JayaHadADream

Born in Cambridge and later based in Nottingham, where she honed her writing during her studies, JayaHadADream entered the UK rap scene with a style shaped by grime and hip-hop, while also embracing more club-oriented formats. Of Jamaican and Irish descent, she constructs tracks with a relaxed, often conversational delivery, weaving together personal narratives, mental health, social pressure, self-esteem and ambition. Before committing to music full-time at the end of 2023, she taught criminology at A-Level—an atypical path that informs the narrative precision of her lyrics. Her profile rose more widely in 2024 with the track 'Twiggy', produced by Zoutr, and her victory in the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition, which led to a set at Worthy Farm and subsequent appearances at festivals such as Reading, Leeds and Boomtown. JayaHadADream has also made numerous radio and freestyle appearances, from BBC 1Xtra to Rinse FM, while expanding her palette through collaborations rooted in bass music and UK dance, notably with Zero and Gardna.