AraTheJay is a rising star in the music industry making waves with his unique blend of genres and cultural influences. Born in Ghana and shaped by experiences across Africa, AraTheJay is more than just a musician. He’s a storyteller on a mission.
AraTheJay’s stage name carries deep meaning, but his latest persona, Nimo Constantine, is capturing attention with his upcoming project “Finding Nimo.”
With the belief that music is his divine duty, AraTheJay aims to create positive, empowering content that connects listeners to a higher purpose. His recent EP, “The Capsule,” serves as an introduction to this ambitious journey.
Drawing from his Ghanaian roots, experiences in Kenya, and fluency in Swahili, AraTheJay crafts a sound that’s both authentically West African and globally appealing. He’s already made waves with successful collaborations like “Unruly” with Blanco and “Sankofa” with King Promise, proving his versatility and growing influence in the industry.
But AraTheJay’s vision extends beyond music. With interests in acting and creating cinematic music videos, he’s exploring new ways to enhance his storytelling and connect with audiences visually.
In this interview, we’ll delve into the mind of this multifaceted artist, exploring his creative process, the messages behind his music, and his aspirations for the future. Join us as we uncover the story of AraTheJay, an artist who’s not just making music, but creating a movement.
Your stage name is AratheJay, but you’ve adopted the persona of “Nimo Constantine” for your upcoming project. Can you elaborate on the significance of this persona and how it relates to your musical journey?
Well, began quite jovial between friends passing aliases to personally later understand the core of its origin. The name transcends just an alias, Jay means Junior so initially it was Jay Ara whereas Ara means wonder in Yoruba as well as King in Ancient Greek languages but with time I realized it was a divine orchestration. I’m surely a junior to the Almighty and by Grace, we work wonders through lyrics and melodies.
You’ve mentioned that you see music as your duty and that you have a story to tell. What specific messages or themes did you convey in “The Capsule”?
The Capsule serves as an epitome of the main album Finding Nimo which is yet to come, is the first of a series of projects that will precede and aim at leading the world on a gradual path to finding ‘Nimo’.
Your music seems to blend various genres and influences. How do you balance staying true to your Ghanaian roots while also appealing to a global audience?
Oscar Wild once said ‘Be yourself, and everyone else is taken’ I believe authenticity is appealing, and standing for what you believe is felt within if genuine, so I just speak my truth, incorporating the various elements of music and genres. I believe Highlife is more than a genre, it’s our core, so no matter the rhythm you will find that West African soul in there.
You’ve had success with collaborations, like “Unruly” with Blanco and
“Sankofa” with King Promise. How did these collaborations influence
your artistic growth, and are there any dream collaborations you’d like to
pursue in the future?
The acknowledgment alone was enough of a lesson, these are two very passionate and hardworking music artists who showed me what it meant to strive for perfection and execution. Learned a great deal from them. Shout out to them and all who continually encourage and support budding talent. Would love to have more songs with them and others like Eld. Mireku, Daddy Lumba, Salif Keita, Duncan Mighty & Stromae.
Your time in Kenya and fluency in Swahili have influenced your creative process. How do you incorporate these diverse cultural experiences into your music?
I’d say the study of Swahili enlightened me on linguistics and helped me combine languages in my literature, probably even helped me better understand the Akan language and use it without having to study it. The various cultures give me a wider perspective of life in general and help me better appreciate and articulate my life truths through my music.
You’ve expressed interest in acting and creating movie-style music videos. How do you see this visual aspect enhancing your musical storytelling?
There are songs I’ve written by Grace that follow a visual projection of a series of events which puts the listener in the moment as though they can see what’s happening. I believe that’s one of the blessings. Visuals are quite effective, especially when what is being perceived is understood and by Grace, there’ll be more incorporations of this.
As an artist who aims to create ‘positive’ music, how do you define positivity in your work, and what impact do you hope your music will have on your listeners?
Positivity is defined by me as anything good, anything noble, just , admirable , trustworthy. The aim is to create a connection that fosters a sense of well-being and empowerment, where the music is a catalyst for development for any listener. The aim is to connect the audience to the Almighty, the source of everything.
