{{Short description|Indie rock band}}
{{Infobox musical artist | name = Baby Jey | image = File:Babyjey.jpg | caption = Baby Jey in 2017<br />(left to right) Jeremy Witten, Dean Kheroufi | origin = Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | genre = {{flatlist| *Indie rock *cowboy pop}} | years_active = 2015–present | label = Maintenance Records | website = {{URL|www.babyjey.net}} (defunct) | current_members = Jeremy Witten<br />Dean Kheroufi<br />Connor Ellinger<br />Trevor McNeely }}
'''Baby Jey''' is a Canadian indie rock band based in Edmonton, Alberta, founded in 2015 by core members Jeremy Witten (guitar, keyboards, lead vocals) and Dean Kheroufi (bass, backing vocals).<ref>{{Cite news|date=2018-07-27|title=Baby Jey: Someday (soon) cowboys will head to the big city|language=en-US|work=BeatRoute Magazine|url=https://archive.beatroute.ca/2018/07/27/baby-jey/|url-status=live|access-date=2018-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201208151842/https://archive.beatroute.ca/2018/07/27/baby-jey/|archive-date=2020-12-08}}</ref> In 2017, Baby Jey started performing as a four-piece band with the addition of Trevor McNeely (lap steel guitar) and Connor Ellinger (drums).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/music/latin-folk-rockers-andino-suns-write-about-chiles-own-9-11-in-song|title=Grooving at The Aviary|date=2018-03-21|work=Edmonton Journal|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US}}</ref> The band was previously based in Brooklyn, New York, around the release of their 2018 album ''Someday Cowboy'', before returning to Edmonton where they recorded their 2023 album ''Crop Circles''.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huculak |first=Chad |date=December 2, 2023 |title=Baby Jey artfully blends dance music with indie-rock, fresh tracks |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/2895870031/69733A1923DD4235PQ |work=The Edmonton Journal |page=C7 |via=ProQuest}}</ref>
== History == Prior to forming Baby Jey, Jeremy Witten and Dean Kheroufi were active in other musical projects.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thegatewayonline.ca/2015/01/jey-witten/|title=Student sets off to NYC with new release - The Gateway|date=2015-01-14|work=The Gateway|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/2016/12/12/from-local-gigs-to-big-leagues|title=From local gigs to big leagues|website=Sherwood Park News|language=en-CA|access-date=2018-05-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705092319/http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/2016/12/12/from-local-gigs-to-big-leagues|archive-date=2018-07-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> From 2013 to 2015, Witten performed solo under the name Jey Witten, releasing two independent albums ''Jey Witten'' (2013) and ''The Wide Eyed'' (2014).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/music/new-releases-from-paul-cournoyer-jom-comyn-nuela-charles-and-jey-witten|title=New releases from Paul Cournoyer, Jom Comyn, Nuela Charles and Jey Witten|date=2014-10-02|work=Edmonton Journal|access-date=2018-06-03|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Blinov|first=Paul|date=July 3, 2014|title=Jey Witten Album Release|url=https://issuu.com/vueweekly/docs/976-vue_weekly-2014-07-03|journal=Vue Weekly|volume=976|pages=22}}</ref> As a solo performer, Witten was awarded at the Calgary Folk Music Festival's Songwriting Contest and he performed at the Canmore Folk Music Festival in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/edmonton-journal/20130613/283656822392635|title=A Young Singer With Broad Horizons|last=Levesque|first=Roger|date=June 13, 2013|via=PressReader|access-date=2018-06-03}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://canmorefolkfestival.com/experience/past-artists/|title=Past Artists - Canmore Folk Music Festival|work=Canmore Folk Music Festival|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US}}</ref> At this time, Kheroufi continued to perform in other projects, including the Edmonton-based band The Velveteins.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thegatewayonline.ca/2015/03/dean-kheroufi-profile/|title=Dean Kheroufi keeps busy with multiple local bands - The Gateway|date=2015-03-31|work=The Gateway|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US}}</ref>
Baby Jey's debut album ''Best Wishes'' was produced by Renny Wilson and released in May 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/renny-wilson-mn0003030897/credits|title=Renny Wilson {{!}} Credits {{!}} AllMusic|website=AllMusic|access-date=2018-07-11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cupsncakespod.com/pick-of-the-week/2017/7/15/baby-jey|title=Baby Jey|work=Cups N Cakes|access-date=2018-06-29|language=en-US}}</ref> The Edmonton Journal called ''Best Wishes'' "oddly entertaining," and the album charted on CJSR-FM and the CKUA Radio Network.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/music/latin-folk-rockers-andino-suns-write-about-chiles-own-9-11-in-song|title=Latin folk-rockers Andino Suns write about Chile's own 9-11 in song|date=2018-03-21|work=Edmonton Journal|access-date=2018-06-07|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.earshot-online.com/charts/cjsr.cfm?dWeekOfID=2017-05-23|title=CJSR 88.5MHz - Edmonton AB : Top 30 : May 23, 2017|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.ckua.com/390250-2/|title=CKUA Top 30 - CKUA Radio Network|date=2017-06-01|work=CKUA Radio Network|access-date=2018-06-07|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705180048/http://www.ckua.com/390250-2/|archive-date=2018-07-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Best Wishes'' received favorable coverage in Canadian and American music blogs and podcasts.