 1Xtra's Artist of the Week for your single "BFFR." How has this recognition impacted your career, and what does it mean to you to have your talent acknowledged on such a prominent platform? 

2a. Being recognised as BBC 1xtra’s Artist of the week was such a huge accomplishment for me as I feel like there is a lack of representation for my sound in the uk female rap scene. It felt ground breaking to have recognition from a prominent platform as I’ve been overlooked on other platforms in the past, so it’s encouraging for myself and hopefully others who don’t have the typical uk sound. 

3. Q: Your debut EP "In the Mood" is praised for its versatility and genre-blending. Can you take us through your creative process when crafting this project and how you navigate seamlessly between rapping and singing to create your own distinct lane in the UK music scene? 

3a. I wanted to create a body of work that shows a range of my talent and potential, no two songs are the same but they blend very well together at the same time. Generally I’m quite a multifaceted person so every song on my EP resonates with a different piece of me. It starts off very upbeat with catchy melodies then a bit more mellow towards the end. 

4. Q: It's impressive to see major co-signs and radio support from BBC 1XTRA and Kiss, as well as recognition from Grammy winner Timbaland. How do these validations from industry giants fuel your confidence and artistic vision? 

Gaining recognition from these major platforms definitely gives me a sense of confidence and gives me the right fuel to go harder. It’s a huge accomplishment especially as there’s so many talented artists but I stood out which makes me inspired to achieve more. 

5. Q: Your music has earned you features in PAUSE Magazine, exploring your journey as an independent artist. What challenges have you faced as an independent artist, and how do you believe this journey has shaped your identity and sound? 

Where do I begin, it can be a struggle as I am a one man team and often have to wear many hats when working on projects. At the same time this has enabled me to be skillful and knowledgeable in areas that are vital for knowing about as an artist.

6. Q: Your online presence spans Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and YouTube. How do you leverage these platforms to connect with your audience, and what role do you see social media playing in the evolution of your music career? 

As I mentioned before, I try to indulge in areas where I can improve as an artist, social media plays a big part in that. Tiktok for example, shows my personality a lot more whilst I treat instagram like my portfolio with high quality content which resonates a lot more with my audience on there. I think it’s important to know what people want to see and ways to connect in order to grow in this new age.