Exposed Vocals Interviews Jay-Premier, AKA Devante Graham

Jay-Premier, known as Devante Graham is an Electronic/Experimental musician located in Orlando Florida, born in Ionia, Michigan.
He became influenced in the musical scene by Flying Lotus, Tokimonsta, Nujabes when discovering their music back in the year 2010. Started with only a laptop and FL Studio as his first digital audio workstation, before switching over to Ableton Live. He also become interested in Sound Engineering which he self taught himself through reading books about the topic to benefit his own music. Not only he create music, but also a photographer, traveler, owner of his new venture Soulvibrant records. Which he is creating to find a team of like minded and similar musician to bring vibrance to your mind and body.

Exposed Vocals: How did you hear about Exposed Vocals? What made you decide to sign up?

Jay-Premier:  When you guys, followed me haha. I signed up today cause it seemed cool.

Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?

Jay-Premier:  I had grew up most of my life here in Florida. I am a 22 years old, who love producing music, photography, and travel. I’ve always been a creative person since I was 8, I would draw random cartoon characters, and daydream a lot haha. On to the music part when I wanted to get involved in doing music. This side of the story started when I use to go to church with my grandparents every Sunday. Everyday I sat in the same spot in the far right corner for I can see the drummer Ian, who played the drums at the church during the time. I had always looked up to Ian, and that’s when I wanted to play drums too. Then on Christmas 2005, my grandparents gotten me my first drumset. Now on to the beat scene of electronic music 2010, is was when I first discover and heard Flying Lotus, Tokimonsta music. Back then this type of music was totally different and new to me. I decided to research “How to make beats” then that’s when FL Studio popped up. I downloaded the free version and started experimenting with the sounds to improve at it haha.

Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?

Jay-Premier:  Well it was back in Highschool, my friends and I would do some rap freestyling everyday at the school for fun. I thought of Jay-Premier would be cool rap name at the time. During that time I listened to a lot of Jay-Z and Dj Premier during that time, haha so this where the idea would had came from.

Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?

Jay-Premier:  Well I think the way music has involved now to being digital is unique. The power of the internet makes it easy to transfer files at a click of a button. It’s easier to do a collaboration with other artists around the world. Yes I gave away before for people can be able to listen and share it around.

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-Premier:  My suggestions, would be to keep creating what you love! And keep sharing your music no matter how strange it is haha. Someone out there will reach out to you to eventually!

Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?

Jay-Premier:  Good question, I haven’t performed live anywhere yet. But look forward for the opportunity. I’ve been asked to even come to London, UK to play by people.

Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?

Jay-Premier:  Currently no tour yet at the moment.

Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?

Jay-Premier:  Sometimes my inspiration depends on my mood, or when I hear certain kinds of music I am interest in to find a idea. My creative process I usually start off with chord progression, and at time drums then build around it from there. But I like to envision a scenery first.

Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?

Jay-Premier:  Yes I do my personal is www.jaypremier.com and my own personal record label group is ww.soulvibrant.com

Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?

Jay-Premier:  Lapalux, haha (just kidding) I love lapalux music right now. But currently have no embarrassing music on the mp3 though.

Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?

Jay-Premier:  I would invest 200k, then buy a Maserati. Then mostly likely do some traveling me and my crew.

Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?

Jay-Premier:  Yes, definitely currently looking at adding my analog synthesizer to my studio either the Prophet6, or Minimoog Voyager. Currently I am working with Ableton Live 9, Yamaha HS8 Studio Monitors, Focusrite audio interface, Hp Laptop with a 1TB Samsung 850 Pro SSD, Ableton Push MIDI.

Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?

Jay-Premier:  Soundcloud, social networking sites, video sharing sites. So far twitter friendly.

Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?

Jay-Premier:  Oh man, I would love to work with Flying Lotus! Cause he was my main inspiration to electronic music.

Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?

Jay-Premier:  Oh yes! 8 days ago I started Soulvibrant we got some new musicians I discovered that I want to create music with and grow get Soulvibrant on the map. We consist of right now our new members Himmel, Feo. And the rest of us Lylo, Willgatz, Asmow, check us out on our main soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/soulvibrant-records

Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Jay-Premier:  I’ll be more into doing a lot of photography.

Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?

 

Jay-Premier:  Yep, Flying Lotus first album hahaha I was like this some cool style of sound, who is this guy!!

Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?

Jay-Premier:  Been applying some time management techniques, starting with the most important things to get done early in the morning starting from 9am.

Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in 2016?

Jay-Premier: I want everyone to be on the look out for some projects from the Soulvibrant crew!!!