Baby Jey is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band originally from Edmonton, Alberta, founded in 2015 by core members Jeremy Witten (guitar, keyboards, lead vocals), and Dean Kheroufi (bass, backing vocals).[1] In 2017, Baby Jey started performing as a four-piece band with the addition of Trevor McNeely (lap steel guitar) and Connor Ellinger (drums).[2]

Baby Jey
Baby Jey in 2017 (left to right) Jeremy Witten, Dean Kheroufi
Baby Jey in 2017
(left to right) Jeremy Witten, Dean Kheroufi
Background information
OriginBrooklyn, New York, and Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Genres
Years active2015–present
LabelsMaintenance Records
MembersJeremy Witten
Dean Kheroufi
Connor Ellinger
Trevor McNeely
Websitewww.babyjey.net (defunct)

History edit

Prior to forming Baby Jey, Jeremy Witten and Dean Kheroufi were active in other musical projects.[3][4] From 2013 to 2015, Witten performed solo under the name Jey Witten, releasing two independent albums Jey Witten (2013) and The Wide Eyed (2014).[5][6] As a solo performer, Witten was awarded at the Calgary Folk Music Festival's Songwriting Contest and he performed at the Canmore Folk Music Festival in 2014.[7][8] At this time, Kheroufi continued to perform in other projects, including the Edmonton-based band The Velveteins.[9]

Baby Jey's debut album Best Wishes was produced by Renny Wilson and released in May 2017.[10][11] The Edmonton Journal called Best Wishes "oddly entertaining," and the album charted on CJSR-FM and the CKUA Radio Network.[12][13][14] Best Wishes received favorable coverage in Canadian and American music blogs and podcasts.[15][16][17] Following the release of their debut album, Baby Jey toured in Canada and the United States.[18] Baby Jey have shared stages with artists such as Michael Rault, New Love Crowd, and Jessica Jalbert of Faith Healer.[19][20]

In July 2018, Baby Jey announced that their sophomore album Someday Cowboy would be released on Brooklyn label Maintenance Records in September 2018.[21][22][23] Following the release of Someday Cowboy, Baby Jey relocated to Brooklyn, New York.[24][25] The lead single of the album, titled "Someday My Space Cowboy Will Come," was premiered by Indie88.[26] In 2019, Baby Jey was nominated for an Edmonton Music Award in the People's Choice category.[27]

On September 21, 2023, Baby Jey released their single What's The Point Of Saying Sorry. The duo revealed via Tone Den that this was the first single off of their Crop Circles LP, due on November 24 of the same year. They say about the single:

"What's the Point of Saying Sorry" was inspired by classic disco and synth pop. It's about the emotional power that we can express with physical touch. Words can only say so much. [28]

Discography edit

Albums edit

Singles and EPs edit

  • Veneera (2018)
  • What's The Point Of Saying Sorry (2023)

References edit

  1. ^ "Baby Jey: Someday (soon) cowboys will head to the big city". BeatRoute Magazine. 2018-07-27. Archived from the original on 2020-12-08. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  2. ^ "Grooving at The Aviary". Edmonton Journal. 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  3. ^ "Student sets off to NYC with new release - The Gateway". The Gateway. 2015-01-14. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  4. ^ "From local gigs to big leagues". Sherwood Park News. Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  5. ^ "New releases from Paul Cournoyer, Jom Comyn, Nuela Charles and Jey Witten". Edmonton Journal. 2014-10-02. Retrieved 2018-06-03.
  6. ^ Blinov, Paul (July 3, 2014). "Jey Witten Album Release". Vue Weekly. 976: 22.
  7. ^ Levesque, Roger (June 13, 2013). "A Young Singer With Broad Horizons". Retrieved 2018-06-03 – via PressReader.
  8. ^ "Past Artists - Canmore Folk Music Festival". Canmore Folk Music Festival. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  9. ^ "Dean Kheroufi keeps busy with multiple local bands - The Gateway". The Gateway. 2015-03-31. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  10. ^ "Renny Wilson | Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-07-11.
  11. ^ "Baby Jey". Cups N Cakes. Retrieved 2018-06-29.
  12. ^ "Latin folk-rockers Andino Suns write about Chile's own 9-11 in song". Edmonton Journal. 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  13. ^ "CJSR 88.5MHz - Edmonton AB : Top 30 : May 23, 2017". Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  14. ^ "CKUA Top 30 - CKUA Radio Network". CKUA Radio Network. 2017-06-01. Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2018-06-07.
  15. ^ "Weekly Top 10 - May 19th-26th, 2017". Ride The Tempo - A Canadian Music Blog. 2017-05-27. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  16. ^ "[Listen] Baby Jey – The Great Outdoors". Ride The Tempo - A Canadian Music Blog. 2017-05-24. Retrieved 2018-05-26.
  17. ^ "Street Wannabes Radio With Baby Jey". The Golden Stream. Archived from the original on 2018-07-05. Retrieved 2018-06-06.
  18. ^ "Michael Rault signs to Daptone imprint Wick, shares "Sleep with Me," touring". BrooklynVegan. 9 November 2017. Retrieved 2018-05-24.
  19. ^ "Music Preview: Morris before us". www.gigcity.ca. 2018-05-09. Retrieved 2018-07-05.
  20. ^ "Dark Tea, Baby Jey, New Love Crowd, Babies' Babies @ Brooklyn Bazaar in Brooklyn on 10/04/2018". Oh My Rockness. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
  21. ^ "New single "Someday My Space Cowboy Will Come" by Baby Jey". The Sirens Sound. August 1, 2018. Archived from the original on August 19, 2018. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
  22. ^ "Baby Jey: Someday (soon) cowboys will head to the big city". BeatRoute Magazine. 2018-07-27. Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  23. ^ "Baby Jey's "U Don't Have 2 Go Alone" shows us how cowboys do pop". Earmilk. 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2018-08-26.
  24. ^ "Baby Jey: a new agey-country gem from 2018". The Deli Magazine | nyc.thedelimagazine.com/. Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  25. ^ Murphy, Sarah (December 20, 2018). "Baby Jey Reveal Surreal "Every Thing" Video". Retrieved 2019-01-12.
  26. ^ "Indie88 Premiere: Baby Jey Share New Single 'Someday My Space Cowboy Will Come' | Indie88". Retrieved 2018-07-27.
  27. ^ Griwkowsky, Fish (2019-04-12). "And the 2019 Edmonton Music Award Nominees are ..." Edmonton Journal. Retrieved 2019-04-20.
  28. ^ ""What's the Point of Saying Sorry," the new single from Baby Jey". Hey there, we're Edmonton indie pop band Baby Jey, releasing the first song from our upcoming LP, Crop Circles (out on November 24th). "What's the Point of Saying Sorry" was inspired by classic disco and synth pop. It's about the emotional power that we can express with physical touch. Words can only say so much. Retrieved 2023-09-21.

External links edit