Where's Jai is a funky, fresh indie-reggae-rock band hailing from Auckland's North Shore. With addictive beats and grooves, they blend indie-rock with a chilled reggae twist and a pinch of soulful blues. Already gaining notoriety, their sound has fast become daily earworms for those who have been following them for a while, and by the sounds of it too, their lives shows are supposedly electric. It’s easy to hear why. This is their latest single, Something Wrong.
You know you’re onto something good when the aforementioned genres are not just hinted at. They’re quite literally there, evenly distributed throughout, giving a real polished and solid single that wow with every note.
But make no mistake in thinking they are copycat renegades. No, Where's Jai take these genres simply as suggestions and create something markedly stand alone. Their own flavour.
Lead vocalists Grace Allis and Leigh Edmeades (both vocalist winners of Smokefree Rockquest 2022) deliver powerhouse performances, while Michael Walmsley's lead guitar hooks you with those catchy melodies. Jai Nielsen takes rhythm guitar duties, complementing Elliott Borland's drum work that sets the tone, and Nate Fullerton's bass brings it all together, anchoring the sound. It’s mesmerizing and no joke when I say you want to hear more.
Everything in one package, I will definitely be keeping an eye on Where's Jai, they're going places fast!
Where's Jai are an up and coming indie-pop-rock band based on the North Shore in Auckland. They write groove-infused indie-rock with a dash of reggae and a hint of dreamy pop. They are a band to watch, with songs released on streaming platforms that are growing more and more popular by the day. Where's Jai are known internationally for their hit single Perfect Crime which has garnered close to a million streams on Spotify. Their debut EP Avenues was released on all major streaming platforms on the 5th of April 2024.
Where's Jai are well known in the Auckland live music scene, playing alongside incredible international acts such as Teenage Dads and Reece Mastin. As well as plenty of NZ artists like Muroki, Paige, Marmalade Skies and Lunar Intruder. They have also appeared on festival line-ups such as Earthbeat Festival, Lakeside Odyssey and Grey Lynn Park Festival.
The band are a group of electric live performers and put on an incredible show. Grace Allis and Leigh Edmeades are the powerful lead vocalists with Michael Walmsley on lead guitar, Jai Nielsen on rhythm guitar, Elliott Borland on drums and Nate Fullerton on bass.