Jay Sean released “Down” 15 years ago, and the singer reflects on what it took for him to reach that level of success in the American market as a South Asian singer. He shares how he created “Piche Piche,” his aim for South Asian representation with his new label, 3AM, the spread and appreciation of Punjabi music, his new album in the works and more!
Kyle Denis:
2024 marks the 15 year anniversary of “Down.” Do you have a favorite memory or performance attached to the song?
Jay Sean:
Man, first of all, that’s wild, isn’t it?
Crazy.
And it’s one of those songs that obviously it changed my life, but I think has been a part of a lot of my fans’ journey. It’s just like it’s ingrained in their cells at this point. And I think, you know, when I think back to the performances of that song, one of the most epic ones must have … it was probably Madison Square Garden, first time I did it. So I did, I did MSG two or three times, but the first time ever for a Brit from a small town in England called Hounslow, to be gracing that stage, it’s just wild. And then to have 20,000 New Yorkers sing back every word to you. You know, I mean, I think that was something that I’ll always remember.
Absolutely. You know, I remember listening and dancing to “Down” when I was a kid, and still doing that today, so, like, 15 years later, how do you assess the impact of such an iconic song?
I could delve deep here about …
Please do, please do!
But I think again, a song has the ability to take you back in time, you know exactly where you are. Bet you could remember where you were when you were listening to all of that.
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