Meet Jaé MeDi: Making Music That Means Something

Jul 17, 2026by Team Milk Room

Professional musician, artist, and audio engineer Jaé MeDi doesn't fit neatly into one genre and that's exactly the point. Ask him what his music sounds like, and he'll tell you to imagine Arcade Fire, Jack Johnson, and Steve Lacey all sharing a group hug. It's a description that's equal parts unexpected and accurate.

Based in Southeast Los Angeles, Jaé approaches music with intention. Whether he's writing, producing, recording, or engineering, every part of the process matters because every song is meant to leave something behind.

For someone discovering your music for the first time, how would you describe it?

Imagine Arcade Fire, Jack Johnson, and Steve Lacey all had a group hug.

What first inspired you to start creating?

It wasn't just one moment—it was a series of moments that kept pulling him toward music.

Back in elementary school, Jaé started writing lyrics because he felt like the music on the radio wasn't saying enough. Looking back, he laughs at that perspective now, but at the time it sparked a mission: create music that actually meant something.

Learning guitar came from his grandfather, who always told him that if his fingers had been bigger, he would've learned himself. His advice stuck: learn guitar because people respect guitarists.

Then came recording.

Studio time wasn't cheap, so instead of paying hundreds of dollars every session, Jaé decided to learn the entire process himself.

"Making my own music always meant something to me, so I always took learning the process very seriously."

What are you working on right now?

Jaé is currently building a concept album called "Bunga."

According to him, Bunga is an energy that exists within everyone.

"There is good Bunga, and there is bad Bunga. But for this specific album, I really wanna focus on good Bunga :)"

It's a concept he's been developing for a long time, and one that reflects where he is creatively right now.

Who has influenced your creative journey?

His playlist doesn't stay in one lane.

From The Beatles and Pink Floyd to Pharrell Williams, Tyler, The Creator, Nirvana, blink-182, J Dilla, Radiohead, Imagine Dragons, and Joey Quiñones, Jaé pulls inspiration from every direction.

Growing up in Southeast Los Angeles also shaped his taste.

"Everybody listens to so many different genres. I try to keep an ear in every pocket."

More than any specific artist, though, his biggest motivation comes from a simple question:

"If I died tomorrow, what would I want the world to know about me?"

Every release is created with that thought in mind—a collection of songs people can come back to long after he's gone.

What's been the hardest part of building a creative career?

Jaé jokes that he'll save the real answer for his therapist.

Instead, he chooses gratitude.

He's thankful for the people who continue to support his music and believes that community outweighs any hardship he's experienced chasing recognition.

"If I must give an answer, the hardest part is when I really wanna fist bump, but don't nobody wanna fist bump."

What's something you're proud of that most people don't know?

For Jaé, it has nothing to do with music.

He's most proud of the spiritual protection he feels surrounds his family.

"So many people go through the craziest things in this world. While we are not exempt from the chaos of the human condition, we certainly have an armor that is abundant with charm and blessings."

What does Milk Room mean to you?

Milk Room introduced him to artists he likely never would've discovered on his own.

He first found the platform after seeing Erika Storm featured, then kept exploring.

"Milk Room is a whole new avenue for me to discover new artists and creatives... I was pleasantly surprised to discover so many more people I would've otherwise not known had it not been for Milk Room. Good job y'all!"

Anyone you'd like to shout out?

Rather than naming one person, Jaé wants to recognize the creative communities happening everywhere.

He believes local artists are building something bigger than the traditional music industry can offer.

"I feel as though the artist community is stepping up and creating exchanges that surpass what the industry can even provide right now."

While arena tours are struggling to fill seats, he points to packed dive bars in Long Beach as proof that authentic communities are thriving.

His final shoutout goes to the venues, businesses, and organizers creating spaces where independent artists can perform, connect, and build real experiences together.