Dakota and Will

Dakota and Will continue to captivate audiences and gain new fans through their catchy, relatable music. - NJ.com, The New Jersey Herald, The Warren Reporter, The Weekly

A lively stage show! - Courier News Weekly

As a new era in music is emerging out of the 21st century, the question remains, "Is there still such a thing as good original music?" Thanks to the musical group Dakota and Will, we can answer "Yes". - The Voice (Bloomsburg University)

Dakota and Will's passion for their musical craft combined with a keen understanding of the music business is reminiscent of a calmer combination of Lennon and McCartney.
(Reprinted with permission of the author.) - Tara Meacham (AssociatedContent.com)

Dakota and Will marry modern sensibility with old soul sentiment in their songwriting. After one listen you know immediately, they're deeply committed to their craft. - Marilyn Russell (95.7 BenFM Philadelphia)

Dakota and Will marry modern sensibility with old soul sentiment in their songwriting. After one listen you know immediately, they're deeply committed to their craft. - Marilyn Russell (95.7 BenFM Philadelphia)

Dakota and Will are talented singer-songwriters with a pop sensibility. - Stuart Mathis (The Wallflowers, LeAnn Rimes, Jewel)

There was no one moment that convinced Dakota Jay to pursue a career in music, and when the guitarist left college after his first year to do so, there was no guarantee that things would work out.

Now with two singles under his belt, a full show schedule and an EP on the way, he's sure he made the right decision.

Jay, now 21, spent high school writing and performing in Doylestown with the jam band Mosaik. After graduation he would take the train home for practices and shows from Temple University in Philadelphia.

With a love for music that kept growing, Jay made the decision to follow his passion. "I had a lot of fun at college," he says, "but I didn't really have any direction."

But the move wasn't a complete shot in the dark - the idea took root when Mosaik auditioned for Producer David Ivory. Known for his work with acts like Silvertide, The Roots, and Patti LaBelle, Ivory tore apart the band's songs. The experience was humbling, and when Jay started writing again he paid close attention to song structures and hooks.

Then it hit him: "I didn't always realize it, but I enjoy short pop songs."

His new output was quick and catchy, influenced by Bob Dylan, Ben Harper, and the Counting Crows. The songs were far from Mosaik's style, and the band parted ways amicably.

Jay continued working with Ivory, who assembled a group of top-shelf session musicians to round out the new songs. Working with the pros in the studio, Jay quickly started maturing as a musician. Finally, he could say for sure: "This is what I want to do with my life."

Jay's first single, The Next Time was released in October 2007. A beautifully crafted slice of acoustic-based pop, the song was featured on college radio station WXPN in March. "That was huge!" says Jay, who had been sending the radio station homemade recordings for years.

With a second single released in September, Jay has a full schedule this month, traveling as far north as Connecticut and kicking off a series of monthly showcases at Puck on November 20th.

Jay hopes to tour more next year, and is contemplating moving to Nashville, TN. His future may find him in a lot of new places, but music will always be his home.

Jack Firneno - Dtown Magazine

"One Day" is a thoughtful song expressing hope for a better future where peace will be reality. The song could have been presented as a ballad, but instead the group uses a jam band format. The result is a creative and original presentation of a very common message. - Peacedriven.com

WXPN FM 88.5
(Philadelphia, PA)

WBUQ FM 91.1
(Bloomsburg University, PA)

WXLV FM 90.3
(Lehigh Valley, PA)

WRNJ FM 92.7
(Hackettstown, NJ)

WCFA-LP FM 101.5
(Cape May, NJ)

WDCV FM 88.3
(Dickinson College, PA)

Pandora
(www.Pandora.com)

SCAD
(Savannah College of Art and Design Online, GA)

WRMC
(Moravian College Online, PA)

LIVE365 Sunny and Legendary Music
(Columbus, OH)

LIVE365 Blue Sky FM
(London, UK)

LIVE365 FIDO Radio
(Milwaukee)

LIVE365 The Medicine Show
(Omaha, NE)

LIVE365 Neoclubber Dance FM - On Air