JayaHadADream is a Jamaican-Irish rapper from Cambridge redefining the sound of UK rap with her raw lyricism and genre-blending style. This year, she is nominated for the MOBO Awards – Grime Artist of the Year, marking another major milestone in her breakthrough career.
After leaving her job teaching A-Level Criminology in 2023 to pursue music full-time, she quickly rose to prominence with her breakout single “Twiggy” and a win at the 2024 Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition. Since then, she’s performed at Reading & Leeds, Boomtown, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and SXSW London, earning acclaim from Rolling Stone UK, NME, and TRENCH.
Her 2025 highlights include a Glastonbury run, a Timberland x Balamii set alongside Skepta, and a five-date UK tour in support of her mixtape Happiness From Agony. In October 2025, Jaya released her debut mixtape featuring Frisco, Keeya Keys, Capo Lee, Bruza, Footsie, and Big Zuu, following a double win at the Youth Music Awards and a DJ Mag Award later that year. With co-signs from Emeli Sandé, Joy Crookes, Fred again.. and more, Jaya’s poetic storytelling and magnetic stage presence place her firmly at the forefront of UK rap’s next wave.
Brick Lane Jazz Festival is joining forces with Tomorrow’s Warriors as our charity partner for the 2027 edition of the festival. We have worked together to create a unique opportunity to give back to the music community, having an impactful and lasting effect on the emerging UK Jazz talent.
