Dramatically different from its predecessor, award-winning electronic artist and producer Jay Slay’s new rendition of Ed Sheeran’s chart-topping hit single, “Shape of You,” hits all the right notes with a sweet after-taste left behind.
Slay’s version of “Shape Of You” features gritty guitar and Latin-flavored percussion elements that lend an air of sensuality to this dancehall-inspired cover song. Featuring Scarlett Darling’s sultry vocals that pay homage to the original version of the song, long, sensual syllables tie into swift and seductive lyrics — captivating the listener and forcing them into a solid groove.
“I wanted to move away from strictly making original music,” Slay shares. “I wanted to expand into making the occasional cover song, having fun creating entirely new instrumentations and harmonization to well-known tunes.
“I wanted to bring life to these hits in different ways.”
High-octane sonic exploration is par for the course for the DJ, producer, and one of the leaders at the Edmonton, AB-based Vibe Raiders label. A classically trained pianist with 20 years of formal studies, Slay is endowed with a profound and deep understanding of the inner workings of music. This knowledge is the foundation that Slay’s productions live and breathe — where the outcome of the build is entirely limited by the imagination thanks to the vast array of modern production tools in his armor.
With 18 releases up to date — including the 200,000+ streamed “All Night Long” — Jay Slay’s success has led him to Digital Empire Records hosting five remix competitions for his original music.
Part of Slay’s job working at the Vibe Raiders label is event management, which ties flawlessly into his background as a DJ, party organizer, and innovator — like his ability to bridge between analog and digital music, including his signature DJ-ready bottle opener USBs.
While Slay is a formidable producer in the live music and studio music scene, he is also a respected asset of the music community; Jay finds himself with an altruistic mission tied into his music career as a music educator, a musician mental health speaker, and contributing author.
All this grinding and selfless contribution have led to Slay’s accolades — most notably his FM Radio Play across 120+ Canadian and the United States stations.
On top of that, he has reached 1+ million streams across direct streaming platforms, and received a #1 Most Added spot on the North American Indie FM Radio Stations in May 2020 for his single “All Night Long.”
