JAY B performs solo show at Palladium Times Square

JAY B stood on the 103rd-floor outdoor catwalk of the Empire State Building last month, looking out over the New York City skyline. The wind whipped through his hair as he described the moment as surreal. "I was thinking about the movies I had seen," JAY B told amNewYork. "Standing up there, feeling the wind hit me, was exactly like those moments in a drama or a film. Suddenly, the wind was blowing, and it felt like I was in a movie. It was amazing. I will always remember that moment."

The artist first visited the city in July 2016 with his GOT7 bandmates. The group performed at the PlayStation Theater during the Independence Day holiday weekend. JAY B recalled watching the Fourth of July fireworks with the members. "When I first came here, I watched the fireworks with the other members. The view was beautiful, and I still remember it," he recalled.

On Sept. 23, 2026, JAY B performed at the Palladium Times Square as part of his 2026 TAPE: ROOTS tour. Fans asked him to stay in New York longer and offered to pay for an extended stay. "Oh, I have my own money," he quipped. The crowd laughed, but JAY B said his affection for the audience was sincere. "I want to make my fans happy and keep these memories alive," he said. "When I come back, we can enjoy these moments again. It’s about creating good memories. That’s my goal and my purpose. I always want to connect with my fans, whether it’s greeting each other, making eye contact or dancing together."

JAY B leads the K-pop group GOT7. He also works as a songwriter and producer under the name Def. He said the two identities previously felt separate. "Before, I didn’t feel like JAY B as a solo artist and JAY B in GOT7 could coexist," he explained. "But nowadays, I feel like they can. My musical taste is toward deeper sounds, vintage vibes and an original feeling. Before, our musical tastes seemed so different that I kept those sides separate. Now, they’re blending together."

He explained that the distinction depends on his intended audience. "When I make music for the group, I think about GOT7," he said. "I think about the members’ vocal tones and their individual habits. But when I make music for myself, I focus on my own voice and style. That’s the difference, but the two aren’t completely separate."

JAY B mentioned an unfinished song called "Thoughts of You" that has lingered in his mind for years. He briefly sang a snippet during the interview but was not convinced it was ready for release. "I’ve made a lot of music, but that song has stayed with me for a long time," he said. "I made it years ago, and it’s still stuck in my mind. I even deleted it, but I still think about it."

He said his creative process has changed as he has matured. He now finds inspiration through physical activity rather than active searching. "Creativity suddenly comes to me when I’m walking, running or boxing," he said. "Usually, when I’m moving my body and sweating, an idea will hit me, [almost like an] adrenaline rush. Most of my inspiration comes when I’m moving or doing something physical, like camping or walking. I try to embrace whatever thoughts come to me in the moment and find interesting ways to express them."

JAY B described Def as his more personal and vulnerable side. "Def is more personal and deeper, a way to express my own stories, emotions and thoughts," he said. "JAY B is more commercial. With that side, I think about what people might like and enjoy. They’re two different ways of expressing my emotions." He said he recharges by being in nature, specifically through scuba diving. "When I dive into the sea, the silence is very healing for me," he said. "Watching the fish and all the living things underwater brings me peace and calmness."