Style Record: Daye Jack

Born in Nigeria but raised in Atlanta, Daye Jack grew up learning computer coding, playing soccer and listening to artists like Fela Kuti, Eminem and Outkast. After he released his first mixtape Hello World in 2014, Jack left NYU, where he had been studying Computer Sciences, to pursue music full time. His 2015 EP Soul Glitch officially made him a name to watch and led to collaborations with the likes of Killer Mike, Tori Kelly and even Ariana Grande.

After touring, Jack stayed in Los Angeles to work on his latest release Surf the Web. We caught up with the exciting newcomer before his tour with K.Flay and Paper Route to talk about iconic looks, finding his own style and UGGs.

Paste: Is fashion something you’ve always been interested in or is it more of an afterthought?

Daye Jack: It was never an afterthought but I found my own style when I dropped out of college, moved to LA to record my debut album and got obsessed with thrifting.

Paste: How would you describe the clothing people wore where you grew up?

Jack: I grew up in the suburbs of Atlanta, [where] clothes kind of separated groups of people. You dressed skater or preppy, you dressed white or dressed black…

Paste: Who are some of your style idols?

Jack: I love Fela Kuti, Jimi Hendrix and Michael Jackson. Lots of iconic looks—lots of colors within their music and outside of it.

Paste: Is there a movie, TV show or music video that’s had a large influence on your sense of fashion?

Jack: Michael Cera in Juno is the one. I want Ali G’s closet, too.

Paste: Do you dress any differently in your normal day-to-day than you do onstage?

Jack: I dress the same; retro windbreakers, a pair of airmaxes or docs and I hit the stage. My stage setup is stripped down right now; I’m up there solo with a pad controller and a mic. I want everything to feel authentic.

Paste: Do you feel that you dress more for yourself or for others?

Jack: Looking back, I used to dressed to fit in when I was younger. I wish more kids were comfortable in their own skin.

Paste: If you had to sum up your style in three words, what would they be?

Jack: Retro, Cozy, Colorful.

Paste: What is the worst fashion trend that ever existed?

Jack: UGGs?

Paste: How does fashion relate to music?

Jack: It’s hard to know what your favorite artists are like when the cameras are off. Not every great can express themselves like Kanye. Clothes give me a picture of my favorite artists personalities.