NYC pulses with creativity, and at its heart is indie-pop virtuoso Dave Jay, the maestro behind ‘The Sound of Monday.’ His latest rendition of ‘Pure Imagination’ marks a spectacular prelude to an upcoming album, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the artist’s innovative soundscapes.
This cover transcends nostalgia, fusing the timeless charm of Brian Wilson’s ‘Pet Sounds’ with a contemporary indie-pop vibe. It’s, an eclectic blend that mirrors the artist’s kaleidoscopic approach.
With a stellar ensemble of musicians and the artistic prowess of Charles Newman behind production, ‘Pure Imagination’ isn’t just a track; it’s a portal to a world of wonder. The accompanying animated video, crafted by Richard Mather, is a visual feast, transporting viewers on a psychedelic journey reminiscent of Dali’s surrealism.
In a candid conversation, Dave Jay reveals the origin of ‘The Sound of Monday,’ echoing the dichotomy of hope and drudgery that Mondays embody. His inspiration, he shares, comes from an endless well of stimuli, a whirlwind of thoughts, melodies, and experiences.
Reflecting on his musical roots, Dave reminisces about childhood days spent engrossed in his parents’ record collection and forming backyard duos inspired by The Monkees. His journey into music was a blend of chance encounters and relentless passion.
While ‘showbiz’ beckoned him early on, Dave’s style has evolved organically, staying true to his vaudevillian love for variety and entertainment. His music, he describes, is lyrically rich, akin to Elvis Costello, and melodically akin to a one-man Beach Boy.
With upcoming releases and plans for collaboration, Dave’s message to fans is simple: Have fun and uplift spirits. His music is a gateway to joy and escape from life’s hardships.
Stay tuned for an exclusive peek into the upcoming ‘Pure Imagination’ album, a testament to Dave Jay’s artistic prowess and boundless creativity.
Watch Pure Imagination below
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Is there a story behind your stage name?
“The Sound of Monday” is a lyric in a song called Sunday Street by Squeeze, and the turn of phrase immediately appealed to me, because I could relate to the competing ideas of what Mondays meant to people. On one hand, I had the drudgery of starting another week in a job I loathed, yet also the hope from new opportunities that may come with the start of a brand new week. It also reminded me of The Sound of Music, so I liked how music came to mind when you said our name.
Where do you find inspiration?
Inspiration finds me. There’s an endless stream of stimuli all around us.
It can be a concept, turn of phrase I overhear, read, or mistakenly say, a melody that I just start humming by chance, word play off of some existing line, documentary or article about someone or something I find fascinating, insight provided by listening to someone else’s convo., a reflection or realization about myself, or any other number of ways you could think of. Once an idea gets introduced to my consciousness, I riff with myself (or others) as it develops, often keep myself entertained, and a lot of ideas derive that way.
What was the role of music in the early years of your life?
Among my earliest memories during the mid/late1970s, I would rifle through my parents’ record collection, from show tunes to Trini Lopez Live at P.J.’s. I’d listen, while devouring the liner notes and imagine what was going on behind each photo and each morsel of cover art.
I was a fixture in front of the speakers of this huge credenza in our living room housing the record player and an AM/FM radio, imbibing classic rock of the 50s and 60s, supping up all the Doo Wop, Rock-n-Roll and Ballads, and loving every moment! Around that time, I discovered reruns of The Monkees TV show, where the humor and snappy melodies, captured my imagination—I dreamt of being “The 5th Monkee”. My babysitters, who’d all experienced The
Monkees in the 60s and had outgrown them, gave me all of their old Monkees records—I was in heaven, memorizing every tune on every album, unfazed by the magic marker-scribbled, “Wendy loves Micky” doodles all over the album covers. Then, my best friend Stephen and I formed a duo called, “The Li’l Monkees”, and we’d put shows on for the neighbors in my backyard!
Are you from a musical or artistic family?
Not particularly. My Dad’s side of the family is very analytical, and I inherited some of those natural skills,
but my Mom’s pretty creative, and has a sense of humor. When I was growing up, we used to look through
the White Pages phone book, find funny sounding names, and crack each other up riffing on ‘em.
Who inspired you to be a part of the music industry?
