Pop Star Jay Sean REVEALS The TRUTH Behind Ageism in the Music Industry

On today's episode, I welcome my good friend and recording artist, Jay Sean, to the podcast. We discuss a number of topics, from growing up Indian living in London, his original medical aspirations, the lack of Asian representation in hip-hop, and how he aimed to achieve stardom despite that.

Jay Sean provides ample insight into ageism in pop music, the anxiety-inducing state of social media, and why he walked away from a deal at the top of his game. Not only do we learn about Jay's personal journey, but we gain a valuable understanding of the inner-workings of the industry.

In this interview, we’ll discuss:
00:00 Intro
02:11 Jay shares insights into his upbringing, discussing the influence of his driven parents and their sacrifices.
08:00 The moment Jay knew he wanted to study medicine and pursue a musical career
15:44 When it clicked for him and changed the trajectory of his life
22:27 Dreams feeling within reach
32:11 The importance of not keeping yourself in a box
41:18 Lessons learned over the past 20 years
42:05 Why are you doing this?
50:12 Why staying true to himself has helped navigate challenges
55:19 The story of how Ride It came to be
58:58 The power of letting go of your ego and leaning into your curiosity
01:09:11 Letting Go of Former Identities
01:13:17 What we can learn from Rocky Balboa
01:16:03 Breaking free from a trapped identity
01:19:47 Jay Sean On Final Five

Episode Resources:

[JayShettyPodcast.]

Despite pressure and industry influences, Jay Sean stayed true to his authentic self in the end. What did you find most inspiring about his journey?

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[princesselmira]

Jay Sean is the only artist i was obsessed with when i was in my 20th. Now I'm 37 and i still keep watching his interview and listening to his music

[diyachawla-niug]

As an Indian it was so cool and proud for us that he was known globally! Now he is a legend in its own ways with a beautiful family! Love n light

[zephyrkhambatta]

25:25 Jay Sean making me cry while having dinner in a restaurant. The waiters here think the chili was too spicy 😂🥲😂🥲😂🥲 ❤️

[SanilNaik]

00:02 Jay Sean shares the struggle and pressure in the music industry.
02:02 Jay Sean's upbringing and inspiration from his driven parents.
05:59 Ageism in music industry and parental expectations
07:53 Jay Sean pursued a degree in Psychology and Biology before considering a career in medicine and music.
12:00 Jay Sean breaks stereotypes in the music industry
13:56 Jay Sean discusses the lack of representation for South Asian artists in the music industry
17:55 Facing fear and criticism in the music industry.
19:29 Impact of social media on mental health
22:53 Shift in perception of fame and success
24:38 Jay Sean lost himself chasing Big Pop hits
28:02 Jay Sean emphasizes the importance of being excited about a song before recording it.
29:47 Jay Sean combined his diverse musical influences to create a unique genre.
33:25 Artists should be allowed to express themselves uniquely in the music industry.
35:15 Actor Matthew McConaughey took a two-year break to shift his brand
38:44 Jay Sean's experience with ageism in the US music industry
40:30 Doing things with negative energy never fulfills you
44:28 Struggling with finding fulfillment as an artist
46:12 Facing challenges in the music industry
49:50 Jay Sean struggled with inner conflicts and industry challenges
51:53 Jay Sean's song 'Good Enough' was actually a letter to the music industry.
55:40 Jay Sean found a life-changing song in a demo CD from a fan.
57:40 Jay Sean discusses the impact of a remix on his music career
1:01:11 Be open to randomness in life and people's advice
1:02:56 Understanding how to build compassionate children
1:06:06 The music industry is evolving with younger artists embracing diverse influences.
1:07:53 Ageism in the music industry
1:11:32 Nostalgia in music is a powerful force.
1:13:09 Embracing the impact of a defining role
1:16:42 Jay Sean shares about the challenge of trapped identity in the music industry.
1:18:18 Jay Sean emphasizes the importance of giving oneself permission to evolve over time.
1:21:38 Jay Sean aims to pass on his 20 years of experience to the next generation.
1:23:10 Jay Sean promotes his new album on Spotify and streaming platforms.

