Fifteen years ago, Jay Sean made history as the first South Asian artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 with his hit song “Down. ” Born Kamaljit Singh Jhooti, Sean achieved this feat with his Lil Wayne-assisted debut single. Since then, he's had several more hits like “Do You Remember” with Sean Paul and Lil Jon, and “2012” with Nicki Minaj. Now, in 2024, Sean is back with exciting news: a new album and a record label called 3AM Entertainment.

Sean, who is of South Asian descent, often faced misunderstandings about his background. People commonly assumed he was Puerto Rican or Dominican due to his appearance. This inspired him to create a platform for other South Asian artists. “We’re the largest demographic on the planet, ” he says, “why aren’t we taking over the music scene? ” This led to the establishment of 3AM Entertainment, co-founded with Jeremy Skaller and Jared Cotter, aiming to support artists from the South Asian diaspora.

The label, operating under Virginia Media, has already released music from actress Nicola Coughlan, known for her role in Bridgerton. Her song “Shoes… More Shoes” was a campy novelty track produced by New York DJ Ellis Miah, with proceeds going to LGBTQIA+ charities. Sean himself has released two singles, “Heartless” featuring Punjabi hitmaker Ikky, and “Piche Piche” with Jai Dhir, which blends Punjabi, Hindi, and English into a smooth R&B groove. These tracks will be part of his upcoming album, Last Call, set for release in 2025.

Sean’s multilingual abilities make his music stand out. He speaks and sings in Punjabi, English, and can even rap, making it natural for him to create genre-blending hits. He’s worked with industry legends like Eric Bellinger and Sean Cook, who co-produced Shaboozey’s hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy). ” Despite his own projects, Sean remains dedicated to supporting rising South Asian artists and keeping the door open for them in the music industry.

“I hope to look back and say that all the dreams I had have finally come true, ” he reflects.

Celebrating 15 Years of 'Down': Jay Sean's New Music & Supporting South Asian Artists

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