It's thirteen years since Jamiroquai main man Jay Kay signed his unprecedented
eight album deal with Sony's S2 label. While much is made of the short-sightedness
of British record companies, it's only fair to credit Sony (now Sony/BMG) for
the gamble. Back in 1992 Kay was a skinny white kid with a skateboard, a passion
for vintage rare groove and a bizarre 'Buffalo' hat. Over twenty million albums,
four world tours and 141 weeks on the UK singles chart later, it's safe to say
the gamble paid off.
From poster boy of the early nineties acid jazz revolution to international
music icon, a lot has changed for Kay in those thirteen years.
Thanks to five albums of consistently on-point, danceable grooves and mercilessly
unshakable melodies - not to mention an undisputed reputation as an electrifying
live act - Kay's as recognisable in France, Spain, Italy, South America, South
Africa, Australia and Japan as he is to anyone who's ever picked up a UK tabloid.
While in America his status as one of the UK's most respected exports is backed
by an ever growing grass roots following, five MTV awards and a Grammy. Much
to his amusement, of late Kay's also become something of a style icon, as confirmed
by his collection of Elle and GQ style awards.
With all that and a genuine rockstar lifestyle – the Buckinghamshire Manor;
the garage full of fast cars - it would be understandable if the singer who
signed his historic record deal while living in a squat in Ealing, west London,
had spent the four years since Jamiroquai's last album, 2001's chart-topping
'A Funk Odyssey', enjoying the fruits of his success. But then complacency is
one thing Kay will never be accused of.
"I've still got so much to prove," he says of why he's spent the
best part of two years writing, recording and honing sixth album, 'Dynamite'.
"You've always got something to prove in this game. But the bottom line
is I still love it. I love the thrill of seeing a track come together, and with
this album we've been sitting with tracks, meticulously going through them,
changing things, getting it right."
Written and recorded in Spain, Italy, Costa Rica, Scotland, New York, Los Angeles
and his own purpose built Buckinghamshire studio, 'Dynamite' is both a consolidation
of thirteen years of Jamiroquai's trademarked sci-fi sound and a cocky, two
fingers to anyone who thinks that at 35, Kay might be resting on his country
pile.
Single 'Feels Just Like It Should' for one is a ramped-up, high-octane snarl;
Jamiroquai's organic funk put through a digital grinder and pinned to a filthy
groove. "Yeah, it's really filthy. And that bass groove came from me pissing
about as a human beatbox. You hear it and think what the fuck's this? If you
haven't had an album out in four years you want to have an impact, and this
says it, I'm back with a vengeance."
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