[xXheysayjumpXx]

Been a fan of Jay since day 1 and have never heard his story or his journey like this, I love it!!!

[laurengalvez]

I'm a 27 year old american girl that grew up listening to Jay Sean and literally still bumps his songs.. and was shocked to see this podcast episode and learn what an amazing person he is and his inspiring story. I'm in awe!

[ambition]

0:00: 🎤 A musician shares their struggles in the music industry and the journey to finding happiness and healing.
6:33: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 The video discusses the pressure on children to pursue certain professions and the desire for parents to want the best for their kids, regardless of cultural background.
13:01: 🎤 The video is a conversation about navigating challenges and stereotypes while pursuing a career in the music industry and as a medical student.
19:24: ⚡ The video discusses the overwhelming impact of social media on our mental health and the pressure to deal with criticism from strangers.
25:44: 🎶 The video discusses the nostalgia of waiting for music videos to be played on TV and creating homemade VHS music videos.
32:32: 🎤 The video discusses Drake's ability to mix singing and rapping, and the importance of not being limited by societal expectations.
38:55: 🎤 Comedian shares a humorous experience of being questioned by an immigration officer.
45:59: 🎶 The artist discusses the challenges of feeling inadequate in the music industry and relates it to the Rocky story.
52:39: 🎵 The artist discusses the challenges he faced in the music industry and how he took control of his career.
59:36: 💪 The real battle is against our ego and self-awareness is crucial in overcoming obstacles.
1:05:44: 🎵 Drake's approach to releasing music and its impact on the music industry.
1:12:20: 🎥 The video discusses the power of nostalgia in influencing our preferences and experiences in watching movies and listening to music.
1:18:36: 🎬 The speaker admires a person who has the original Terminator outfit and loves his collection of movie memorabilia.
Recapped using Tammy AI

[bobbyo]

This conversation is so beautiful and inspiring. Thank you, Jay and Jay!

[geoxwill]

Loved this, watched from start to finish for the first time. I blame nostalgia for Jay Sean.

[yatinsoinmusic]

Jay Sean the super talented.. 1st South Asian superstar to go #1 billboard that's levels bruv

[Nobodysbizness]

As a south Asian from the Uk I grew up seeing Jay on TV and had the pleasure of seeing him on stage performing in my hometown at the Bradford Asian Mela on black hill, it was 2005 or 6. Will never forget that such a class act! The crowd was mad but his stage presence was heartwarming and I couldn’t look away! I was so proud when he broke the states and people in America were banging his tunes. Jay Sean you are a legend and inspiration to the Asian community in England. Much respect bro !

[thetribebrand]

That random kid who gave Jay the CD was actually ALAN SAMPSON. The British Pakistani producer who ended up making hits with Zayn Malik, Craig David, Rita Ora & more.

[essj]

I enjoyed this interview so much. I was 16 when the Dance with you track was released in 2003. It was very interesting listening to his journey and influences in his music.

[kambatra]

Great to see.Jay achieving his goals n dreams and bringing light to our Indian community. I lived near him. Hounslow .Blessed Love brother keep it up....

[ColtVillin]

As an aspiring Hungarian songwriter at the start of my journey, this interview hit me hard. It's amazing to peek into an artist's life and the bumpy roads they went through. Thank you for this guys, I loved every second of it!

[elanmarkos]

Love so much what you do Jay, this was a great episode. Sorry for the lame question, but I need to know the name/paint color of those walls hahaha.

[SLOWFLOW]

Much love Jay Shetty For Bring Jay Sean to the Show, As A Musician, this helps more than you can imagine, Please do bring more Musicians to the show ❤🙏🏻

[Claire_D]

Always loved jay sean 🙌🏼❤ “Ride it” is still on my playlist to this very day… (big fan) im so happy u shared the back story to that song… thank u jay ❤ must love and stay blessed always ❤

[lkaur]

So glad you brought him. Yes my favorite