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0:00/3:52
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0:00/4:02
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0:00/3:38
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Power Shift 4:220:00/4:22
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Springtime Kiss 4:020:00/4:02
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Walled Out 4:020:00/4:02
JAFALA
As a music producer, composer & songwriter, Jay Cook creates his own experimental electronic music as a soloist, under the artist name Jafala. Jafala's artistic intention is to tell a story through his songs, one that moves his audience towards a spiritual journey with interesting and danceable groooves & socially conscious lyrics. He likes to approach music with playful curiosity, using unique styles such as “vocalizations”, “invented language”, world instruments and soulful sound design.
He started playing piano as a kid after hearing his Mom play a boogie-woogie improv of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. As an adult he has shaped his sound as an in-demand bass player in various groups, as a kid's music teatcher, and has been greatly inspired by many musicians along the way. These influences include famous artists such as Bobby McFerrin, Fela Kuti and others, as well as various up & coming electronic artists in the Twitch, Instragram & Youtube communities.
Below are his 6 released tunes. More on the Way!
The music of Thomas Mapfumo has always struck me as powerful, hypnotic and grooving! For this tune, I started with the main guitar groove, which to me is definitely "Mapfumo-esque." The other instrumental parts (bass, Read more
The music of Thomas Mapfumo has always struck me as powerful, hypnotic and grooving! For this tune, I started with the main guitar groove, which to me is definitely "Mapfumo-esque." The other instrumental parts (bass, Moog Mintaur, percussion and software synths) came to me pretty naturally, and a teacher (Ryan Lindbergh) helped me refine the form.
I do my best to connect with the homeless population in my hometown. Regarding the lyrics, it is my belief that though money and services are important to donate to the marginalized, it is also essential to interact and give due respect, with open eyes and hearts.
I do my best to connect with the homeless population in my hometown. Regarding the lyrics, it is my belief that though money and services are important to donate to the marginalized, it is also essential to interact and give due respect, with open eyes and hearts.
I wrote this Afrobeat influenced tune in response to low voter turnout for the 2016 Presidential U.S. election. As a composer, one of my main inspirations is the music of Afrobeat inventor Fela Kuti. In his pieces, he Read more
I wrote this Afrobeat influenced tune in response to low voter turnout for the 2016 Presidential U.S. election. As a composer, one of my main inspirations is the music of Afrobeat inventor Fela Kuti. In his pieces, he utilizes poly-rhythms between the various instruments, which usually included two guitars, drums, keys, bass, lead and background vocals, and multiple congas and horns. With so many interlocking repeating phrases, one truly gets the feeling that the "sum of the parts is greater than the whole."
Additionally, Fela was an activist both as a person and with the lyrics of his music. He was not afraid of speaking out, and often was arrested and tortured by the Nigerian police after releasing an album. Fearless, he did not let his oppressors stop him from speaking his truth. My goal was to capture the joy of the Afrobeat groove in "Complacency is the Enemy," and combine this with socially conscious lyrics.
Additionally, Fela was an activist both as a person and with the lyrics of his music. He was not afraid of speaking out, and often was arrested and tortured by the Nigerian police after releasing an album. Fearless, he did not let his oppressors stop him from speaking his truth. My goal was to capture the joy of the Afrobeat groove in "Complacency is the Enemy," and combine this with socially conscious lyrics.
Originally written in 2011 for my former band "Fenibo". I began production on this electronic solo version in 2022.
Finishing production and releasing the track was delayed due having a stroke in March '23, and Read more
Finishing production and releasing the track was delayed due having a stroke in March '23, and Read more
Originally written in 2011 for my former band "Fenibo". I began production on this electronic solo version in 2022.
Finishing production and releasing the track was delayed due having a stroke in March '23, and subsequently being diagnosed and treated for Multiple Myeloma later that year. So happy to finally release it for you all to enjoy!
The song is a lively, tongue-in-cheek parody of our country's failed policies towards climate change and rampant US consumerism, with some fun wordplay to keep the mood light and danceable.
Thanks for listening, I am eternally grateful for your continued support!
-Jafala
Finishing production and releasing the track was delayed due having a stroke in March '23, and subsequently being diagnosed and treated for Multiple Myeloma later that year. So happy to finally release it for you all to enjoy!
The song is a lively, tongue-in-cheek parody of our country's failed policies towards climate change and rampant US consumerism, with some fun wordplay to keep the mood light and danceable.
Thanks for listening, I am eternally grateful for your continued support!
-Jafala
"Power Shift" is inspired by the work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as the record number of women voted into the U.S. 116th Congress in 2018. I was strongly influenced by the music of Fela Kuti in this tune, both with Read more
"Power Shift" is inspired by the work of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, as well as the record number of women voted into the U.S. 116th Congress in 2018. I was strongly influenced by the music of Fela Kuti in this tune, both with the groove and the lyrics. I created the bass line in the introduction following a good dose of listening to Fela, and (as I often do) wrote socially conscious lyrics with him in mind. My lyrics are a tad different than his however, as he was a renowned sexist!
May the women and transgender people of this century keep pushing forward. And to everyone: "Embrace the 'Power Shift'"!
May the women and transgender people of this century keep pushing forward. And to everyone: "Embrace the 'Power Shift'"!
This is a piece that has Brazilian roots in the feel and lyrics, as I was influenced by both Samba music and the the work of Antonio Carlos Jobim. I began writing Springtime Kiss after an April walk in the woods with one of my grandsons, where I was struck by his wonder of the natural changes we experience during this time.
This is a tune I've been writing in response to what's been happening at the U.S. - Mexican border in the last year. Though the lyrics start off critical of the powers that be, the piece ends with an upbeat "plan" on how Read more
This is a tune I've been writing in response to what's been happening at the U.S. - Mexican border in the last year. Though the lyrics start off critical of the powers that be, the piece ends with an upbeat "plan" on how to create change. I enjoyed playing a variety of instruments on "Walled Out", from upright bass to kalimba (from Zimbabwe) to Moog synth to baglamas (from Greece.) Please check out the Walled Out "official music video" as well! https://youtu.be/PxRrew1qRvY