Hello Jermaine, how are you?
Hi Del! I’m very good actually. 🙂 Summer time equals sun equals extra happy me haha! And I’m very happy and honored to be featured here! So already, thanks for having me!
Congratulations on the release of “For One Day”, how does it feel?
It truly feels amazing! It’s my debut solo single, my baby haha, so it’s actually very exciting! It was a long time since I’ve been this excited and obsessed haha. But loving the journey so far, and the reactions have been so incredible. The fact that it already has over 240.000 Spotify streams in just 6 weeks just blows my mind. So I’m thankful, but also very excited for what’s to come!
It’s a summer banger for sure. What’s the story behind the song?
Thanks guys, appreciate it! It’s a song that’s been sitting and waiting for such a long time actually. I wrote it back in 2016 haha! The chorus melody actually came to me in the shower, and once I got out I immediately grabbed my guitar and started writing. I wanted to write about two people being in the same room or at a party. And they both just know they have a connection, a strong vibe. And instead of just playing the waiting game I wanted “the protagonist” to be fully open and honest about that connection, and the desire to act on it. So therefore, the proposition. 😉 It meant to be a little seductive and cheeky, but still mostly playful and happy. I just remember having so much fun writing it, putting my sauce in it, and in a day or 2 I was finished! And once it was, I honestly knew it was gonna be an important one. For years I said this had to be my debut solo single. And here we are, it finally happened! 😍
It was produced by Tariq Pijning, what was your favourite memory of working on it?
Well funny story actually, it took me so long to find the right producer. Also probably because it felt like a very important one to me, so everything needed to be perfect. Then thank God me and Tariq started to write some songs together. I quickly became so amazed by his incredible talent and versatility! At some point I performed “For One Day” live at a show, and he really liked the song. Next thing you know we’re in the studio finally working on a production, and I just remember very vividly: Once he started I just knew for a fact he was gonna be the one, finally making the perfect environment and production for the song to live in! That feeling of “YES, finally!” is definitely a fave memory of mine. And I do have to give a shoutout to my talented buddies Bram “Nghtshft” Juist & Pete Miller for some extra sprinkles on the song! They all made it the perfect opener for me!
You’re an artist from Amsterdam, how did it all begin for you?
I actually started pretty late for my taste. After I just finished college, my cousin gave me up for the dutch X-Factor on tv. He knew I always wanted to be a singer, so he was like, go prove it! It was the first music thing I ever did haha, but luckily it went pretty good landing in the final 20. After that, like a big bang, my career started with an explosion, but a beautiful one. I quickly started to perform weekly, and later even all over the world. And I also got the chance to work with so many talented songwriters and producers as well, writing for other artist and projects. Even though it felt like a sudden dive in the deep, I’m so incredibly grateful for that beginning. And every little step that led me here. 🙂
What did you listen to growing up?
My mom was a fan of Prince, Stevie Wonder, some soul & funk bands and ofcourse Michael Jackson. She even named me after Michael’s older brother Jermaine Jackson haha. So I got to listen to that wonderful music when I was a kid. Later growing up I started to listen to a lot of R&B, with the likes of Brian McKnight, Donell Jones, Joe and Usher. But also a lot of Pop music with boybands like the Backstreet Boys and ofcourse *NSYNC! Later that evolved to JT, Robin Thicke, Bruno Mars, but also a lot of John Mayer and Tori Kelly. Long list in the end haha!
You draw your inspiration from iconic artists like Justin Timberlake Michael Jackson and Bruno Mars was there a particular song that was the catalyst?
Oeh hard to say. I think it was more Justin Timberlake’s amazing first album “Justified”, and everything around it. Seeing him dive into that journey of finding his own sound and image, yet being inspired by the greatest. Looking back at it, that really inspired me to wanna do the same! But I do have to give a shoutout to some Brian McKnight and Joe songs. What they did to me on an emotional level. That truly inspired me as well, and showed me I could really touch people and help people with the art of music. Because that’s they did to me too. And that feeling of wanting to help and make a difference in people’s lives, wanting to make them smile and happy. That was the truest catalyst.
You’ve performed globally what’s been a real pinch me moment for you?
Again a tough one! I think I have to say: An amazing show I had in Dubai, literally in front of the biggest building in the entire world, the Burj Khalifa. I just remember a moment in the show where it was a true climax, and I’m sooo happy I decided to mentally “hit the pause button” and just look around. In front of me was an amazing crowd dancing, jumping and screaming so loud out of fun and excitement. When I looked up I saw the biggest building on earth, when I turned around there was the famous huge fountain show right behind us. When I looked left and right I saw my fellow NCB bandmembers having so much fun as well. That pause moment, and me taking a 360 snapshot was such a blissful moment. And it made me so incredibly thankful that I get to do what I like to do the most, at incredible places.
It’s been an incredible journey for you, what lessons have you learned?
Oh my, so many lessons haha. But I’ll stick to the ones that I think are most important.
1: Fully embrace your you, your uniqueness. And don’t let anyone ever fool you into believing you are not enough. Because trust me, you are. You just have to believe it yourself first!
2: Dream big. Set your goals, long-term and short-term, write them down, visualize them daily, and make sure that every step you take (even if it’s a step to the side or a step back) is consciously a stepping stone towards your goals. Again, don’t let anyone tell you can’t achieve your dreams and goals. You can. And if you’re dedicated, persistent, and work really hard, you will! And don’t forget to have a lot of fun along the way!
3: There’s no such thing as competition, there’s really enough room for everyone. Do good for others, and the universe will do good for you.
4: Always. Follow. Your. Instinct!
What are you listening to at the moment?
A lot haha. From Dua Lipa, JT and RAYE, to JVKE, Jung Kook and Lucky Daye. So much! Oh and I always support and listen to my talented friends like Cimo Fränkel, April Darby, HATO, Pete Miller and NGHTSHFT. Told you, a mixture of a lot. But the goal now is for all of them to listen to me! 😉
What are you looking forward to next?
Oh I really wanna say all the other singles that I have ready to release. I am SO incredibly excited to finally let those 90’s & 00’s vibed songs out! BUT first, my main looking forward to is seeing what my debut baby “For One Day” will do. I have such a good feeling about this one, so I’m just so excited to be in this journey and see where the song will land. Hopefully on your speakers! 😊
