On the eve of the release of what has now become Jayaire Woods’ eagerly awaited debut solo effort, TREES42MORROW, the rapper/vocalist and Illinois native recently took some time out of his busy schedule to better acquaint himself with rolling out readers.
Tell me your whole inception into music. When did you first become interested in it? And, how did it actually all begin for Jayaire Woods?
I first became interested in music even before I remember. I would make rhythms as a 2-year-old, but I started doing poetry in 1st grade and made my first verse in 4th grade . . . and it’s been a passion ever since.
Now where exactly do you hail from? “The Woods,” right? And growing up there, who all did/do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?
Yeah, I’m from Bellwood, Illinois. West ‘burbs of Chicago . . . and to be honest, a lot of things influenced me. My pops is a big R. Kelly fan, but [I] mostly [like] Chicago based artists [such as] Lupe (Fiasco), Kanye, Common, Twista . . . I knew about all them as a shorty.
At what point in time, specifically, did you opt to pursue music on a professional level?
I dropped out of Columbia College in Chicago three years ago, and I’ve been silently working up until this moment ever since.
That being said, how do you classify your overall sound and/or style?
I’m not all the way sure. I don’t pinpoint my sound to a certain feel; all in all, I just love being honest and transparent. Sonically, I’m not shooting for any certain style; what comes out melodically is just natural, but writing-wise I just love being honest.
As an extension to that last question, since you rap and sing, do you have a preference? Or, do they both just go hand-in-hand for you?
I’m more-so a rapper, but they go hand-in-hand. I never really looked at myself as a singer; I’ve never sung in a real way. When I started getting better with my voice, that’s just how it started coming out so I rocked with it, but they compliment each other well.
Let’s hop into this new project, TREES42MORROW — Conceptually, what does that title represent both to and for you?
TREES42MORROW; a long time ago I would call myself a tree, which was just a concept of me growing and being rooted deep and branching out. Just the beauty and patient growth of a tree symbolizes what I feel I represent, so TREES42MORROW is me acclaiming my growth for tomorrow, or the future in which case.
“toolong” — Tell me about this particular track? How did it come to fruition?
“toolong” came like any other song I was making at the time…regular as fuck. *Laughs* I found a beat on SoundCloud by one of my favorite producers, Jordeaux, and literally just wrote a song to it in that moment. Me and my girl had broken up, so it was more-so a wishful thinking song than a real moment in time, but it was very regular how it came about.
What do you feel you bring to the music industry that we don’t already have in other performers?
I’m not sure what I bring that others don’t…if nothing else, I bring myself. There’s no one that talks like me or sounds like me, because I’m exactly who I am in real life on every song…so I just consider myself as what I’m bringing to the table; no gimmicks or facades, just me.
Have you encountered any problems in getting to this point in your career?
To be honest, no. I dropped “toolong” in May and “2 shoes” in August…and both have gotten positive feedback. I haven’t really done anything more than make music and release it so far.
What do you want people to get from your music?
I want people to get anything they want to get from my music. It’s up to the listener to decide what it does for them.
If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
If I could collab with anybody, it would be Charlie Wilson and Ma$e…and it’s because those were my first two favorite artists.
If you could play any venue in the world, which one would you choose and why?
Easily the United Center. I’m from Chicago and I’ve watched a lot of basketball there. I once saw Kanye as someone’s hype-man in like 2002 in the United Center, so I’d chose home-base.
One track of yours that you think defines you and why?
“2 shoes,” it touches on where I’m from and more on me being a good kid, regardless of all the bullshit that surrounded me. So, I think it represents my point well.
In terms of longevity, what do you feel it is that will continue to sustain you in this grueling industry?
I’m not sure; I’ll let all that work itself out. Music is fleeting these days, so I’m genuinely just trying to make the best music I’m capable of and having fun with it…and, either it’ll work or it won’t.
Do you have any other outside/additional future aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?
I want to write books, movies, work on scripts, song-write, and buy a lot of land and appoint as many people in my life to jobs as possible.
To date, what has been your biggest career moment, at least thus far anyway?
I don’t know if I’ve had a biggest career moment so far…
Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?
In 5-10 years, I just want to be alive, happy, and better than I am right now in every aspect.
As for the immediate, what’s next for Jayaire Woods?
TREES42MORROW, Oct. 27.
Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?
TREES42MORROW, Oct. 27.
Any “closing” thought(s) for our readers?
TREES42MORROW, Oct. 27. Thank you for your time.
