01.15.2026
JayDon Earns “Artist To Watch” Honors From Spotify, Amazon, and Shazam
R&B’s Most Talented Teenager Covers Aaliyah’s “One In A Million,” An Amazon Music Original, + Announces Blue Note L.A. Show on March 24th
The 18-Year-Old Triple Threat is Primed to Grow Even Bigger This Year, As He Plans Big Things to Follow Up His Debut EP, Me My Songs & I, and His Recent “Lullaby” (Mega Remix) ft. USHER & Paradise
Critical Praise:
“JayDon, formerly known as JD McCrary ,hasn’t stopped soaring since he stepped on the scene”- 2025 EBONY Power 100 – Generation Next
“JayDon — who voiced young Simba in the 2019 photorealistic remake of The Lion King — delivers a terrific vocal performance, intimately capturing the process of taking accountability while asking for forgiveness.” – Billboard
“At just 18, JayDon moves like he was made for the stage. With vocals that serenade, moves that instantly grab attention, and a natural ease in front of the camera, he’s got it all. After dropping a few records that caught real attention, Me My Songs & I establishes that he’s a triple threat, pulling from R&B’s roots while pushing the sound forward in his own lane.” – BET
“…this multi-talented artist is proving he’s a force across both film and music… No studio, no autotune—just raw talent.” – ThisIsRNB
The Announcement:
JayDon spent 2025 proving that he’s one of R&B’s most talented teenagers, catching eyes with his triple-threat talent. JayDon’s big year earned him the attention of industry tastemakers: the 18-year-old rising star earned Artist To Watch honors from multiple DSPs.
- Spotify named JayDon one of five R&B Artists To Watch in 2026, highlighting his hit “Lullaby” as an essential track.
- Shazam included JayDon among their Fast Forward 2026, highlighting 65 artists of all genres to pay attention to in the coming year.
- Amazon Music named JayDon to its list of 2026 Artists To Watch, reflecting Amazon’s editors’ early bets for the year’s next big artists. Along with his Artist To Watch honors, Jaydon releases an Amazon Music Original, putting his stamp on Aaliyah’s classic “One In A Million.” JayDon’s cover of “One In A Million” is available to stream exclusively on Amazon Music.
Today, JayDon also announces an upcoming performance at Blue Note L.A. The Blue Note show will be JayDon’s second headlining show in his hometown, following last fall’s sold out performance at The Echo. JayDon hits the Blue Note on March 24th. Tickets are available HERE.
JayDon’s recognition from these influential music companies comes on the heels of a massive year in 2025, in which JayDon announced himself as R&B’s next big star. The actor and artist released his debut EP, Me My Songs & I, in October, concluding a run of acclaimed singles that showed off his range. ayDon crafted the EP with behind-the-scenes assistance from industry heavy-hitters, including songwriters Felisha King (formerly of Cherish) and Whitney Phillips, producers like Harv, Blaq Tuxedo, Andre Harris, and Triangle Park, and executives USHER and Antonio “L.A.” Reid. The EP peaked at #8 on Apple Music’s R&B chart over its debut weekend.
Me My Songs & I gave a home to JayDon’s breakout hit, “Lullaby” ft. Paradise. Produced by Harv, a GRAMMY-nominated producer known for hits like Justin Bieber’s “Peaches,” and written by Felisha King, formerly of the R&B group Cherish (“Do It To It”), “Lullaby” is a lush ballad in stately 6/8 time, showing off JayDon’s falsetto and making space for a cucumber-cool rap verse from Paradise. The song was a viral hit upon its release, particularly taking off in South Korea, where it reached the top of the Spotify Viral 50 and remained there for multiple weeks. In October, JayDon and Paradise performed the song on The Jennifer Hudson Show (co-signed by Ms. Tina Knowles). Last month, “Lullaby” earned its strongest bump yet when USHER added a verse to the “Lullaby (mega remix),“
Beyond “Lullaby,” standout singles that find a home on the new EP include the the USHER-sampling “I’ll Be Good,” which earned praise from Billboard, BET, Rated R&B, and more, and inspired a choreography-heavy music video (2.2 million views), and the skittering, Jersey club-inspired “Boujee Baby.” JayDon performed songs from his debut EP during his sold-out headlining show at The Echo in his hometown of Los Angeles on October 21st. Me My Songs & I is available on all platforms via Zoo/mega/gamma.
With endorsements from key R&B and industry figures, JayDon looks to build on his 2025 and cement his status as R&B’s most exciting rising star. Stay tuned for much more from the young artist as the year moves along.
