Jaya Bremer uses a breakup and the pandemic to craft a new sound and story for her second album, Stay Tender.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Tyson Elder Rocktographers
Jaya is a Canadian indie artist based in Victoria, British Colombia. Though new to us, she’s a seasoned performer. Throughout her career she’s fronted a Patsy Cline tribute act, a gypsy jazz quintet and indie rock back Wise Child. In 2017 she was a regional semi-finalist in CBC Searchlight and she released her first album, Everybody’s Getting Married, in 2020.
Her new album Stay Tender sees her bringing elements of electro-pop and RnB akin to Metronomy or Robyn into her sound. The change in style was prompted by the pandemic, when Jaya was able to forget momentarily about having to perform her tracks live.
The sultry, chanting I Could Do Better opens the album before My Expectations combines bright, wistful electronica with lyrics that have had enough. Both warm up us nicely for the album’s focus track Lost in the Plot. Telling the story of a breakup it opens gently and melancholic before becoming cinematic and cathartic in the chorus. It’s an emotional highlight.
Other highlights includes the vibrant and racy Our Potential, the wondering lyrics and wonderment-filled instrumental of Apartment 4, the funky and defiant My Power, My Time, and encouraging album closer and title track Stay Tender.
With her new album, Jaya has pushed the boundaries of her own sound and, as a result, has opened it up to a whole new audience, ourselves included. The lushness and emotion on display is breath-taking, and her lyrics feel important. I can’t recommend her music enough.
Stay Tender was produced by Austin Tufts and Chris Neal and was recorded at Dreamclub Studios in Victoria. It’s out now and you can give it a listen below.