The Present
Photo by Julian Bajsel ( @quasarmedia, @jbajsel )
Jai Paul, the enigmatic artist whose silence had left fans eagerly awaiting his return, made his long-awaited live debut at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival on April 16, 2023. Despite a few critiques from critics and fans regarding his vocal performance, the electrifying stage presence of the artist was lauded.
The setlist featured a blend of Jai Paul’s classic and new material, with “BTSTU” kicking off the set, followed by “Jasmine,” “Str8 Outta Mumbai,” and “He.” Jai Paul also debuted a new song, “So Long”.
Jai Paul’s recent performance at Coachella was a highly anticipated return for the artist and a significant moment for the fans who were craving for him to come out of hibernation.
As of now, he has announced new concerts later this month and the next month.
The Past
Photo by Jai Paul from Instagram
Jai Paul is a British-Indian artist who burst onto the music scene in the early 2010s with his unique blend of R&B, electronic, and pop music. Born in Rayners Lane, London in 1988 to Indian parents, Jai Paul grew up in a musical household and started writing his own music in his early teens.
In 2007, he formed a band with his brother A.K. Paul called “Mango Kid”, releasing a few tracks on Myspace, but it wasn’t until 2010 that his music gained wider recognition. That year, Jai Paul released a demo of his track “BTSTU” on his website, which quickly gained attention for its innovative production and distinctive falsetto vocals.
The success of “BTSTU” led to Jai Paul signing a record deal with XL Recordings in 2011, and he released his debut single “Jasmine”, which further cemented his reputation as a rising star in the music industry.
However, Jai Paul’s rise to fame was abruptly interrupted in 2013, when a collection of his unreleased songs were leaked online. The incident was a devastating blow to Jai Paul’s career as the tracks were not intended to be released in their unfinished state. The incident also highlighted the issue of online piracy and the vulnerability of artists who create music in a digital age.
Despite this setback, Jai Paul continued to work on his music and eventually released his debut album, “Leak 04-13 (Bait Ones)”, in 2019. The album received critical acclaim for its innovative production, genre-bending sound, and introspective lyrics. It featured a mix of tracks that had been leaked online and new material that Jai Paul had recorded in the years since the leak, showcasing his growth as an artist and his ability to create music that defies categorization.
The Future
Photo by Julian Bajsel ( @quasarmedia, @jbajsel )
With his Coachella performance marking his triumphant return to the stage, fans are hoping to experience the magic of Jai Paul’s music for years to come. To add to the excitement, he has recently announced a series of upcoming concerts this spring, including two in New York (one in Knockdown Center, Queens and second in Brooklyn Steel) and two in London (at Outernet).
Fans can apply for tickets through a ballot system on his website, but do take note of the deadline. For the New York shows, applications close on April 19 at 10 p.m. Eastern Time, and for the London shows, the deadline is May 3 at 10 a.m. British Summer Time. Fans are allowed to apply for only two tickets, and winners will be notified via email on April 24 for the New York shows and May 4 for the London shows.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed that Jai Paul continues to be part of the musical future!
