Layfullstop - Family Affair (Official Video) + 10 Questions

Prolific Birmingham-born, Manchester-based Jazztronica talent Layfullstop returns with new single ‘Family Affair’.

Flexing her producer skills once again with a smooth, jazz-tinged production, ‘Family Affair’ allows Lay’s slick, hushed vocals take centre stage. Shot in her adopted hometown, with the distinctive red brick mills in the background, the accompanying official video perfectly captures the cool, calm and collected vibe that Lay communicates on the track.

‘Family Affair’ follows on from ‘Act Right’, her first release of the year that came out last month, and drew support from the likes of Complex UK, Trench, NME, Clash Magazine, GRM Daily and Jamz Supernova (BBC Radio 1xtra) to name a few.

“Initially I had created this song as a vibe and outpour of not just my family (being Jamaican), but other family stories that felt like mine growing up,” Lay explains. “However I really love the simplicity that this song gives which to be honest, I’ve really missed in my creativity, as I do love a good harmony stack and the idea of ‘busy art’. I think this is a good reflection of my current mindset, keeping things simple and prioritising the things that are important to me: God, Family and everything else as it comes.”

Layfullstop sat down with Wordplay Magazine to answer our infamous 10 Questions:

1. So tell me, how did it all begin? What sparked your love for music?

Growing up, music was split into two worlds for me, one was where I just gravitated to everything that had jazz in it such as music, adverts, games etc.

Equally I had a strong passion for writing, poetry, English lit etc but I didn’t really put the two together until my late teens.

I had gotten my degree in psychology which I loved but it was whilst on the course that I realised I was going to be an artist.

2. Who are some artists that influence you and that you want to work with in the future?

I grew up mainly with gospel music, so your Mary Mary, Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond etc.

90s Rnb music was of course a big thing, and the sonics were pretty similar, but the essence of artists Mary J Blige and Missy Elliott have stuck with me.

Currently I’d love to work with artists like Masego, Devin Morrison and no name.

3. What projects do you have coming up and can you give us any info on them?

I’m excited but I’m just over ready to finally release my debut album next year. I’ve been working super hard on getting it finished so I can’t wait til it’s out.

I think you’ll get to know me in a completely different but transparent way and it’s a bit nerve-wracking but I’m so proud of it.

4. How would you describe your sound?

No idea haha, but i’ve stuck to Jazztronica for the time being as my music is heavily infused with jazz but has an electronic/alternative edge. But don’t get it twisted, I’ll always make room for a classic hiphop moment, I just do a lot of meshing with sounds and like to see what happens.

5. What's your proudest moment to date so far as an artist?

I think completing this album has definitely been my proudest moment. Albums don’t seem to have as big of a significance these days but I’ve always treasured the album process.

That idea of creating a collection of music that is basically doing what books used to do, progress the culture and change our way of thinking and just creating a vibe.

6. Do you have any advice for our readers who may be trying to play the mad game of music?

Don’t be ignorant and have a vision. I know most of us are now aware of playing the long game, but having a vision of what that looks like is just as important.

Who do you want to be? How much do you want to make? Who do you want to work with? Having an idea of these answers for the future as well as current will help you plan the decisions and opportunities that you take today.

7. Are there any artists on your radar right now that we should check out?

There’s a singer from China Lilly from Manchester whose voice is genuinely out of this world, definitely check her out.

8. What albums are on heavy rotation on your Spotify playlist currently?

I’ve gone back to listening to beat tapes like Tom Misch’s Beat Tape 1 and Freddie Joachim’s Midway. I’ve literally been playing these sporadically for years, but have recently gone back to them, reminds me of when I’d search all day on Majestic Casual and Soulection trying to find some new music.

9. What do you like to do when you're not making music?

I try my best to rest, sometimes it can be such long hours or quite intense so I try to make sure that I have time where I literally do nothing. But I’ve been enjoying getting back into reading or going to see family and spend a few days away.

10. Name Three things you can't live without when in the studio?

I have to have snacks, especially when you’re talking up to 24 hours. Then it’s having a pair of sliders and my little digital camera to capture them moments.