Feature: A day in the Life of a new singer/song-writer Carla Jaye

In the past couple of years, there has been a new craze for young artists trying to get signed to a record label. Although some are successful, not many do.

After an interview with 18 year old singer/song-writer, Carla Jaye, I begin to understand how difficult it is to be recognised in the music industry and what dedication it takes to survive.

Carla Jaye is signed to independent label ‘Conquest’, who are a Pop and R‘n’B music production and song-writing duo. They have worked with some well known artists such as Craig David, Blu Cantrell and Beyonce. She was signed to them in July 2011. At first she was just featuring on other artists’ tracks and ghost lining, which is singing newly written songs for people to hear before the real artist sings it.  However, she was soon recognised for her own talent and Conquest chose to sign her as a solo artist.

Carla said that she was over the moon when she found out she was getting signed.

‘I got along with everyone on the team so I was really excited.’

Before being ‘found’, Carla took part in her friend’s online singing broadcast talent show called ‘Sing Out Loud Sundays’, which was created by MPTV who are an online blog. They then encouraged her to audition for a girl group at an event that a friend was holding.

This was the turning point for Carla, she realised that she wanted to do something solo.

She was asked to go on ‘Link Up TV’, who are an online platform, as one of the leading channels for new music and talent in the UK urban scene, to perform her cover of Alicia Keys’ ‘A Woman’s Worth’. This video made a statement on YouTube, where it got over 31,000 views and on Worldstarhiphop where it received over 100,000 views in less than two weeks.

‘I got most of my publicity through Link Up TV. I didn’t expect to get so many views.’

‘As far as I’m concerned, I was just a girl who could sing, I didn’t realise how many people would actually like my voice, so it was a bit crazy’.

‘From there, I did a lot of online stuff and different shows.’

Some of the gigs that Carla performed at were ‘Wired’ at Shoreditch House and a showcase for Patrick Allen at Westbourne Studios.

‘These opportunities have helped with performance skills, engaging with the audience and boosting my confidence. Doing actual events in London with people I didn’t know was a completely different experience to what I was used to, which was performing in school in front of familiar faces.’

Unlike other young vocal artists, Carla didn’t sing to get noticed. She was in education and was just singing for pleasure. Luckily, she was recognised and is now moving forward and gaining more experience in the music field.

‘I applied to go to university because I knew that without support behind you in the music industry, it’s almost impossible to make it. But once I realised I actually did have the support I gave it a shot.’

A lot of people associate ‘new fame’ if you like, with cockiness and assume that the artist forgets about who they are.

Carla Jaye thinks differently.

‘I’m the same person but I feel like the pressure is on, and I have to work my hardest. But I enjoy working hard.’

Music and song-writing takes a lot of time, effort and dedication.  In order to ‘make it’ you have to commit to the relationship between yourself and the music.

‘I’ve always loved music, so dedicating too much isn’t a problem. I spend most of my time in the studio or writing with Conquest. It’s something I really enjoy doing.’

The relationship that an artist has with music can sometimes get in the way of their relationships with friends and family or other commitments.

‘It hasn’t had much of an effect on my family, because I am very family orientated so they are as much involved in my music as I am, which is generally the same for my close friends who understand and get invited to the shows and events that I perform at.’

Today, there is much competition between vocal artists, so many are trying different things whether it is a new genre of music or song-writing.

Carla Jaye took up song-writing, something she hadn’t tried before.

‘A lot of my stuff is co-written or written by Conquest.’

‘I’m not the type of person who was always brought up around music, so this is the kind of process where I’m learning and bouncing off of their talent.’

In a sense, this new path is a form of education for Carla, rather than studying at university.

‘I always knew education wasn’t for me. That structured environment didn’t allow me to be as creative as I wanted to be.’

‘My mum and I made sure I got my A Levels, just so I know they’re always there and I can still say that I am educated.’

‘I know that I’m not going to go into any form of education, I’ll always be in the music industry whether or not I make it as an artist.’

Carla Jaye doesn’t want to dwell on a back up career because she is determined that she will get far in the music industry. She will continue to work hard and if it doesn’t work out, she will think about her back up at that point.

Although this career path is very difficult to rely on financially, Carla remains positive.

‘The hard work comes first, and the money comes way later. Money isn’t an issue at the moment though, because I know that in the long run, I will get something out of it. Right now, it’s about enjoying myself.’

Whilst remaining positive Carla is aware that with this career, comes negative people.

‘You’re always going to get people that bring you down. I don’t surround myself around those people so I’m not too affected by them.’

Negative people can have such a bad effect on those trying to make it in the music industry but Carla Jaye has been strong enough to ignore them and has continued to grow within herself.

Carla Jaye will be releasing her first album early next year which features her current song ‘Ghost’.

‘At the moment one of my favourites off of my upcoming album is ‘Ghost’ because I love the concept of it, it has a simple melody and it’s quite catchy. We don’t have a name for the album yet but it will hopefully be released early next year, fingers crossed!’

Carla is a truly inspirational young lady, who deserves every bit of success that she receives. We look forward to hearing her album in the new year.

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