When I was a young boy, the 20 th Century notion of “Showbiz” permeated my dreams. I’d had a clear vision early on that it’s where I belonged–to sing, dance, tell jokes and funny stories, write songs and appear on TV and in movies. The Monkees, Mel Brooks, Peter Sellers, my cousin Jack, Steve Martin, The Beatles, Johnny Carson, Sid Caesar, The Beach Boys, and others all drove my dreams in this direction.
“How can I make it in showbiz?” was always on the forefront of my mind, and this basic idea really hasn’t changed, though it has evolved.
How did you learn to sing/write/to play?
When I was 9, I decided to give songwriting a try, and “’Cause Girl I Love You” was the result, about my 3rd grade crush. I couldn’t play any instruments, nor notate melodies or chords, so, that summer at sleepaway camp, as chance would have it, my counsellor was a vibraphonist who loved Jazz, sat with me at the piano at my urging, and told me the chords to write down as I sang him the song. I continued writing songs, filling a loose leaf notebook with lyrics, and scraps of paper with ideas, memorizing my own melodies for them.
When I entered junior high school, I met a classmate who was a really good guitarist. I got the number of his teacher, begged my parents for lessons, got ‘em, and the rest is history.
What was the first concert that you ever went to and who did you see perform?
My Dad surprised my friend Stephen and I with tickets to see Davy Jones and Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees perform at a theater in NYC! I screamed my head off: “Sing Valerie!!” The Laughing Dogs was the opening act. It was thrilling!
How could you describe your music?
Lyric-driven like a pack of Elvis Costellos and melodic as a one man Beach Boy!
Describe your creative process.
Exploration, wanderlust through words and ideas, followed by organization once I capture them in a fixed state.
What is your main inspiration?
I’m a willing slave to wonderment.
What musician do you admire most and why?
There are so many, but Francis Dunnery jumps immediately to mind. I deeply admire his incredible abilities as a guitarist (he was Robert Plant’s for a time), singer with a sweet voice and awesome range, and fantastic songwriting, encompassing both meaningful and clever lyrics and catchy melodies. He’s the full package, and I aspire to put it all together as well as he has!
Did your style evolve since the beginning of your career?
I wasn’t conscious of style early on, I just liked to create whatever I fancied, from theatrical to rock. I even wrote a rap, (it was really bad). Though it has evolved and matured, my style itself has never really changed, in that I love the variety format fostered by vaudeville, and the aforementioned 20th century entertainment that I love so much.
Who do you see as your main competitor?
Myself, primarily, though I suppose that everyone else seeking an audience’s attention, from shoe sellers to artists of very different genres are all competitors in a sense.
I’ve never really liked the idea of competition with others when it comes to creating stuff I like. I just hope to find people who dig the stuff I enjoy creating, and let that speak for itself.
What are your interests outside of music?
American football and in particular, the NY Jets, of which I am a lifelong diehard fan—so, in a way, I guess you can say I’m deeply interested in some form of masochism. I like sports, both as fan and participant. I also find deep harmony with history and nostalgia.
If it wasn’t a music career, what would you be doing?
Acting, writing, and/or comedy. Something creative.
What is the biggest problem you have encountered in the journey of music?
Lack of recognition.
If you could change one thing in the music industry, what would it be?
I’m not interested in changing the industry. I just want to find a home, a fan base with whom I can connect, to provide entertainment, joy and an escape from how tough life can be.
Why did you choose this as the title of this project?
I normally enjoy getting creative choosing the title for my projects after the collection of songs has already been completed. This time around, while working with longtime collaborator/producer, Charles Newman on our Pure Imagination single, he approached me with a cool concept to put together a LP using this iconic title, and taking original songs I’d already been working on that embodied the “imagination” theme. The idea really appealed to me, and we’ve been off to the races ever since!
What are your plans for the coming months?
We’ve got a bunch of new releases, from the Pure Imagination full length, to remixes of our cover of Spiderman Theme, and I’m excited to have landed a license in an upcoming feature film!
Do you have any artistic collaboration plans
There are so many I’d love to branch out and collaborate with, and have had some conversations about doing so, though nothing in the works beyond the work I just completed with Emiliano Melis, Streamkitty, and Sisko, who did great remixes of our standout single, “Spiderman Theme”. I also created a pending single with Sisko called “The Jester”.
What message would you like to give to your fans?
Have fun and lift spirits!
