Jayda G
From Grand Forks, British Columbia, to Berlin and London: Jayda G pairs house records with environmental science, and “Both of Us” earned her a Grammy nod.
- Canadian DJ and producer Jayda Guy, from Grand Forks, British Columbia.
- Studied biology, then a master’s in Resource and Environmental Management focused on environmental toxicology.
- “Both of Us” was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 63rd Grammy Awards.
Jayda G is Jayda Guy, a Canadian DJ and producer who trained as an environmental scientist. She grew up in a small town in British Columbia, made her name in Berlin and London, and in 2020 earned a Grammy nomination for “Both of Us”.
Grand Forks and Vancouver
Guy grew up in Grand Forks, a community of about 4,000 people just north of the Canada–US border. She studied biology and worked at an aquarium in Vancouver. In 2013 she moved to the city full time to pursue a master’s degree in Resource and Environmental Management, specialising in environmental toxicology. That scientific training stayed part of her public work.
Berlin and the first records
In 2016 she moved to Berlin. Her first solo release, Jaydaisms, came out that year on an independent label she co-created with Fett Burger. Her debut album, Significant Changes, followed in early 2019, after which she settled in London.
“Both of Us”
The single that took her furthest was “Both of Us”, released on the Both of Us / Are You Down EP in July 2020. In November it was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 63rd Grammy Awards, in a field that also included Disclosure’s “My High”. The prize went to Kaytranada for “10%”.
The same period brought a remix of Dua Lipa’s “Cool” for the album Club Future Nostalgia, a residency at Phonox in London, where she hosted the JMG Talks series in February 2020, and her own volume of the DJ-Kicks mix series in 2021.
Guy, an album about her father
Her second album, Guy, came out on Ninja Tune on 9 June 2023. It is named after her father, William Richard Guy, who died when she was ten. The record uses archival recordings of him, including a video in which he talks about his life, and some lyrics quote him directly. She wrote the words first and sang them herself. Jayda G produced the album with Jack Peñate; Marta Salogni mixed it and Heba Kadry mastered it.
Critics were warm: Metacritic gives it 76 out of 100 and Pitchfork rated it 7.4. It was nominated for Best Dance Record at the 2024 Libera Awards.
Science on the side
The research never stopped. In 2023 she made Blue Carbon, a 60-minute documentary with CNN Films and Conservation International about seagrasses, mangroves and their role in capturing carbon. It was filmed in Florida, Brazil, Viet Nam, Senegal, England and France.
FAQ
Who is Jayda G?
Jayda Guy, a Canadian DJ and producer from Grand Forks, British Columbia, who studied biology and environmental toxicology.
Was Jayda G nominated for a Grammy?
Yes. “Both of Us” was nominated for Best Dance Recording at the 63rd Grammy Awards. Kaytranada’s “10%” won the category.
What is Jayda G’s album Guy about?
It is named after her father, William Richard Guy, who died when she was ten, and uses archival recordings of him. Ninja Tune released it on 9 June 2023.
