Exclusive interview with Ski Mask Jay

ARN: How did you come up with a stage name?

SMJ: So my names Jay right! I wanted to be incognito. When I combined the fact of wearing a mask to conceal my identity and my name I came up with ‘Ski Mask Jay’.

ARN: Where are you from?

SMJ: I’m from Liverpool in the United Kingdom.

ARN: Why did you first start making music?

SMJ: I’ve been making music most of my life but for the first time I’m taking it seriously and really trying to push my artistic talents.

ARN: Who would you say inspired you the most, as an artist?

SMJ: I like to listen to Trippie Redd and Post Malone. Trippie Redd because he just don’t give a damn what people think and he just expresses himself in various styles. Then Post Malone because he’s very versatile and can switch from singing to rapping. These artist inspire me to be like them.

ARN: Have you heard the theory that some musicians write their best music while they’re depressed or going through a bad time?

SMJ: I have and I will tell you now I’ve written and got some songs from doing that but I’m holding them back for the time being because I want to be all about positive vibes. But when I’m ready I’m going to reveal more about myself hopefully, on my first album.

ARN: How do you reduce overwhelm?

SMJ: Having a good manager, shout out to ‘PromoSidekick’ who’s been promoting my music since it’s release. I’m still try to get the hang of social media but it will all come in time, right?

ARN: What were your grades like at school?

SMJ: I left school with 11 qualifications and several certificates, went on to college and whilst working started studying towards a degree but life got in the way and I had to change course.

ARN: What would you have done differently if you knew then what you know now?

SMJ: I would have began this path am on now a lot sooner. And maybe I’d be a well known established artist if I did. But with my story I couldn’t tell it with out life experience so I had to do it this way.

ARN: What’s your latest release?

SMJ: My latest release is a song called ‘Grind’ which is my first official release. The song is a catchy feel good song about goals, money, flexing and getting wasted. It features two underground artists Inu9 and Florian M to bring the song together with different rap styles.

ARN: What’s your best advice for handling criticism?

SMJ: Criticism is good if it’s constructive but there will be haters and for them simply if they don’t like what they hear move on there’s plenty other music to listen to.

ARN: What surprising lessons have you learned along the way?

SMJ: That not everybody likes autotune and people like a song with the artist solo. So next song will be a solo track, no autotune.

ARN: What are you focusing your time on now?

SMJ: I’m working a several songs at the moment. One song will be released in September and the other songs at this time are going towards my album I’ll announce at a later date.