Interview: April Jai
Photography by Maxine Bowen
April Jai, a Scottish native living in London, is a rising talent in the alt-pop world. Her distinct sound and poignant (often angsty) songwriting make her a force to be reckoned with and has deeply resonated with her devoted fanbase. She grew up in Scotland and Belgium before moving to London to pursue her music career.
Influenced by Fletcher, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and UPSAHL, Jai brings a unique twist to alt-pop with her signature phrase, "depression with a hint of badass." Her late 2023 single, “Morally Grey,” went massively viral on socials to the point where Spotify even made an editorial personalized playlist called “Morally Grey” after the track. Jai has been
described as “one to watch” by the likes of Wonderland and Record Of The Day and was featured on 13 Spotify editorial playlists in 2024.
What inspires your music?
I'm super inspired by romance novels! A lot of my music is heavily influenced by fictional characters and how nuanced they are written by the authors.
Who are some of your influences?
Upsahl, Olivia Rodrigo and Fletcher are my main influences. I just love all of the girlies, they're killing it right now!
What are some of your favorite memories from your career?
My song “Morally Grey” going viral and Spotify creating an entirely new editorial playlist based on it and named after it has got to be the craziest thing that's ever happened to me but there are SO many! I loved headlining a stage at Latitude festival last year and going on tour around the UK and Europe.
Which of your projects do you love the most?
I always say "Me Too" is my favourite song of mine just because it's so deeply personal but I'm very proud of my latest EP "Between the Pages". It was so much fun getting to create a full body of work with all of the songs that have been inspired by books or fictional characters. I had a lot of fun creating an entire world around it with the visuals and the songwriting.
Who are some of the collaborators who helped you create your favorite works?
My producer and collaborator, AMCL (@amclmusic), is my partner in crime with all of my music. He's helped bring life to basically everything I've ever released. We always joke that we're like Billie and Finneas, except we're not related. We've worked with other collaborators, too, but the constant is always the two of us, and I really think it helps keep the vision and sound cohesive.
What are you most excited to bring to your fans next?
New music and more live shows (both of which are coming SO soon).
What are your goals for this upcoming year?
To make 2025 my year of explosive growth and to connect with as many fans as possible!
How can your fans and our readers best support you right now?
Stream "Between The Pages". It's out everywhere and will keep you going until new music arrives!
I have a headline show at the Grace in London on March 20th, and you can get tickets HERE!
I also have merch available at apriljaimerch.com
