Just in time for the dog days of summer, Toronto’s Kai Lamay is releasing her debut single Captain Bacardi, a delightfully upbeat track, which is exceptionally well composed and the perfect tonic for a bad day, or the quintessential soundtrack for a glorious poolside summer party with friends! Today also marks the day you can watch her new video (see below).
Who Is Kai Lamay?
Lamay’s talent as a songwriter, an arranger, a producer and vocalist are on full display, as she fulfilled all of these roles in creating Captain Bacardi.
But there is more to the story of Lamay as an artist than just her triumphant and wonderfully danceable first single. Hers is a story of drive and determination, of someone who overcame expectations of what it means to be a pop music artist, pushing through personal qualms and doubts and boundaries imposed by others to put her best artistic voice forward.
From early adulthood, she demonstrated a sense of self reliance and a desire to control her own destiny that has translated through a career in high level sales to her now burgeoning music career.
A relative late-comer to the music industry, Lamay worked in a number of non-music professions for several years before deciding to follow her true passion as a songwriter and recording artist. Tapping into her talent and sense of youthful abandon, she has been able to create the kind of soulful pop music that dominates summer radio listening in 2019, and which would appeal to the ‘party crowd.’ But both the single and the accompanying video prove that age has no bearing on great music, or on making a song that resonates not just with the young, but anyone who can relate to the welcoming vibe and upbeat energy of a summer party surrounded by all your BFFs.
“I am Captain Bacardi. I am the life of the party, and it’s a carefree kind of song. I am there to make sure everybody is having a good time,” said Lamay.
Captain Bacardi was a collaboration with D.J. Smoky of the SmokeShop Studioz in Brampton, Ontario. He worked on the beats and musical infrastructure, while Lamay concentrated on melodies and vocals. The tracks were mixed by American engineer/producer/songwriter Ken Lewis.
The song was Lamay’s first ever foray into a recording studio, although she was not a complete newbie to the music scene. By the time she started writing for herself, she thought, based on what she perceived to be the industry standard, that she was too old to be a pop star.
“I would sing other people’s songs and then in my early 20s I did start writing my own stuff. I considered doing my own thing at that point, but even then, I felt I was too old to start. I eventually got over that, but it took a while. I moved out of the house really early and was just hustling to make a living. I sold advertising and was a sales consultant for many years, but I didn’t really look at music as being a realistic goal for a long time. But a little while ago I decided, ‘no, music is what my passion is and there’s nothing else I would rather do. I don’t even feel late to the party anymore, I’m just fashionably late’ she said.
Lamay is beaming in the effervescent video for Captain Bacardi, with her big smile radiating from the screen. Directed by Hallie Tut of Toronto’s Popp Rok production house at the city’s Cherry Beach, it suits the song perfectly as it captures the essence and freedom experienced when everyone you know is having a good time. Interestingly, although you’d never know it, the night-time shoot happened on an unseasonably cold May night, with all the crew and on-screen participants donning toques and winter coats when the cameras weren’t running.
The video feels as vibrant, fresh and fun as the song itself. Lamay has captured the best of what it means to let loose and have fun, bringing a much needed positive distraction to everyday life.
Kai Lamay is proof of the adage that in many things in life, good things come to those who wait. She’s confident the timing is right, and that Captain Bacardi will become the soundtrack to many upbeat summer parties.
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