SEEKING
Band to Join, Upright bass, Drums.ABOUT
Jay is a nigh-inexhaustible fount of creative spirit. Based in Southern California (Los Angeles and Orange County), he fronts a six-piece pop band called The MOODS (.themoods), plays guitar with the Jennifer Project, has a love for Fender Telecasters (and an enthusiastic interest in guitars in general), and is a freelance graphic/web designer.
He has written three full-length albums, and is the recipient of the Rock City News Outstanding Songwriter of 2007 award. With The MOODS and the Jennifer Project, Jay has played in LA/OC venues such as the Viper Room, the Plush Lounge at the Key Club, the Foundation Room at the Sunset Strip House of Blues, Club Fais Do Do, the Blue Cafe, and the Puka Bar
Always looking for new projects, Jay is currently looking to collaborate with other artists.
- Online at .about.me/jayafrica
- Music/Designs at .wix/transplantasian/jayafrica
- Contact: jay(at)themoods(dot)net
- Screen name:
- Jay Africa
- Member since:
- May 14 2011
- Active over 1 month ago
- Level of commitment:
- Moderately Committed
- Years playing music:
- 9
- Gigs played:
- 50 to 100
Influences
Belle & Sebastian, Better Than Ezra, The New Pornographers, The Decemberists, The Shins, and others
Instrument experience:
- Vocalist:
- Moderate
- Vocalist - Baritone:
- Moderate
- Vocalist - Tenor:
- Moderate
- Rhythm Guitar:
- Moderate
- Background Singer:
- Moderate
- Acoustic Guitar:
- Intermediate
- Other:
- Intermediate
- Lead Guitar:
- Beginner
- Bass Guitar:
- Beginner
- Keyboard:
- Beginner
EQUIPMENT
ELECTRIC GUITARS: Fender Telecaster, Danelectro '59 Dano reissue, Danelectro Danoblaster, RJ Guitars thinline Tele
ACOUSTIC GUITARS: Michael Kelly Arena Shadow, Fender Telecoustic
AMPS: Fender Hot Rod Deluxe 1x12, Marshall AS50D (acoustic/keyboard amp)
GUITAR EFFECTS PEDALS: Digital Reverb, Tremolo, Acoustic Simulator, Super Overdrive, Hyper Fuzz, Turbo Distortion, Dynamic Wah, Loop Station, Flanger, Vibrato
OTHER EQUIPMENT: Alesis QS6.1, Yamaha DX-7, melodica, assorted hand percussion, Shure SM58 and stand
HOME RECORDING: Windows-based PC running MixCraft 5, input via M-Audio Fast Track; also proficient in Audacity (Windows) and GarageBand (Mac OS)
MUSIC
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A Life Ending
A Life Ending Track number: 2 Year: 2008 Album: Have Your Day Genre: Alternative
Words and music by Jay Africa. Recorded with The MOODS at Lo-Fi Studios. - Listen to more tracks by The MOODS at www.themoods.net - Listen to more tracks by Jay at www.wix.com/transplantasian/jayafrica ------------------------------------- LYRICS: Time stands still for no one, you and I are no exception These seconds, precious dear, tick away days – months – years Where are you now? I guess I’ll have to go without You think that you’ll spend a lifetime… but then that life ends Brace for the landing, find I’m still standing here, my dear Partly with hope and with fear that I’ll run into you somewhere Where are you now? I guess I made it somehow Where are you now? I guess I’ll never know So let’s leave, let’s lie Let’s hope to find some way to live Let’s wait, let’s fight To find more we can give Let’s sleep, let’s dream Make it seem like it’s alright Let’s toss, let’s turn Let’s crash… burn tonight Where are you now? I hope you’ve let go of your doubt Where are you now? I guess I’ll never know So let’s leave, let’s lie Let’s hope to find some way to live Let’s wait, let’s fight To find more we can give Let’s make mistakes Regret all we’ve done Let’s lose, let’s fall Pretend that we’ve won Make me no promises, I’ll never hold you to this
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Hair of Brown, Eyes of Grey (Demo)
Hair of Brown, Eyes of Grey (Demo) Track number: 9 Year: 2010 Album: The Prophet Genre: Alternative
Words and music by Jay Africa. In 2010, I participated in February Album Writing Month (FAWM.org), a site that challenges musicians to write 14 songs in 28 days. For the challenge, I decided to write a concept album about a boy who forsees his friends' and family's deaths. This track is one of the resulting songs. The 28 day time frame usually broke down to writing a song on one day, then recording the following day (using Audacity). - Listen to more tracks by The MOODS at www.themoods.net - Listen to more tracks by Jay at www.wix.com/transplantasian/jayafrica ------------------------------------- LYRICS: Days were long and nights unending All my hours spent winding, wending At the mercy of my dreams Nine to five, I somehow managed 'Midst a life rev'lation-ravaged When the day came unto me That her face I'd finally see Hair of brown, eyes of grey Skin of white, unlike me The factory floor was not the most romantic place But our eyes would constantly seek each other's face Knowing the doom that would befall her Perhaps I should never have said a word But the steady march of undeniable fate spurred me on Hair of brown, eyes of grey Skin of white, unlike me
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Away Before Me (Demo)
Away Before Me (Demo) Track number: 2 Year: 2011 Album: Twelfth Night: A Rock & Roll Musical Genre: Alternative
Words by William Shakespeare, music by Jay Africa. I wrote and recorded 14 songs in two weeks for the Messiah College (Grantham, PA) production of Twelfth Night. Lyrics were adapted from Shakespeare's original text. Each song was composed of lead vocals, 2 or more backing vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass (virtual), synth, drums (virtual), and percussion (virtual), all recorded in one night (using MixCraft 5). - Listen to more tracks by The MOODS at www.themoods.net - Listen to more tracks by Jay at www.wix.com/transplantasian/jayafrica ------------------------------------- LYRICS: O, she that hath a heart of that fine frame To pay this debt of love but to a brother, How, how will she love, when the rich golden shaft Hath kill'd the flock of all affections else That live in her; Away before me to sweet beds of flowers: Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers. When liver, brain and heart, These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and fill'd Her sweet perfections with one self king! Away before me to sweet beds of flowers: Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers. Away before me to sweet beds of flowers: Love-thoughts lie rich when canopied with bowers.
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Hey, Robin, Jolly Robin (Demo)
Hey, Robin, Jolly Robin (Demo) Track number: 14 Year: 2011 Album: Twelfth Night: A Rock & Roll Musical Genre: Alternative
Words by William Shakespeare, music by Jay Africa. I wrote and recorded 14 songs in two weeks for the Messiah College (Grantham, PA) production of Twelfth Night. Lyrics were adapted from Shakespeare's original text. Each song was composed of lead vocals, 2 or more backing vocals, rhythm guitar, lead guitar, bass (virtual), synth, drums (virtual), and percussion (virtual), all recorded in one night (using MixCraft 5). - Listen to more tracks by The MOODS at www.themoods.net - Listen to more tracks by Jay at www.wix.com/transplantasian/jayafrica ------------------------------------- LYRICS: ‘Hey, Robin, jolly Robin Tell me how thy lady does.’ ‘My lady is unkind, perdy.’ ‘Alas, why is she so?’ Fool, I say! Fool, I say! ‘She loves another’