Daye Jack: The Nigerian Fresh Prince Of Atlanta
I had drinks and hung with Daye Jack before he opened for Tove Lo at The Ogden Theatre in Denver, Colorado and I have to say, this dude got next.
Daye Jack is a American-Nigerian musical sensation from Atlanta, Georgia with goals bigger than life itself. While attending New York University, Daye began his music career. He self-released Hello World in 2014 and the spiral began. Daye then went on to be recognized by legendary Swedish producer Max Martin, signed to Warner Bros. Records, release Hands Up featuring Killer Mike, and now opening for Tove Lo - and these are just a few of his accomplishments. I'm honored to know Daye and his manager Christian. They have a very dynamic friendship and they're both beyond motivated. I see nothing but a bright future for both of them.
This for sure isn't goodbye, It's see you later.
Much love for the love Daye and Christian!
Thank you for doing this interview, first of all. I really appreciate it. So you know me, Mowgli Miles of Interracial Friend - you know what this is all about, ending racism to the best of our abilities. So first and foremost I want to ask you, do you think it's possible, can we end racism?
Daye Jack: I think it's possible to end racism. I think, kind of a part of civilization is people being separate. You know whether it's white or black or black and black; I come from Nigeria, I was born there. And you see troubles that the white man brought in because of imperialism, but you also see troubles just within the culture from different tribes. So it's like racism is almost an inherent part of being human, where you want to rep your clan and think that your people are the best. But I think...when we get to a point where you can appreciate yourself and your people's without having to put down other people, that's going to be a point where racism ends.
Separation can never end, but racism can. Yeah.
Flashing back to when we first met, I remember it very vividly because Donald Trump was elected that day, and it was the day you opened up for Watsky at Cervantes - flashing back and remembering that day, what are your emotions like now compared to then with him being president?
Daye: Man, that night was crazy. Because I went in on such a high, we all thought it was obvious that Hillary was going to be the next president. So we were about to have our first female president, we were playing a show in Denver - such a progressive city, so I went into that show with such positive energy and such great vibes and it was kind of like a breaking point to see how the night shifted from something that was suppose to be one of the greatest nights and best shows ever to sort of a like solemn show where no one wanted to do anything after. We were all just kind of broken down. Fast forward now - I still hate Donald Trump, I think he's a piece of shit.
(Someone in the background yells "FASHO!") - Everyone laughs.
I think his thoughts on immigration are completely wrong and America - the country that's suppose to be a melting pot that's advertised to every kid internationally as the place to be if you want to express yourself, be creative, chase a dream, accomplish what you want to accomplish... Being a 6-year-old in Nigeria I thought that the minute I stepped into America that my life would become what I wanted it to be. And to see someone in power who's trying to shift that and make America feel like this white nation where everyone else can get out - it's disgusting.
What's going to happen if a wall gets built? What do you think the aftermath will be?
Daye: I think the thing that's made America such a great country is because of how much influence a bunch of different cultures have had on it. So, if it starts to shift to a place that's less inclusive, I just think that the creativity and the energies and the things that multi-cultural people bring are just going to shift elsewhere. You know, Canada's cool. I've been to Canada a couple of times, it's a vibe!
So my head is sort of hurting already from talking about politics and Donald Trump. I want to shift it more towards you. How was Music Midtown for you?
Daye: It was crazy. I've been making music for a minute now just putting stuff out on Soundcloud, throwing up music, traveling, playing shows, opening for different artist and stuff. But it's like, none of my friends out in Atlanta thought it was really real - but I think that Music Midtown moment being in front of Atlanta, all of my homies, my family, and performing to a festival audience that was into it; was a little bit of a shift where people were like yo I really appreciate what your doing you know?
You got a lot of exposure there. I also heard you got a lot of exposure with what happened with Apple recently?
Daye: Yeah that was crazy. So I did the college campaign with them. My last project, my mixtape No Data, was kind of featured for the college discount program where they give college students discounts and stuff. So I thought that was kind of what it was you know. And they put up a couple of different signs at bus stops at different colleges and stuff and that was crazy enough for me already, I was like this is so sick. And literally I woke up the day of the Apple event to like a million different text of different people screen-shotting the moment and I'm like yo this is insane! I had family face-time me just like "Yooo what's going on?!" Yeah it was one of those moments where it felt like a special thing, man.
Very nice. Okay, so I want to wrap it up. What causes hate? What genuinely causes people to hate?
Daye: I think it all boils down to insecurity. If you don't fuck with yourself, if you don't like who you are, then you're just going to feel obliged to look at someone else and try to bring them down and make them feel as bad as you feel. But you find that the most confident people, the people who are the most secure with themselves and the people who are like really out here changing the landscape of things whether it's with music, tech, art, they're the most inclusive people and they always want to surround themselves with different, unique individuals and that's because they're so secure in their art and themselves that they're willing to accept everyone else as well.
If you love yourself, you want someone else to love themselves. If you hate yourself, your going to try to hate someone else.
Thank you for your time Daye!
Daye opened for Tove Lo that night and I later on was able to spread my message to her after her set. It was overall an amazing day and night filled with nothing but good vibes. You can see the publication from this event or return to the interviews section by clicking one of the links below.
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