Jay Nemor, also known as Jason Nemor Harden is a singer, songwriter, producer, saxophonist, writer and actor. Born in Houston, Texas, Jay was playing instruments and performing at a young age. Jay was sidetracked from music for years as he pursued a career in basketball, which led him to traveling Europe and the Middle East, eventually making Iceland home. It was there that he studied and became influenced by jazz, which shows in his music style. In 2003 Jay was pulled back into music and performing with intent to write and sing, bringing back old school R&B soul, adding in his sultry saxophone playing and a bit of a modern twist. He is also know for his acting, stage and soon to be film. He has an upcoming UK Tour for his recent album Just Sayin’ and he will soon be in the states for an upcoming film role.
Q. What is the music scene like in Iceland and the areas you play in?
A. To be honest it has been quite some time since I have played in Iceland. The music scene in Iceland is quite alive and well. On a nightly basis you can catch something somewhere. Might not be your cup of tea sometimes, but it is most certainly there to be found.
Q. What has been the reception to your neo soul style music there?
A. I think the people like it. At least out of the people who have heard it. I have gotten some encouraging feedback.
Q. I noticed there have been a few remixes of some of your songs and you collaborate with the people doing it.
How does that feel to work on something and then watch somebody else find something different in it to bring out and watch it evolve into something different?
A. I love it. First of all, someone who doesn’t know me at all decides they like the song enough to reach out to me about doing a remix . Something they heard inspired them take it to that completely different vibe. Gotta dig that.
Q. On your debut solo album Just Sayin which would you say is the song that you most connect with and why?
A. It’s hard for me to say. I was about to say Music, then my mind switched to Everyday, then Smiling Faces, etc. It has to do with the words. Each song has a message that’s close to my heart and mind. It changes depending on my state of mind at a certain time.
Q. On Just Sayin which song would you say best represents the album as a whole and why?
A. I would say Music. I pick that one because for me its all about the music.
A. I love the video Suite Soul, I love the city–any city– and the video caught that vibe of just a perfect Saturday being out and about—can you tell us a little about the song and the video, what it means it to you and what went into making it?
A. Music Suite Soul is actually a combination of inspirations. Elements from nine of my favorite songs. The kick drum in the verse is Hummin in the Sun – Roy Ayers. I just moved the fourth kick/bass hit towards the end of the bar. The orchestration was borrowed from the ancestors piece by piece and one part from a more recent fellow.
The whole video was made on a Samsung Galaxy (no commercial intended). It was shot in Oslo, Norway during the autumn and Gothenburg, Sweden in the sweet summertime.
I had no idea what I was doing but I knew I wanted a visual for this song. I was literally moneyless at the time except for food money, because I had just paid the rent. So what to do? … I went online and looked at some videos on YouTube (no commercial intended). For example, how to make a music video. Which led me again to the Tube ultimately leading me to the video titled learn how to use the essential basics of video editing or something like that. Long story brought to an end. I made a video from before scratch to final product all by myself with the exception of my wonderful lady who worked the camera. I learned that resoluteness works. Music took me 10 years to complete plus video, 11 years. Sometimes I´d go a year or 2 and not even look at it, but, I knew I wanted to finish it. Wrote that 1st draft lyric February 2004.
Q. You recently played Muhammad Ali on stage in Great As I Am at the Nordic Black Theatre , where you have been involved as screenwriter and actor for performances, can you tell us a little about what it was like playing such a legend, what insight did you learn about him from playing the role?
A. Portraying that man I would say was the most challenging thing I have ever done. How can a person recreate spontaneity? Spontaneity was exactly what I had to try to emulate. I guess I pulled it off as it seems that folks really enjoyed themselves and we received very good feedback. It was definitely a huge honor to have an opportunity to do that. This was the second time the play ran. The first time was at Nordic Black´s own
house called Cafeteatret in Oslo. The most recent run was at the Norwegian Opera and Ballet. I know a lot about the man but it’s the intimate details you find out about him the more you dig in and try to discover the man. The stories about the private moments, the sincerity in his playfulness and genuine kindness to those who knew him best. That was cool to learn.
