Jay Gilday

Jay Gilday is an Indigenous folk musician from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, born to a Dene mother and Irish father. He is a member of the Dene Nation through his mother and is the brother of JUNO Award-winning singer-songwriter Leela Gilday. After high school, he attended the University of Alberta, where he spent much time as a busker in Edmonton's LRT system. As a songwriter, Jay threads together the colours of his own ancestral traditions: Dene spirituals, Irish ballads, Canadian folk, and rock. Gilday performs both with an eponymous eight-piece rock band and as a solo artist, showcasing his versatility and range. His first album "All That I Can Give for Now" was released in 2008, followed by "Faster Than Light" in 2016. In 2017, he was a recipient of a Western Canadian Music Award for "Faster than Light," being named Indigenous Artist of the Year. His second full-length record has also earned him Singer-songwriter of the Year and Artists to Watch from the Edmonton Music Awards in 2017. In 2021, Gilday and his sister Leela created the musical project Sechile Sedare during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating the siblings' strong musical connection. Jay Gilday's music is characterized by electrifying, soulful, and resonant performances that blend his Indigenous heritage with contemporary folk and rock influences. His commitment to representing his Dene culture through music, while creating accessible contemporary songs, has made him an important voice in Canadian Indigenous music.

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