Interview with Jai Bentley

Nov 1, 2022

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

When I was younger, around the age of 10 or so, my mom put me into piano lessons. I remember showing off all of the songs I had learned to my classmates trying to impress everyone. It was great, not only was I having fun playing but I was also entertaining people which I found a love for. It wasn't until after high school where I started to create my own music. I met a few guys at a warehouse I was working at who had been making music for a few years then. We all became good friends and slowly I got more into music by producing beats eventually turning into recording my own music. If I had not gotten into music I would more than likely be chasing money by either starting my own business or becoming a social media influencer within the fashion niche.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I believe balance is really important. When I’m not making music I try hard to relax. It’s difficult for me because I always try to be as productive as possible every day. If I’m not making music then I'm marketing it. If I’m not marketing my music, then I’m out finding and selling vintage clothing to build revenue. This influences my creativity by giving my brain time to relax. Seeing new things, listening to new music, finding cool clothing pieces all play a part in relaxing while building creativity. Whether you’re trying to or not, everything around you is an influence.

How long have you been making music?

I have been making and releasing my own music for roughly three years now. Before then I would be learning and playing instruments such as piano, guitar, and the alto saxophone. As of now I have focused so much on becoming a songwriter that I pushed these instruments out of the way. Now I’m trying to relearn and slowly get back into playing instruments (mainly guitar and bass).

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I am based out of a little city an hour outside of Toronto called Kitchener. Not many artists have actually made it out of here unfortunately. Working with local producers such as Josh Polasz from Just Ideas has influenced me and pushed me to further my music career. Seeing him work with many artists from all over the world really inspired me. Josh has made hit songs with artists such as ‘Been Himma’ by Dom Vallie and seeing that really motivates me to push harder because I do not want to get left behind.

Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?

Surprisingly I haven't played in a live show yet. When I started to make music, covid affected all of us about a year after I started. Therefore it was pretty much impossible to play live. I remember talking with an A&R after releasing my first single and what they had told me. ‘Don’t play live shows until you know you’re ready’. I believe the time has come and I am ready to play in a live show and look forward to doing so. My vision to start off would be opening for a bigger artist somewhere in Ontario, most likely Kitchener, Toronto, or London.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Iann Dior and MGK. The reason for this is because Iann dior was a huge inspiration to me when I first started making music. Another reason is because all of our music styles are similar making the show more of an alt/rock concert which would be insane!

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Find your own sound. Don’t try to copy other bigger artists. You can let them inspire and influence you, but what's the point of copying them? Stay true to yourself and be who you are. Who cares what people think, this is your life, we’re living in a rat race society where we all die eventually. So why not make the most of it and do what you love?

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Currently released would have to be ‘Why I Get High’. The reason for this is because of the lyrics I had written. ‘Why I Get High’ talks about the unraveling truth about our society in my own words which makes it mean a lot to me.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

My favorite to play would be ‘I Met The Devil’. A song I get requested to play on my live streams a lot is ‘Be Somebody’ and also ‘I Met The Devil’.

What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

Typically I will create a beat or have producers send me their beats to start off. I would then load the beat into Logic Pro X and start by finding a melody that I like. Then I will start to write while singing/rapping into the mic seeing what words fit the best. From there I keep writing bar for bar, typically freestyling until I like what I have written down. After the recording process the mixing starts and finally finishing the song by mastering it.

Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music, if so please tell me about them?

My music tells tales of heartbreak and love. I started making music because it was an outlet for me to get my feelings and emotions out. I want that process to be the same for my audience. I want my music to be therapy for anyone listening, get them through hard times by relating to what I write down. My main message through my music would be to express yourself. Don’t hold anything in, just let it out, makes you feel a whole lot better.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

Currently I am working on an EP with one of my favorite producers, Stafford. The music we have been making for this project has been the best music I’ve made so far. The EP revolves around regret. Including 5 total songs, this EP will be releasing sometime early next year and I am tremendously excited for everyone to hear.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

I love staying connected with my fans. If you have any questions or even just want to talk to somebody, shoot me a message.

Instagram: jaibentley_

TikTok: jaibentley_

Snapchat: jaibentleyy