Q&A: Jaylon’s Genre-Fluid Vision Comes to Life in ‘Baby Boy’
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY DANIELLE HORAN ☆
JAYLON IS BUILDING WORLDS WITH HIS MUSIC. The Nigerian-born, Bristol-based Afro R&B artist has spent the past few years quietly shaping the sound of a genre that’s constantly evolving. With his unique blend of minimalism, emotion, and global influence, Jaylon has carved out a space that feels entirely his own. Whether he’s working with artists like Mr Eazi, PsychoYP, or Azanti, or leading his creative crew—Popboys Collective—his fingerprint is all over the next wave of Afro-fusion.
Now, with the release of his new EP Baby Boy, Jaylon steps fully into the spotlight. With over 170 million streams and collaborations with artists like Mr Eazi, Azanti, and Odumodublvck under his belt, Jaylon now returns with Baby Boy, a vibrant, genre-fluid EP that doubles as a coming-of-age soundtrack and personal manifesto. Rooted in the chaos of Lagos, the calm of Bristol, and the complexity of diasporic identity, Baby Boy is equal parts nostalgic and forward-looking. Packed with soulful collaborations and genre-blurring moments, Jaylon is telling his story on his own terms.
We sat down with Jaylon to discuss joy as a creative anchor, the cultural duality behind his music, and how Baby Boy became the most honest project of his career.
LUNA: Baby Boy is described as your sonic autobiography. What specific stories or emotions were you channelling into the EP?
JAYLON: I was really channeling my whole upbringing - what I grew up hearing, how music made me feel as a kid, and the different places that shaped me. From Ibadan to Lagos, then Bristol, I’ve experienced music in so many different ways. This project was about bringing all that together into one sound that feels like me. It’s not just about the sound but the feeling that comes with it - nostalgia, movement, joy, even moments of confusion. That mix is what I’ve poured into Baby Boy.
LUNA: You’ve said the EP is where you let yourself “explore joy.” Why was now the right time for that emotional shift?
JAYLON: The joy has always been there, to be honest. I think what’s changed is how I’m now able to express it. It’s more about where I am mentally and creatively - I have more control over the process, I understand my sound better, and I can execute ideas in a way that feels true to me. That clarity brought out the joy in a more intentional way.
LUNA: The track list features a range of collaborators. How did you go about selecting the voices that would complement the soundscape you were creating?
JAYLON: It all came down to chemistry. Every artist on this project is someone I already had a good relationship with or had worked with before. I wasn’t chasing features - I was building moments with artists I trust, and that trust makes the process easy and honest. We all locked into the same vibe.
LUNA: From Lagos to Bristol, Baby Boy bridges cultural and sonic worlds. How did each city shape the EP’s sound differently?
JAYLON: Lagos is energy, colour, chaos, rhythm. Bristol is more laid-back but still rich with sound and subculture. I think “No Luck” carries that Bristol energy: it’s reflective but still danceable. “4DW” is straight Lagos - bubbly, sharp, no time to waste. Each city shows up on the EP in its own way. The contrast between the two really helped me build a hybrid sound.
LUNA: Your production blends Afro R&B with dancehall, soul, and pop. Were there any songs that surprised you with how they came together?
JAYLON: Definitely “No Luck” and “Nufftime.” Those two tracks kind of built themselves. “No Luck” started off super raw, but once Anjeli laid her vocals on it, the whole vibe shifted - it became this bright, feel-good track without us even planning for it. “Nufftime” too … having Phaemous, Remy Baggins, and Minz all lock in the way they did? I knew it would be good, but it still surprised me how naturally it all came together.
LUNA: You’ve worked with a powerful mix of collaborators on this project - how do you navigate creative control versus shared vision in the studio?
JAYLON: I actually did most of this project online, so it gave me time and space to shape things how I wanted, then build on that with each artist. Because the people I work with trust me, they know I’m coming with a strong direction, but they still bring their own energy, which always adds value. It’s a natural balance.
LUNA: The Popboys Collective has been a vital part of your creative journey. How has that community influenced the sound and spirit of Baby Boy?
JAYLON: Popboys is really just a community of like-minded creatives - producers, artists, DJs, and engineers - all trying to build something sustainable. We all push each other, and that support system has been essential to my growth. On Baby Boy, you hear that spirit. From Ramoni co-producing “Nufftime” to little sonic touches here and there, that energy is present. We’re building something that future artists can tap into, too.
LUNA: Was there a particular collaboration on the EP that pushed you outside your comfort zone, in a good way?
“No Luck” did. It wasn’t fully outside my comfort zone, but I hadn’t really put that kind of upbeat, summery energy front and center before. My SoundCloud day-ones might’ve heard hints of that vibe in older tracks, but this was the first time I committed to it fully. I had to trust that the simplicity and joy would land - and it did.
LUNA: You grew up in Nigeria but are now based in the UK. How does living between cultures influence the music you make today?
JAYLON: It’s changed my ear, you know. Back in Nigeria, I was making a lot of heavy Afrobeats, very rhythm-based stuff. But after moving to the UK, I started leaning into R&B more. The emotion, the chords, the space - it all started clicking differently. Now my sound is a hybrid. It’s not one or the other - it’s both, naturally blended.
LUNA: Genre-fluidity is a core part of your artistry. Do you ever feel pressure to define your sound more rigidly, or has that freedom always felt natural?
JAYLON: It’s always felt natural. I never force anything. I make what I feel, and if it sounds like Afro R&B with a bit of soul or dancehall or even pop, then that’s what it is. I’m not interested in boxing myself in - I’d rather keep evolving.
LUNA: You mention “happy chords and chill vibes.” What does sonic happiness sound like to you, and how do you achieve it as a producer?
JAYLON: It just has to feel good. I’m really into textures that evoke warmth - chords, soft drums, little vocal samples. I think of “No Luck” as the blueprint for that. It’s not overly complex, but every element sits right. That’s my definition of sonic happiness - music that makes you move and feel at the same time.
LUNA: With over 170 million streams and major collaborations behind you, how does Baby Boy stand apart from your past work?
JAYLON: Even though it’s my second EP, it really feels like a debut. It’s the first time I’ve led with this much intention and personal storytelling. I wasn’t just producing - I was curating a universe of Baby Boy. And the love it’s gotten already has been crazy, especially since so much of it came from my community and people I rate.
LUNA: What do you want listeners to walk away with after hearing the EP from start to finish?
JAYLON: I want them to feel good, simple. Whether they’re dancing or just chilling with headphones on, I hope they leave with a sense of enjoyment and maybe even curiosity.
LUNA: You’ve contributed to huge projects like Eziokwu and Young Preacher. Has working behind the scenes on other artists’ stories changed the way you tell your own?
JAYLON: Not really, to be honest. I love producing for other people and helping them tell their stories, but when it comes to my own work, I stay rooted in my own perspective. If anything, it’s given me more confidence to trust my voice.
LUNA: Looking ahead, where do you see Afro R&B going, and how do you hope to shape its future?
JAYLON: Afro R&B is already on the rise - Tyla is doing it, Azanti is doing it, and people are really catching on. I’m not sure how exactly I’ll shape the future, but I know I’m contributing to it just by staying authentic. I’m not chasing trends. I’m building my own world, and if that inspires the next wave, then that’s a blessing.
