Imagine if your last day on Earth was soundtracked by an overdose of A Love Supreme. That’s how you might describe Pale Jay’s debut EP The Celestial Suite. While sedated for surgery following a grisly bicycle crash, Pale Jay listened to John Coltrane’s classic jazz opus and it soothed him. Drifting in and out of consciousness, this memory would be the spark that lit the fire for his debut EP The Celestial Suite.
Although the EP was conceived from the pain of a devastating bicycle crash and surgery, you wouldn’t know from listening to it. Centered around his captivating falsetto voice, Pale Jay’s music is a journey into the depths of conscious awareness, with warm textures and dreamy harmonies that are simply gorgeous. The sounds he creates are the culmination of many influences—from early R&B and soul to modern producers who have brought their own singular vision. (The album’s liner notes cite Donny Hathaway, J Dilla and Khruangbin as “musical guides”.)
Entirely self-produced, Pale Jay’s songs are distinctive in their grand, captivating aura. His music is a perfect blend of styles that feels effortless but more likely was born out of countless hours of practice behind closed doors. From the moody Dilla-tinged psychedelia of “For James” to the modern soul sensibilities of “Donny In Valdez” to the bluesy hip-hop bounce of “Dos Uvas,” The Celestial Suite has that timeless quality that feels new and fresh yet classic at the same time.
Listen/buy: Apple Music | Bandcamp | Spotify
