We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Will Jay a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Will, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I am very fortunate to make a full-time living from music. I made some money when I was in a boy band as a teenager (we were paid a yearly salary for 2 years but that was it). Once that was done it was basically back at square one.

Here are some of the ways I’ve made money over the years. I competed on The Voice in China and when I came back to the US I was invited to perform at colleges for Asian student associations. College gigs are a really great source of income and a cool way to connect with people that maybe weren’t aware of you before. I did a bunch of demo singing for various producers and writers I met. I would livestream myself singing for an hour multiple times a week on a platform called YouNow.

I’ve been releasing my own music since 2015 and it took 4 years of consistent releases for my music to really start generating livable royalties. Simultaneously, I started writing songs for other people around the same time and was writing for other people at least 3 times a week for many years before I got the attention of my current publishing company who offered me a deal in 2020. I had it in my head that a record deal was the main goal but after all these years of being independent I wouldn’t have it any other way. You can make so much more money if you own all your music and don’t need as many listeners as you think to make more than a comfortable living.

I don’t think there’s anything I would’ve done differently but I do think it’s never been more accessible to live off music thanks to TikTok and this rise of independent artists in the music industry. I’m still out here releasing and I would just say to not be precious and afraid of putting yourself out there. What you want can be as close as one song or one video going viral to completely change your life.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m a singer/songwriter based in Los Angeles, CA. I’ve known that I wanted to do music since I was a child so this has been a lifelong passion of mine. I’ve done a little bit of everything, from releasing albums and performing all over the world to competing on TV to writing hit songs for other people.

Some things I’m most proud of: 100 million streams on my music as an independent artist, performing at the Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing and the Kid’s Choice Awards in Mexico, being Emmy nominated for writing “In Your Shoes” for the Disney+ movie “Sneakerella”, writing two Gold records in the US and one Gold record in Japan, over a billion plays on the music I’ve written for other artists including One Republic, UPSAHL, .

I think what sets me apart is my musical instincts. I’ve put in the 10,000 hours and really know how to craft a compelling song. That being said, I’m constantly seeking out new collaborations and new things to be inspired by. I don’t feel like I will ever feel like I’ve cracked the code and am dedicated to total exploration of myself and my own creativity. I hope people feel that blessed unrest in my music.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the most rewarding part about being a creative is the exploration of self. We are such complex beings and need outlets to express ourselves, whatever that may be. The fact that I get to do that every day is such a gift and I feel so much more connected to myself through art as well as other people who listen to my music. Art is the ultimate connector because while our experiences are unique, the feelings are universal. That shared experience of creator to listener is a beautiful thing and truly one of the main motivators for me to keep creating.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

I’ve been performing since I was 5 and auditioning since I was 9 so I really don’t know anything else. I’ve been incredibly blessed with all of the opportunities that have come my way but that has also come with immense hardship, roadblocks, and overall issues with my self-worth and identity outside of my creative pursuits. It’s hard not to feel like the goalpost is always moving and there’s always something else to accomplish. That being said, I will never give up and to anyone feeling down, this is an industry of ups and downs and the only way is through.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: willjaymusic
• Facebook: Officialwilljaymusic
• Twitter: willjaymusic
• Youtube: willjay
• Soundcloud: willjaymusic
• Other: TikTok: willjaymusic

Image Credits

Chelsea Balan