Jaya The Cat

Jaya the Cat emerged in Boston, MA, as a unit devoted to hardcore and ska sounds, featuring Geoff Lagadec on vocals, Dave Smith on guitar, and Ben Murphy on bass. The band moved to San Francisco soon after its formation for a short period before returning to its Massachusetts base, where it rapidly attracted local support and earned honors that included the Valley Advocates’ Best Ska Band in Massachusetts title along with a nomination for Best Ska Band at the Boston Music Awards. Having cycled through multiple drummers over time, the trio secured a deal with Gold Circle and released its first album, Basement Style, in August 2001, which yielded the single “Are You With Me?”.