JAY SEAN

In 2009 British R&B star Jay Sean conquered the US chart, succeeding where many UK artists had previously failed by notching up six weeks in the Billboard top 10, and the momentum didn’t stop. He would go on to recreate this achievement, making him the first and only British male artist in history to do this. Today West London born singer, songwriter and DJ Jay Sean has become an even bigger, globally loved, international success moving easily across nations. 

As his namesake once said: men lie, women lie, numbers don’t. His statistics (pre-streaming) speak for themselves; with multi-platinum hits “Down”, and “Do You Remember” alongside a chart-topping discography Jay Sean has sold a combined 18 million sales spanning across his career! 

His Indian heritage has played a huge role in his success. He remains to this day the most successful solo British Asian male artist in history. His early work with Rishi Rish and Juggy D, his fifteen UK Asian Music Awards, four Brit Asia Music Awards, his albums selling millions of copies in India, appearing in Bollywood movies, collaborations with artists across the Asian diaspora and with fan bases across the Middle East, South East Asia and Far East Asia have established Sean as a major recognised artist across Asia and among the worldwide Desi diaspora.

Additionally, his impact both in the UK, (2 MOBO nominations, UK Urban Music Award winner), and all the American billboard success remains unmatched.

A young Jay Sean was influenced by the urban culture around him. As a teenager he was even part of a rap group, but it was ultimately the sound of R&B acts like Donnell Jones, Brian McKnight and Eric Benet that he scrambled to go and see perform live in London, and that would eventually win his heart.

Bingeing on the culture he reminisces “Hip-hop was my first love; the Biggie and R Kelly concert married the two worlds for me. We went to all those concerts and lived and breathed hip-hop culture. I remember dancehall shows at Tudor Rose in Southall, I saw Jah Shakka there. I watched Rahzel scratch & beat box at The Forum, then came home and practiced daily”.

Jay Sean’s success and appeal may be global but his passions are local. He has always championed and collaborated with his peers early in their careers.

Way back in 2009 Jay Sean featured with UK grime king Skepta on a song called “Lush”. Then in 2012 came his duet “It Ain’t The End’’ with a then new act called Nicki Minaj. Jay Sean also collaborated with Sean Paul on his huge second single, “Do You Remember’’ in 2010, becoming Jay Sean's second most successful single in the US (breaking the Billboard top 10 and selling 3 million copies worldwide), after his multi-platinum hit, “Down’’. The two stars would recreate this magic on 2016 smash hit “Make My Love Go