By Akshay Bhansali
Yesterday, I joined a lucky band of music industry folks at the Universal Republic Records office in New York to get a first listen of songs from All or Nothing, British R&B artist Jay Sean's debut album (which hits stores this Monday, November 23). It soon became clear that the motive for the occasion was less a listening session and more a show of gratitude to the legions of the Jay Sean fans that have spent six years helping him get to where he is today.
In fact by, one member Sean's camp declared, "This is a pep rally!" For what? To help Jay Sean score a #1 album.
Jay Sean's co-manager and producer Jeremy Skaller talked through the intimate details of how Sean came to be signed by Cash Money and how the songs came to be. Probably one of the more touching stories he recounted took place at the initial meeting between Cash Money CEO Slim Williams and Sean in Miami last year. Skaller said that when faced with an artist that moved one hundred thousand units independently and had 10 million hits of his video for "Ride It" on online, Slim asked Sean very simply, "Jay, why do you think you haven't been signed yet?"
Sean answered, "I guess maybe it's because I'm Indian."
To which Slim answered, "That's exactly why I'm going to sign you."
Just as "Lights Off" — a track featuring labelmate Kevin Rudolph — began to play, Sean walked in and thanked the room for their unwavering support. "I love everyone in this room and I can't thank you enough for the support over the years," Sean said. He then took photos with virtually every person in the room.
On Monday, keep an eye out for "If I Ain't Got You," "Do You," "Fire" and my favorite thus far, the mid-tempo "War."