Jay Duvoe:  I was raised on music, born in winston salem NC but both sides of my family are originally from a small town in orangeburg county, sc. Trips back and forth from NC to SC really gave me alot of culture. Me and about 20 of my cousin’s would spend every summer together at my grandma’s house in SC. My cousins would come from Cali, New York, Atlanta, Virgina and other places. This exposed me to the slang, style and culture of several areas. Not only that but my mother forced me into piano lessons around 8 and chorus and drama were two of my favorite courses in school. I didn’t become a artist, I’ve always been one.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Jay Duvoe:  Well growing up in the south in the 90’s we never got to pick our Nicknames so I never picked my stage name. My friends and family named me, just to be blunt. And gave me the titles that go before my name like yung ôr supa, I got a new one “Semaj” these are the names that I hear on a daily basis.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Jay Duvoe:  Online music sharing is great, there are several models where the advertisers would fit the bill instead of the artist and I would like to see a platform that does just that. We all know that a super bowl commercial will cost millions due to the amount of exposure you receive, well the same concept can be used for music. I have giving away lots of amateur music, lol not the best quality but the content is there. Since undergoing artist development and a few hardware upgrades I feel comfortable charging for streams.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Jay Duvoe:  For me it starts with good music, or atleast music that a mass of people will consider good. I know marketing and advertising are a major part in today’s music business, but if I can’t feel your music there is no point. Work together and pool your resources, knowledge and efforts and you will succeed faster. The music business is a cash business with millions being spent on a daily basis what you lack in finance can be countered by creativity.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Jay Duvoe: Â Sure, But thats why we practice and when it happens you just overcome it and keep going the fans deserve your best effort.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Jay Duvoe:  Haven’t toured yet been offered some spots on some minor tours but declined. When I tour I want to give the audience something to remember and we weren’t in the financial position to do so. But you know God is good all the time.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Jay Duvoe:  The instrumental and things I think about throughout the day inspire my song writing. If you give me a crazy off the wall instrumental then you will get a crazy off the wall song. I tend to match the feel of the lyrics with the feel of the music and most of all the song must move me.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Jay Duvoe:  Being that I own the label that releases me and I write/produce for 4 other artist, I have not completed the website yet. I am open to anyone that wants to help I got a lot on my plate. It has been started and looks great I believe we’re using wix.com. We are on every major music platform of course, I tend to share unfinished songs and ideas on apple music since I don’t have to send it to my distributor.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Jay Duvoe:  Lol I just finished a rap song a few days ago and popped it on my ipod, I kid you not this is a line from the chorus “She don’t play with that banana”. My grandma passed away a few months ago and I would be super embarrassed if she heard it. I know shes looking down from heaven shaking her head and throwing her hands up like she always would do lol. The song is very commercial though and is getting really big reactions from my friends and close family whose heard it.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Jay Duvoe: Â I would secretly work and record in my dungeon based studio, I would spend the money on building the dungeon based studio.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Jay Duvoe:  I must have the blue bottle rocket mic locker and I’m looking at a new tube preamp. I use a beyerdynamic mc834 mic and I also have a shure sm7b. Seen a mc834 on ebay a few months ago for 1200, trust me its a great mic.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Jay Duvoe:  I’m not that big on promo right now still focusing on the good music part. If you think about it good music promotes itself you just have to get it into the ear of the fan. So I give away free music and throw private events involving several people. Its not a big deal until you make it a big deal.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Jay Duvoe:  Would love to have performed with tupac and biggie of course. David Banner has gotten my attention here lately, I’m a fan of his older music as well. Fleezy Jones a battle rapper from my hometown Winston Salem, NC is defying gravity everytime he speaks would love to do something with him. Lil Wayne definitely a huge fan of waynes been following his career since it started. And any other talented people in NC and SC, I really believe that I can make any artistes next project better.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Jay Duvoe:  King Cyclops is coming. A rap/hip hop compilation that i’m shooting a series of videos for in august. She don’t play with that banana will be on that cd lol. My reviews for it have been through the roof so I want to get the release right. I think we’re leaning towards releasing it one single at a time over a coarse of a month or two.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Jay Duvoe:  If I wasn’t making music I would be in the industry as a AR or perhaps even CEO. I have the ear and the vision and I’m not trying to sound cocky anyone who knows me will tell you I’m a very humble person who puts God first.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Jay Duvoe:  Yes, 2pac All Eyes on Me. What was going through my head?  “Californa love eeeeeeewwwwwww”
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Jay Duvoe: Â I dont sleep lol no but seriously I get very little, maybe 3 to 5 hours a nite depends on what day it is.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?
Jay Duvoe:  We are shooting our first official music video for Leave The Fun released July 5 2016, July 23rd. We also will be shooting videos throughout the year for King Cyclops, fans are more then welcome to come just shoot us a email [email protected]. I look forward to working with the best Carolina has to offer and the music that we will create. Thanks