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ridethetempo.com/2017/05/27/weekly-top-10-19th26th-2017/|title=Weekly Top 10 - May 19th-26th, 2017|date=2017-05-27|work=Ride The Tempo - A Canadian Music Blog|access-date=2018-05-24|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705181809/http://ridethetempo.com/2017/05/27/weekly-top-10-19th26th-2017/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://ridethetempo.com/2017/05/24/listen-baby-jey-great-outdoors/|title=[Listen] Baby Jey – The Great Outdoors|date=2017-05-24|work=Ride The Tempo - A Canadian Music Blog|access-date=2018-05-26|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-07-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705175932/http://ridethetempo.com/2017/05/24/listen-baby-jey-great-outdoors/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kpiss.fm/streetwannabes/street-wannabes-radio-with-baby-jey|title=Street Wannabes Radio With Baby Jey|website=The Golden Stream|language=en|access-date=2018-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705204041/http://www.kpiss.fm/streetwannabes/street-wannabes-radio-with-baby-jey|archive-date=2018-07-05|url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the release of their debut album, Baby Jey toured in Canada and the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.brooklynvegan.com/michael-rault-signs-to-daptone-imprint-wick-shares-sleep-with-me-touring/|title=Michael Rault signs to Daptone imprint Wick, shares "Sleep with Me," touring|website=BrooklynVegan|date=9 November 2017 |language=en-US|access-date=2018-05-24}}</ref> Baby Jey have shared stages with artists such as Michael Rault, New Love Crowd, and Jessica Jalbert of Faith Healer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.gigcity.ca/2018/05/09/music-preview-morris-before-us/|title=Music Preview: Morris before us|website=www.gigcity.ca|language=en-US|access-date=2018-07-05|date=2018-05-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ohmyrockness.com/shows/333714-dark-tea-baby-jey-new-love-crowd-babies-babies-brooklyn-bazaar|title=Dark Tea, Baby Jey, New Love Crowd, Babies' Babies @ Brooklyn Bazaar in Brooklyn on 10/04/2018|website=Oh My Rockness|language=en|access-date=2019-03-13}}</ref>
In July 2018, Baby Jey announced that their sophomore album ''Someday Cowboy'' would be released on Brooklyn label Maintenance Records in September 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=August 1, 2018 |title=New single "Someday My Space Cowboy Will Come" by Baby Jey |url=http://www.thesirenssound.com/releases/new-sing-e-someday-my-space-cowboy-will-come |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819112958/http://www.thesirenssound.com/releases/new-sing-e-someday-my-space-cowboy-will-come |archive-date=August 19, 2018 |access-date=August 15, 2018 |website=The Sirens Sound |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://beatroute.ca/2018/07/27/baby-jey/|title=Baby Jey: Someday (soon) cowboys will head to the big city|date=2018-07-27|work=BeatRoute Magazine|access-date=2018-07-27|language=en-US|archive-date=2018-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728040033/http://beatroute.ca/2018/07/27/baby-jey/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://earmilk.com/2018/08/24/baby-jeys-u-dont-have-2-go-alone-shows-us-how-cowboys-do-pop/|title=Baby Jey's "U Don't Have 2 Go Alone" shows us how cowboys do pop |date=2018-08-24|work=Earmilk|access-date=2018-08-26|language=en-US}}</ref> Following the release of ''Someday Cowboy'', Baby Jey relocated to Brooklyn, New York.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baby Jey: a new agey-country gem from 2018 |url=http://m-nyc.thedelimagazine.com/38483/baby-jey-new-agey-country-gem-from-2018 |access-date=2019-01-12 |website=The Deli Magazine {{!}} nyc.thedelimagazine.com/ |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/baby_jey_reveal_surreal_every_thing_video|title=Baby Jey Reveal Surreal "Every Thing" Video|last=Murphy|first=Sarah|date=December 20, 2018|language=en-ca|access-date=2019-01-12}}</ref> The lead single of the album, titled "Someday My Space Cowboy Will Come," was premiered by Indie88.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://indie88.com/indie88-premiere-baby-jey-share-new-single-someday-my-space-cowboy-will-come/|title=Indie88 Premiere: Baby Jey Share New Single 'Someday My Space Cowboy Will Come' {{!}} Indie88|access-date=2018-07-27|language=en-US}}</ref> In 2019, Baby Jey was nominated for an Edmonton Music Award in the People's Choice category.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edmontonjournal.com/entertainment/music/the-2019-edmonton-music-award-nominees-are-in|title=And the 2019 Edmonton Music Award Nominees are ...|website=Edmonton Journal|first=Fish|last=Griwkowsky|date=2019-04-12|language=en|access-date=2019-04-20}}</ref>
On September 21, 2023, Baby Jey released their single ''What's The Point Of Saying Sorry''. The duo revealed via Tone Den that this was the first single off of their ''Crop Circles'' LP, due on November 24 of the same year. They say about the single:
"What's the Point of Saying Sorry" was inspired by classic disco and synth pop. <ref>{{Cite web |title="What's the Point of Saying Sorry," the new single from Baby Jey |url=https://music.babyjey.net/WTPOSS |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=Hey there, we're Edmonton indie pop band Baby Jey, releasing the first song from our upcoming LP, Crop Circles (out on November 24th). "What's the Point of Saying Sorry" was inspired by classic disco and synth pop. It's about the emotional power that we can express with physical touch. Words can only say so much.}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Albums ===
* ''Best Wishes'' (2017) *''Someday Cowboy'' (2018)
=== Singles and EPs ===
* ''Veneera'' (2018) * ''What's The Point Of Saying Sorry'' (2023)
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links ==
* {{url|http://babyjey.net/index.html|Official website}} *{{url|http://maintenancerecords.bandcamp.com/|Maintenance Records}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Baby Jey}} Category:Musical groups from Edmonton Category:Musical groups established in 2015 Category:Canadian indie rock groups Category:Musical groups from Alberta Category:2015 establishments in Alberta Category:Musical groups from Brooklyn