Jazzy K recounts working with Babyface, MyGuyMars, and her strange industry journey: ‘There is no map’

Sometimes in music, you get lucky. Oftentimes, you make your own luck, if you’re willing to wait or jump when the moment is right.

Jazzy K, the Sydney-based electronic pop artist, made those lucky stars align when a chance meeting with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, the 12-time Grammy Award-winning producer, turned into an opportunity, and, much later, music.

On May 20, Jazzy K dropped ‘Trap House,’ a single whose backstory is the stuff to tell the grandkids.

‘Trap House’ was written by Jazzy K and produced by multi-Grammy winner MyGuyMars (Jay-Z, Snoop Dog, Drake, Mary J. Blige, Drake) and was recorded at the iconic Sound Factory in Los Angeles.

Its origins date back to a pre-pandemic trip to LaLa Land with her dad, and a random moment at the W Hotel in Hollywood.

Jazzy K at Brandon’s Way studios

As Jazzy K recounts, her old man Harry was capturing some footage of the lobby for the folks back home when a well-dressed chap wandered by and introduced himself.

After a round of introductions, the Aussie pair were invited to Brandon’s Way recording studios, where they were greeted by Antonio Dixon, Babyface’s business and production partner.

Upon meeting Babyface — and having no idea he was the boss — Jazzy agreed to sing acapella. No pressure, and no worries.

Babyface liked what he heard, and the next day Jazzy received a call to say that the master producer wanted her to come into the studio and work on a new song.

There, Jazzy got down to work with Dixon and guitar hero Eric Jackson while Babyface dropped in and out of the studio “bringing the magic around,” she recounts.

When Jazzy returned from Los Angeles, she was offered what at the time “seemed like an amazing opportunity and it looked perfect but something didn’t feel right about it and I had to make a decision,” she explains.

“I was reflecting on my musical journey and I remembered that I promised myself I would always trust my instincts and I would never change who I am just for success in this industry.”

That’s when the lyrics for ‘Trap House’ took shape in her living room.

Watch Jazzy K’s ‘Trap House’:

The song lived in her notebook until she returned to L.A., performed at a showcase and caught the attention of another top-shelf producer in the audience, MyGuyMars.

“I was blessed to learn that he liked my performance and wanted to work with me and next thing you know a few weeks later we were in his studio,” she explains.

Jazzy K and Toni Dixon

MyGuyMars produced ‘Trap House,’ Jazzy K’s first with a new global management, media and production team including manager Yamile Fernandez.

‘Trap House’ is the follow-up to April release ‘Game Boy’ and July 2020’s ‘You Are.’

Triple J Unearthed Music Director Dave Ruby Howe was keen on both. “Thoughtful message on this track but what gets me most is Jazzy K’s pure vocal,” he says of ‘You Are,’ while Jazzy K “turned up the heat on this one, no question. Got a bit of an old school pop/rnb feel but still feels modern too,” he says of ‘Game Boy.’

As she prepared to share it with the world, Jazzy retraced her steps. It’s “an industry filled with masks and blurry lines.. it’s hard to navigate because there is no map,” she posted on social media.

“All you have is your dream, your instincts and the ones who came before you. The ones who tell their stories and their mistakes, hoping you will learn from them.”

Check out her post below.

This article originally appeared on The Industry Observer, which is now part of The Music Network.