Jacob Daley
Photo Credit: Meera Sunil
Jacob Daley is a beacon of musical creativity. The 19-year-old DC native has impressed with the release of his recent single, “Let It Ring”, earning him a spot on Spotify's Fresh Finds playlist. He possesses a unique sound, one that involves a mix of hip-hop and indie/r&b influences. Jacob attributes this to his musical upbringing, as his dad would play a diverse catalog including Elliot Smith and the Public Enemy. The single marks the artist’s first of the year and has gained over 30k plays and nearly 14k monthly Spotify listeners. We recently spoke with the artist about his musical influences, distinct sound, and more!
How did you start making music?
I’ve always loved the wittiness and the cleverness of hip-hop so I would just write verses and send them back and forth with my friends. Slowly, I started building a community around my love for music and I met my close producer friend, Ethan Andrade, and we just started building from there, recording every day.
When you’re not creating music, what’s something you enjoy doing?
Playing basketball, I’m a big basketball fan. Watching rap battles often. Looking for cooler pants. Drawing occasionally. Going to Popeyes.
You have a very distinct sound. How would you describe it?
My sound is kind of all over the place, probably stemming from all the stuff my dad would play when I was younger. It’s really a blend of the depths of weird indie music he would play, like Elliott Smith and Lisa Hannigan, mixed with the brash, sort of in-your-face hip-hop he would play, like Public Enemy and Wu-Tang Clan. Then I just listened to Drake for about five years and then put out the song “Let It Ring.”
Walk us through your songwriting process.
When I hear an instrumental, the melody for a hook is pretty instant. Then it’s all about trying different lyrics and rhyme schemes to fit that melody until it’s finished. Then I either take forever to write a verse on the spot or I sit with a song for a week or so and just come up with different ideas. It’s just trying different things until you like the pieces that you have and you start to build off them. When I’m at a writer’s block, I just try to avoid my instincts at times because they may cause me to be repetitive. I think it’s important to try to find a way to be vulnerable or clever in a way that feels really individual to me. That way, listeners will feel a deeper connection with me without ever really meeting me.
So far you have two great releases in the forms of “Wonder” and “Let It Ring”. Are either of those songs more special to you?
So “Wonder” and “Let It Ring” are like my children, but “Let It Ring” is like the child I like more. “Let It Ring” is more special to me because it’s something I didn’t think I could do. I didn’t think I could make an indie-pop song and have it be my most rapidly streamed song ever. It’s a risk I took that paid off the most so I think that one’s more special to me.
Who do you owe your biggest thanks to?
When it comes to me as an artist, I really owe my friends the biggest thanks. My friend Ethan pretty much taught me how to make music. My friend Robert has given me so much creative direction and courage. The things I make with them and the Liden brothers, Alec, Pascal, and Matt will live forever and hold such a special place with me. I owe them more than any famous artist I’ve listened to.
Who’s someone that you’d love to create a song with?
There’s too many. I’ve always wanted a song with Raury or someone like Earl Sweatshirt. Those guys really push me to be an individual almost unapologetically. There are also some artists where it’s like what would a song between us even sound like? Like what does Jacob Daley sound like on a song with Meek Mill or Phoebe Bridgers? Hopefully one day we’ll see.
What are you planning for the future?
Just bigger experiences and better music. I’m always improving as an artist and pushing myself to be more experimental. I think you’ll see that in my new music and visuals. Something all-around more immersive. But in the near future, my new song “Couple Rounds” comes out on October 30th!! Stay tuned for that and much more.
