Seattle R&B singer Jaymin is continuing to carve out his own lane with STATIC, an 11-track project that blends contemporary R&B with the gospel roots and wide-ranging musical influences that have shaped him.
Released Sept. 18 through Warner Records, STATIC arrived two days after Jaymin hosted an intimate listening event at Paramount Studios in Los Angeles, where he previewed the project and discussed his journey from Seattle, his upbringing in the church and why he does not want his music confined to one genre or era.
The cover for JayMin’s Static EP
It continued a conversation I had with Jaymin a few weeks earlier on the red carpet at the BMI R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. He spoke proudly about representing Seattle and its rich musical history, pointing to icons like Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana as examples of the different sounds that have come from his hometown. When I asked about his dream collaboration, he named Alicia Keys, a pairing that makes sense considering his own foundation in church, gospel and R&B.
Those different pieces of Jaymin’s story come together throughout STATIC.
Jaymin grew up surrounded by music in the church, where his mother served as a minister of music. During the Paramount listening session, he also shared another part of his artistic background that might surprise some listeners: ballet. That combination of church, movement and an appreciation for different eras helps explain why Jaymin is resistant to being labeled strictly as a throwback R&B singer. While his music carries elements of ’90s R&B, he made it clear that he does not want to be boxed into one era or genre.
STATIC makes a strong case for that versatility. The project opens with “If I’m Away,” immediately tapping into Jaymin’s gospel foundation with a heavy church and choir influence while still feeling rooted in modern R&B. Then comes “Crash.” For me, it was the immediate standout of the listening session and an easy 10 out of 10. There is a dark, atmospheric quality to the record that reminded me of some of the moodier work in 6LACK’s catalog, while Jaymin maintains enough of his own vocal identity to keep the comparison from defining the song.
“Rain” follows with an interesting story of its own. Jaymin explained that he wrote the record while still living in Seattle, essentially wishing for rain in Los Angeles. Coming from a city practically synonymous with gray skies and rainfall, there is a little irony in carrying that imagery with him to Southern California.
The middle of STATIC moves through “Nothing 2 Lose,” “Rollin,” “Proud,” “What’s It Worth” and “cc,” with relationships and vulnerability remaining at the center of the project. “Rollin” is another example of Jaymin pulling from different eras and genres. The record interpolates the chorus of Gucci Mane’s “Pillz,” taking something familiar from hip-hop and reshaping it within his own R&B world.
Jaymin also spoke about his admiration for producer Sam Wish, referencing Brent Faiyaz’s “Clouded” while discussing the type of production that inspires him. That darker, atmospheric side of contemporary R&B can be heard throughout STATIC without overtaking Jaymin’s own sound.
JayMin during the listening session of STATIC
One of the clearest connections between his past and present arrives with track nine, “Psalm,” where Jaymin taps directly into his gospel roots. After hearing him discuss growing up in church, the song feels less like a stylistic detour and more like another piece of who he is musically. The project closes with “This Side of Paris” and “Red Eye,” completing an 11-song track list that never overstays its welcome.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about Jaymin at this stage of his career is that he does not seem interested in allowing listeners to decide too quickly what his identity should be. There are pieces of Seattle, church, contemporary R&B, hip-hop and earlier generations of music throughout STATIC. Seattle’s music history has never been defined by one sound. From Hendrix to Nirvana and the generations that followed, the city has produced artists willing to push beyond traditional boundaries. Jaymin is carving out his own lane within that tradition.
As R&B continues to stretch beyond increasingly blurry genre lines, STATIC introduces an artist comfortable allowing all of his influences to coexist. Jaymin is not trying to prove he can fit neatly into R&B. He is beginning to show how far he can take it.