Stream “Lullaby (mega remix)” ft. USHER & Paradise: https://thegamma.lnk.to/Lullaby-Mega-Remix
Stream Me My Songs & I: https://vyd.co/MeMySongsI
Read JayDon’s Rookie of the Month Billboard Profile HERE
Keep up with JayDon HERE
Me My Songs & I EP:
- Lullaby (Feat. Paradise)
- Caviar
- I’ll Be Good
- Separated
- Deserve You
- Jealous Of The Moon
- Don’t’ Hate Me Now
- Brand New
- Boujee Baby
- The Way You Move
JayDon performs at The Echo during his sold-out L.A. Show
Credit: Monica Cervantes
Please contact Michelle or Annjie, or Kevin for more info.
The Background:
About JayDon
After a year that turned him from rising talent into a global breakout, 18-year-old singer, dancer, and actor JayDon steps into his next era with Me My Songs and I — a deeply personal debut EP that captures the whirlwind of virality, vulnerability, and vision that have defined his journey.
JayDon has spent 2025 redefining what R&B can sound and feel like for a new generation. His breakout single “Lullaby” topped Spotify’s Viral 50 in South Korea, earning co-signs from leading K-Pop figures and introducing his music to millions across Asia. Follow-ups like “Boujee Baby” (with Zeddy Will) and the west-coast inspired “The Way You Move” expanded his reach further, while Billboard named him June’s R&B Rookie of the Month, cementing his arrival as one of the most exciting new voices in global music.
Across its tracklist, Me My Songs and I explores love, heartbreak, growth, and self-discovery with striking honesty and cinematic range. Songs like “Don’t Hate Me Now” confront the guilt and bittersweet reality of leaving a relationship that no longer feels right, while “Brand New” wrestles with the intoxicating push-and-pull of toxic love and the yearning for a fresh start. On “Jealous of the Moon,” JayDon lays bare his most vulnerable side, painting heartbreak over moody production.
The project showcases JayDon’s versatility — blending contemporary R&B, pop-leaning melodies, soulful balladry, and dance-driven rhythms into a sound that’s as emotionally resonant as it is globally accessible. It’s the work of an artist who grew up in the spotlight — from voicing Young Simba in Disney’s The Lion King to performing with Childish Gambino — and is now claiming his place as one of R&B’s most promising new stars.
Alongside the EP, JayDon released three full-length music videos and performed his viral hit “Lullaby” during a national TV appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on October 3, marking a defining moment in his breakout year. Me My Songs and I isn’t just an introduction — it’s a statement of intent from an artist ready to shape the next era of R&B.
About Paradise
Born and raised in the heart of New York City, Paradise grew up surrounded by a diverse melting pot of cultures. The city’s rhythm helped shape him, while icons like Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber and Frank Ocean, inspired his artistry. Paradise effortlessly weaves together Pop and R&B, creating a sound that is uniquely his own.
From the very beginning of his toddler years, it was clear that creating art and music was more than a passion—it was a calling. Growing up, Paradise was always drawing, performing in piano recitals, playing guitar, singing and dancing wherever possible. It was evident that he was born to perform. After spending his high school years making music and then attending University in London, he quickly knew college was not nourishing his soul and spirit, and made the intuitive decision to fully commit to his talents. He immersed himself more in his art by singing, songwriting, playing instruments and creating music.
Paradise has opened for SoFaygo, Travis Scott, Anella and Nick Cannon’s “Future Superstars Tour,” commanding crowds with his high-energy performances. He’s gone from the stage to the runways in Paris walking for ready-to-wear and couture designers, after being discovered by Vogue Magazine.
Since signing with Usher’s label, mega, Paradise has been going nonstop. In February 2025, he released his debut single, “Foggin Up the Windows,” followed by “Highway,” “Lovin’ U” and “Easier Said Than Done,” which he performed exclusively for Amazon Music. His recent viral collaboration on the single “Lullaby” with artist JayDon is taking Asia by storm. And now, he brings you, “All to Myself,” a feel good and upbeat song you must add to your playlist now for an escape to Paradise.
Links:
linktree | spotify | apple | youtube | tiktok | instagram
“Lullaby Remix” (Feat. Paradise, Jay Park, LOUIS of LNGSHOT):
“Jealous Of The Moon”: https://www.youtube.
“Brand New”: https://www.youtube.com/
Me My Songs & I: https://vyd.co/MeMySongsI
“Caviar”: https://vyd.co/
“The Way You Move”: https://vyd.co/
“Boujee Baby” ft. Zeddy Will: https://symphony.to/
“Lullaby” ft. Paradise: https://themega.lnk.
“I’ll Be Good”: https://vyd.co/
“Ah! Ah!” ft. 310babii: https://themega.lnk.to/AH_AH /