Jay Ammo is Guyanese talent on the rise

Apr 06, 2025 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

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From Guyana to The Voice…

By: Christal Yong

Kaieteur News-  At 30 years old, Jay Ammo is living proof that dreams, no matter how big, are within reach when you have the talent, resilience, and determination to chase them. A rising star with a sound as diverse as his roots, Ammo is quickly making a name for himself on the global music scene.

With a show-stopping blind audition on The Voice, a four-chair turn from all the judges, and the opportunity to work with the legendary John Legend, his journey is one of remarkable perseverance and undeniable talent.

Born in Berbice, Guyana, Ammo’s story begins in a place far removed from the bright lights of Hollywood. Raised in the small town of Rose Hall, Corentyne, he spent the first 12 years of his life immersed in the sounds of the Caribbean. However, the path to pursuing music professionally wasn’t paved with encouragement or resources. In a culture that primarily embraced dancehall and soca music, Ammo’s passion for a more eclectic, genre-defying sound was often misunderstood.

“The support system in the way that my music was back then, it wasn’t really looked upon as something that people want to get behind because it’s not their style of music, because you are in the Caribbean for the most part and everybody is focusing on dancehall or soca music or something like that,” the singer told The Waterfalls.

Despite these early challenges, the ambitious and optimistic young man never stopped believing in his craft. From the age of 14, when he first picked up a guitar, music was more than a hobby, it was a lifeline.

He said, “Music has always been a solid part of what I have done, you know in the past and what I do now, I have been singing for a lot of years.”

His style is hard to categorize, but Ammo describes it as “worldly.” His refusal to be confined by a single genre is part of what makes his music so unique.  He added, “I make all kind of music, music for everybody really, so because I want to not be stuck in a specific area or genre, I want to be able to branch out and connect to people.”

When the singer moved to the United States of America (USA), the doors that had once been closed to him in Guyana began to open. He released over 26 songs, three albums, and a number of singles that connected with listeners far beyond his native shores.

His music resonated not only with Caribbean audiences but with listeners of all backgrounds. Still, Ammo knew that in order to truly make his mark, he needed a bigger stage. That’s when The Voice came into the picture.

Entering the competition wasn’t just about gaining exposure; for Ammo, it was a chance to take his career to the next level.

He said, “It is something I always wanted to do, I wanted to shine the light on myself, little bit as an artist and that was the best way to do it so, I always kept trying and kept trying until I finally, after two years of waiting then I finally got it.”

His performance immediately captivated the judges, earning him a four-chair turn, an honor that most contestants only dream of. His musicality, authenticity, and heartfelt delivery won over not just the judges but also the hearts of millions of viewers. “It was a phenomenal experience,” he says.

While his time on The Voice was undoubtedly a milestone in his career, Ammo’s rise to the spotlight didn’t happen overnight. The path to success, especially for an artist from Guyana, has been filled with obstacles.

He told The Waterfalls, “I never really sang any music when I was back home in Guyana, because I didn’t have any means to do it, and everybody was really expensive, it was all about the money then and not helping out anybody achieve their goal.”

And though, he has since been eliminated from the competition, the singer’s resilience shines through in his work, and his experiences continue to shape the way he views his career.  He explained that The Voice taught him how to approach his music career further, and the quality of work he produces,

Asked about his most memorable moment so far? Without hesitation, the former contestant points to his experience on The Voice. “That was the most memorable moment in my career. But I know there’s so much more to come,” he adds with a sense of quiet confidence.

Looking ahead, the singer sees himself performing on stages with thousands of fans, singing along to his lyrics.

“In the next five years I see myself performing for a crowd with over a thousand people and they are saying my lyrics back at me and I won’t have to sing a single word it would be the kind of concert that everybody came to watch the person that see on television,” he related.

As Jay Ammo continues to carve his own path in the music world, his story is one of perseverance, passion, and the power of staying true to oneself.

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