Diandra Interviews Jaiflyer: Big Band Swag
Much like parents, professors are often discussed as having no life beyond their kids/ students. Yet, Jaiflyer is an English Professor in Spain, whom is also trying to become an International superstar. Yes, while he teaches English literature and pronunciations, he also tries to find a Big Band approach to genres that seem strictly bound to soundboards such as, Reggaeton. In our interview, we discuss his new album, Múltiple, his attraction to old world aesthetics, like Big Bands, and new world sounds such as, Trap.
Diandra: Is there a love story that you would love to turn into an album?
Jaiflyer: Actually, one of the songs of this album, “Maravilla,” is based on Alice And Wonderland. I studied English Theology, and it is one of my favorite books. So if I had to just focus one album on one movie, I would choose The Godfather. The songs that I am creating right now have a dark side that is like it. As you know, we are suffering from a pandemic, and I am writing a lot about family dynamics, and that film has that but in a darker setting. I also love spaghetti (he laughs).
Diandra: The film is also about unwavering loyalty, which seems to be a recurring theme in Múltiple.
Jaiflyer: That’s it! I am a really sensitive person and I value a lot loyalty. In this album, Múltiple, I try to portray a lot how my surroundings feel. Being loyal is really link to having empathy with your surroundings. Whenever I bond with someone, it inspires me a lot. Whenever I connect with a person, I feel like they become a part of me, which is why I called the album, Múltiple.
Diandra: So would you say the world is getting more empathetic?
Jaiflyer: In some sense, yeah! I just think the world should just take a breathe and really analyze what is going on around us. In some ways, we are still in a rush. We haven’t stopped to think what is going on, even in terms of how are my siblings feeling? how are my friends feeling? We are discussing more but we have suffered a lot of pain.
Diandra: Was there a moment when you really felt music and empathy aligned for you?
Jaiflyer: When I realized everything was fusing perfectly was when I decided to record this first album. I was a rapper, but I couldn’t find my place. I had to find my place, and, finally, my producer and I encountered the concept of the “crooner,” and we decided to make an Urbano Big Band. I love every genre. In real life, I normally listen to rock, but I don’t want to get stuck on one genre. I want to learn from others. You can hear it in the album. It is complete madness.
Diandra: What attracted you to Big Band Music?
Jaiflyer: The Big Band thing came because I love Latin Music. I love Salsa. We decided to multiply it into many genres. In the 20s, big bands were the thing of the time. I wanted to resurrect this in our live shows so that people can have a good time; of course, mixing it with modern pop. Of course, I love to go to a Trap concert and see one person performing, but, on stage, I need more souls with me having fun. Being on stage is one of the best feelings ever.
When I realized that, I knew I had to do something with music. You feel like in a cloud. You feel so powerful. I am waiting patiently for the moment to perform again. One artist that really twisted my mind was when I saw Residente, and he had incredible musicians and a choir. He is one of my role models. He is a good lyricist, and he knows how to tell you a story with an exactness: exact musicians and tone. He draws a song as if it was a painting. I hope one day he knows me; to just talk with him would be a dream.
Diandra: Is there a song of yours that you really love from the album?
Jaiflyer: Charlie Harper! That was one where I impressed myself. I was listening to it in the studio, and it was the most balanced song. The musicians did an extraordinary job, and I got emotional because it was exactly what I wanted and even came out better than I expected. Whenever I tell my producer, what I want, he just listens to me and tries to be the most faithful he can be to what I wanted.
Diandra: What attracted you to the character of Charlie Harper?
Jaiflyer: In Two and a Half Men, Charlie Harper is a really funny guy, but I was wondering why he was behaving like that. All my songs are based on real people, and I put them on like alter ego. He is a really funny, outgoing man, but sometimes he exceeds a lot. So something, not cool, is happening inside, and I wanted to see that side of him. I wanted to analyze that dark side. It is a metaphor for how one person can seem so friendly and always smiling, but then they can start behaving like hell, and no one know why or what happened to this person. I want to get to the root of it.
Diandra: Has music helped you find the roots of your behavior?
Jaiflyer: In the song, “El Bueno,” I depict myself. It is the most personal song I have ever written. It is about me growing up, and my desire to be eternally with music. What I want is that someone, when I am gone, to say, “Jaiflyer did an amazing job. He moved me and left a legacy.”
We all have a song that reminds us of an experience, and it doesn’t matter if it is a good one or a bad one. I like that feeling of hearing a song and identifying with each lyric. It is like, “Wow! That person does not know me but yet they “know” me.” I want to do that for someone else.
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