Meet DrewJay: The MIC Mag's November 2026 Musician of the Month!
Meet DrewJay:
This November, The MIC Mag is proud to name DrewJay our Musician of the Month. The 21-year-old Indie Folk/Pop artist from Clifton, New Jersey, is currently studying Pop Music at William Paterson University, with minors in Art Studio and Digital Music Creation & Arranging. That fine arts background shapes everything he makes, as he mixes visual art with music in a way that feels distinctly his own. Vulnerability sits at the center of both, and his hope is to reach listeners who see themselves in the work. His debut album, Too Late, is out now. More than two years in the making, it explores heartbreak, coming of age, identity and queerness, and grief, with contributions from a lineup of stellar musicians. The cover art is handmade too, a collage scanned at the library. “I am so excited to share it with the world,” says DrewJay.
Genre: Indie Folk Pop
Fun Facts:
"I make jewelry, I make all my own album art, I am a writing tutor, and I recently learned how to use a jigsaw(for art reasons)!"
What makes DrewJay stand out?
"I take a very expressive approach to songwriting and I’ve worked extensively to create recordings that match my vision! I also work with a lot of “unconventional” instruments that you don’t typically see in pop/folk music! My music features marimba, vibraphone, saxophone, ocarina, violin and viola!"
What is DrewJay most known for?
"I’m probably most known for my song “If The Sky”! It was my first single from my album, and I play it at almost every set I do. It’s become meditative for me and really puts me in a calm mood - it gets me ready to be on stage!"
What has DrewJay been working on?
Too Late
"Too Late is my debut album and a project that is very dear to me. In this record, I explore themes of heartbreak, coming of age, Identity/Queerness, and grief. It took over two years to create, and I collaborated with many stellar musicians! I am so excited to share it with the world!
“To be a musician is to be a storyteller and a listener. My music tells the story of what I've been through and how I've felt. And while I perform a lot, I also do so much listening. I'm listening to the crowd for feedback, deciding in the moment how to deliver a lyric and with what intensity. When I'm writing my songs, I am listening to the universe! I'm tapping into something ethereal and absolute - they are more of a discovery than an invention.” - DrewJay
Do you have any advice for other aspiring independent musicians?:
"Honestly, my biggest advice would be to draft contracts for every musical project you work on and make sure that collaborators sign them! They don't have to be anything fancy, but clearly state the agreement, place, time, compensation, etc. - even when the person is your friend. Also, make sure that you leave every recording session with stems and a bounce! Those are the products that you paid for. Never pay extra to receive stems!"
