Huge ReVamp happening for Jaymi Hensley who you might recognise being in the pop boyband Union J. Hensley announced months ago that he left the band and has decided to follow his own journey by becoming a solo artist. 

We chat to Hensley about departing from the band, dream collaborations and new music.

Hi Jaymi. It’s so lovely to have you here with us at ReVamp Magazine. You’ve recently mentioned you’ve left Union J. What made you decide to leave?

For me leaving Union J was something I intended to do for myself. Last year we toured for our 10th-year anniversary which was a wonderful time but for me, as I constantly performed since we first took our break that’s what I’ve done. When it wasn’t constant for me being live I was really missing that and I think I definitely had a different viewpoint of what I wanted to achieve as an individual but also as a member of Union J. Those things just weren’t happening and obviously it's four different people and different things from management, just so many voices and since I’ve been my own boss and doing my own thing creativity I felt very overwhelmed and thought it was time for me to talk away from a situation that wasn’t working for me. It wasn’t a very quick decision I made, I definitely thought about it for a long time but it happened quite quickly and I just wanted to go out and do my own thing.

Will you be staying in contact with your bandmates? Checking in to see how they’re doing. 

I’ve spoken to George a couple of times. I haven’t spoken to Josh or JJ since I left. It kind of naturally happened and I’m not going to force relationships and this is again my opinion but I felt like I was the one in the band that spent all the time chasing relationships with people and finding and reaching out to them. It was very rare for them to get in touch with me or if they wanted to have a chat and see how I was or meet up. Now I’m not putting that effort in is clearly what it is.

I’m not shading them at all. We all have busy lives but I feel like I’m the first one that will pick up the phone but you never know what will happen in the future.

So now that you’ve left Union J. I’m guessing it’s time for a ReVamp. What have you got planned? Any new music? 

Yes! I’ve just signed my first deal as a soloist which I’m really excited about. Music is coming and I think for a long time since 2015 when George left I was offered a solo deal from the label that we were with at the time. I turned it down because George just left and I felt like I had to keep loyal to the project and keep it alive. I am a singer and that’s what I love first and foremost I think I shied away for so long because of past traumas with Union J and the fact that we were number one the first week of December and then suddenly got dropped in the first week of January, there was a lot of trauma attached to music and being judged with writing it yourself. At the moment I’m just ready to go…I’m screaming to release new music and get it out there, I think it will be quite healing. I’m very proud of the music I’m recording and in the next two weeks, I’m going to writing camps and shutting myself away. Also planning to head to LA to record a music video and single. So very exciting times ahead!

So now that you’ve left Union J. I’m guessing it’s time for a ReVamp. What have you got planned? Any new music? 

Yes! I’ve just signed my first deal as a soloist which I’m really excited about. Music is coming and I think for a long time since 2015 when George left I was offered a solo deal from the label that we were with at the time. I turned it down because George just left and I felt like I had to keep loyal to the project and keep it alive. I am a singer and that’s what I love first and foremost I think I shied away for so long because of past traumas with Union J and the fact that we were number one the first week of December and then suddenly got dropped in the first week of January, there was a lot of trauma attached to music and being judged with writing it yourself. At the moment I’m just ready to go…I’m screaming to release new music and get it out there, I think it will be quite healing. I’m very proud of the music I’m recording and in the next two weeks, I’m going to writing camps and shutting myself away. Also planning to head to LA to record a music video and single. So very exciting times ahead!

Any dream collaborations you would like to make? 

Millions! I’m a fan of everybody but someone that I would really like to have on this album is Nicole Scherzinger. I started pestering her agent as he’s a good friend of mine. She’s here in the UK till the end of December and she’s always been a massive supporter of me plus she’s a great singer and when she was in Cats she invited me to come and see her and for my partner’s 30th birthday she sent a video. She has always been in part of my life and she’s brilliant to have her on my album would be a dream come true and it would feel like a full circle as she was a mentor on The X factor and she also supported Union J and now I’m starting out as a soloist it would be amazing to have her there.

Will we be seeing you in any upcoming shows? 

I’ve just booked and put on sale my very first headline show which I’m really excited about it’s November 15th, 2023. I was thinking of the venues I would like to go back to and thought of places in London but I decided to go to my local town theatre which is called The Showhome Coming because my life and career started out there. Be nice to start my new chapter, back at home with my hometown audience to perform as a soloist. Tickets are on sale now! Next year I’m planning to tour with the new album - so keep an eye out for that!

Lastly, have you got a message for your readers?

To my ReVamp readers and the people who have supported me and my life, family and friends, and the wonderful people who have supported my career. Thank you for being there and a good friend and just being there. As an artist, we always have to make these decisions and try to keep up with them but having people twelve years down the line supporting me and letting me be creative, and watching me chase my dreams is wonderful and very humbling.

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