Creating music often serves as a form of self-promotion, but for Jaye King, who is debuting with Centricity Music on the album All God, Not Me, the focus is truly on highlighting something beyond oneself. The album fuses R&B rhythms, gospel roots, and a mix of styles—drawing inspiration from artists like Marvin Gaye and Van Halen—and offers a soulful meditation on trusting grace amid life's chaos.
Beyond the music, a deeply personal story unfolds. Growing up without a steady father figure, he has spent years working through that experience to become a present and grounded father to his three children. This honesty from his life is reflected in his songs—whether he’s reinterpreting a difficult situation by finding Jesus as his rock in a "Hard Place," or viewing the challenging year of 2020 as an unexpected reset that was ultimately necessary.
Fresh off touring with friends like Tasha Layton and Jonathan Traylor, he sat down with us to chat about fatherhood, staying authentic, and why All God, Not Me is less about him and more about living with open hands.
All God, Not Me is your debut Centricity Music album. What does this release represent to you personally and spiritually?
Personally, this album is exactly what the title expresses: it’s All God, Not Me. Only He gets the glory from all of this. Every song written, every testimony, every door He has led me through is evidence of a faithful God who loves and cares for me. This isn’t just about me, though. This record is also a reminder to every blood-bought believer that it has always been God who has led us and kept us. Through every season, it’s All God, Not Me.
Spiritually, I'm more sure than ever that without Jesus, I am nothing. I am so grateful. My prayer life is rooted in gratitude and complete dependence on Jesus. Apart from Him, I can do nothing. With Him, at His pace and leading, I can do whatever He has asked of me. I’m just thankful.
You grew up without your father consistently present, but now you’re a husband and father of three. How has that journey shaped your understanding of God as a Heavenly Father?
As a father, I learn more and more every day that you can be in the room but absent as ever. You must be intentional as a father. That's where my relationship with Jesus has really grounded me: He is patient. He is present. He is faithful. He is aware of me. He loves me no matter my performance. To be loved and cared for is such a powerful thing to know and experience.
I'm doing my best to confront my narratives daily, to continue healing, and to be the best father I can be. I aim to model Christ's love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control in our home every day. I'm not perfect, but these fruits of the Spirit are accessible to all of us. If I’m ever lacking, I just ask for more of this.
“Hard Place” turns a familiar phrase into a declaration of faith. What personal experience inspired the song, and why do you think listeners have connected with it?
I believe so many of us identify with Jesus being a savior. For Jesus to be a Savior, we needed saving. When I look back at my moments of coming to faith and salvation, they were messy. When I was caught between a rock and a hard place, Jesus became the rock in a Hard Place.
I can't speak specifically to the listener's experience, but I'd go out on a limb and say Jesus has been their rock in a hard place too. I am grateful to know that is true, and I bet they are, too.
The album blends pop, R&B, funk, and gospel influences. Which artists and musical experiences helped shape your sound as a singer and multi-instrumentalist?
Michael Jackson, James Brown, Prince, Bruno Mars, Maroon 5, Marvin Gaye, John Legend, Kirk Franklin, The Clark Sisters, Mississippi Mass Choir, Smokie Norful, Al Green, Fred Hammond, Van Halen, Rascal Flatts, to name a few.
I’ve been a student of just about every style of music. I really believe every true artist and musician has been inspired and influenced by the greats. We are all students, so there truly is nothing new under the sun. Just new fingerprints and interpretations.
As an instrumentalist, I just stayed curious and tried to play anything I heard. It’s all inspiring to me. I’ve got a lot of work still to do. Grateful for the gift of music.
On "Valleys," you describe difficult seasons as places of renewal and victory. What valley in your own life most influenced the message of that song?
2020 was a wild valley year. Local church ministry was wilder than ever before. People were dying. Food was crazy expensive. The world was experiencing isolation like never before. We had little to no human interaction for a few months.
During that time, as the world went through a massive valley season, I watched more conversations, creative endeavors, businesses launch, ministry be done, and the kingdom advance.
There is so much more to this, but 2020 was really the first time I slowed down long enough to ask, “What am I really doing?” This led me to really press into my faith and ask Jesus what He wanted for my life. Everything I am doing today was a renewed vision for that season. What should have been a dormant, dry, and non-productive season turned out to be one of the greatest seasons of revelation and new life.
You’ve toured with artists such as Tasha Layton and Jonathan Traylor. What have you learned from performing alongside them and developing your own identity as a live artist?
To stay true to yourself. Not to let stages, new rooms, new states, and interactions alter your unique identity. Tasha is consistent. I love knowing that who she is on stage is who she is offstage. Traveling together revealed even more of that to be true. Jonathan is wild about his faith, his family, and his ministry. He’s gonna turn up any environment, whether it's ready for a lit time or not. This all just drove me more toward who I really am on and off the stage.
After the release of All God, Not Me, what are your next goals for your music, ministry, and connection with listeners?
Everything I do is connected to generosity. Every gift and breath I have will be spent just that: generously. My hope is that people will catch this.
The Bible says three things remain: faith, hope, and love, and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)
Touring, merch, etc. are all a part of that heart to spread faith, hope, and love in tangible, outrageously generous ways. We will take that one day at a time and let God lead us.
How can we pray for you?
Be praying that God’s will be done in our lives. That my family is provided for and cared for as we pursue Jesus in this, and that this music reaches who it is intended for. So every person knows God is for them, so no one can stand against them.