Q. I know you were cast to play in the upcoming American movie Jessica Frost. Can you tell us a little about the role?
A. Im not sure how much I am allowed to talk about that but I will be playing a villainous goon. Me a tough guy, lol. This I even have to see. Still a bit surreal to me, but I’m up for the challenge and definitely looking forward to work with a very experienced cast and crew. I know I will learn a lot from this experience. Keep your eyes on the IMDB page.
Q. What’s it like coming back to the states? Do you miss it? Is Iceland home now?
A. Sometimes I feel somewhat as if Im´ in a strange land when I go home. I know the place and most of it feels familiar but still there are bits and pieces that feel like wow I´ve been here before but something isn´t settling. Im from a neighborhood called Settegast in Houston, TX. A lot has changed. Different faces, businesses, landsacape, etc. The majority of my adult life has been spent in Europe, since 1998 as a matter of fact. I grew as an adult in Europe. Had lots of firsts, particularly Iceland. I miss my family. I love my family with everything in me and I know without a doubt that love is returned. I can feel it everywhere I go. . It’s in me. The way I walk, the way I talk, the way I carry myself. Even the music has always been inside me, somewhere. My father was a very gifted musician, never pursued it, but it was a constant in my house whether he was on the piano singing Commodores songs or picking at the guitar and sometimes even composing. Just for himself, the fun and the love of it I guess. I have not lived in Iceland for a few years now but I can say Iceland grew me up, the adult in me at least. Cultivated that musician that was buried inside me. Today, I consider it home. Even my mother jokes with me sometimes, have you spoken with any of the folks back home J
Q. You are involved in so much artistically– writing music, writing scripts, concerts, shows, making songs and albums, playing saxophone, acting—yet you have an extensive background in playing professional basketball—is there anything you learned from training and achieving what you achieved athletically and maybe carried that habit or trait over into how you stay focused creatively? If so, please explain…..
A. Being resolute! When something speaks to my heart I think it over, weigh the foreseeable pros and cons as much as possible, create the final vision in my head, figure out what I need to do to get there and move forward. Work, work and more work but with direction and
purpose. Self discipline. Listen to advise and think it over. Most of the time, not all, people genuinely want to help, but don’t let ANYONE make up your mind for you … EVER!
Q. March Madness is a theme for RnB this month, do you still follow basketball at pro or college level, and if so what teams are you looking at this year?
A. There is a small hint of embarrassment that comes over me when people ask me this. I´m somewhat clueless of the overall picture. I see the highlights and I know some of the names in the NBA, but college ball, completely flies over my head these days. The music stole my attention. I had a lot of years of learning and experience I had to cram into a small space of time. I still love to go out and play from time to time but even that is rare because where I´m living, for the moment, the weather outside is not suitable the majority of the time. That basketball culture in the States, doesn’t exist where I am and that doesn’t help at all. Soccer is world culture…
Q. I know you have a UK 2016 tour coming up for Just Sayin, as well as other shows, stage performances and a movie role—is there anything else we should be looking out for you in 2016 that you can share?
A. More music. It’s all about that FORWARD MOTION…
Q. If you had to narrow it down to one—sax, stage acting, writing, music or something else—could you pick one– is there one you identify with more than another? Or are they all a part of you? Explain.
A. MUSIC! The singing and the speaking part of it. I like to communicate with folks. I think music is the ultimate and most efficient form of communication. As a musician, lyricist mainly, you find a way to take all these hundreds upon thousands of thoughts in your head about this one thing, one idea, and you find a way to condense all that chatter into a zero minutes to how ever long the song is space and make sense of it. Toss that lyric on a bed of music. BOOM … message got!
Black and White Photos by Fedja Salihbasic
