Coast 2 Coast Closeup – Ajaye

Ajaye (pronounced “A.J.”), grew up in a small-town sports card shop. As unconventional as that may sound, it played a huge role in who she is today as an artist. Surrounded by music history and collectables, she learned from an early age that everything, and everyone has a story worth hearing. Her new music brings a depth beyond her years that dances between melancholy and hope. While Ajaye always finds the silver lining in life, she uses her music as a vehicle to explore the cracks where the true beauty lies in all of us.

The award-winning artist comes by music honestly; she grew up performing with her family music ensemble, The Jardines. “Learning the ropes of the music business within the safety of my family was a great way to get started,” says AJAYE. “But you gotta step out on your own at some point, and my move to Nashville was the ultimate growing up experience.”

​In Nashville, she honed her songwriting craft and earned a name performing the Nashville club scene, including a performance residency at Blake Shelton’s Ole Red.

​Her latest single Growing Up is a joint release with Reluctant Cowboy Records, and is now available on all streaming platforms.

“If I’ve learned anything this past year, it’s that we’re all doing the best we can. So I started connecting to what sounds and feels good to me. ‘Growing Up’ is an ode to my younger self. To the 20 something me who felt lost, was always chasing after the wrong kind of romance, and tried so hard to fit in to try to make everybody else happy.”

Listen to the interview