Jay Dunn Blurs the Line Between Story and Sound with BODY COUNT Vol. 1: Birth of an Incubus
- Alexandria Anglade
- May 7
- 2 min read
Written by Alexandria Anglade
Jay Dunn has always wanted to channel his inner Stephen King—only with 808s, rapid‑fire flows, and cinematic hooks. That impulse erupts in his ambitious new venture, BODY COUNT Vol. 1: Birth of an Incubus, a hip‑hop–driven novel paired with an original soundtrack single. Drawing on childhood lessons about angels, demons, and the spirit realm, he set out to fuse literature and music into one immersive experience—equal parts page‑turner and head‑nodder.
Raised in a deeply religious Southern household, Jay grew up hearing stories of unseen forces fighting for human souls. BODY COUNT re‑imagines those cautionary tales for a generation already fascinated with demonology and dark fantasy. “If this had dropped twenty years ago, the church folk might’ve run me out of town,” he jokes. “But today’s audience is ready to explore the shadow side.”
His creative process borders on ritual. Before a single bar hits the page, he lives with the instrumental—sleeping, driving, even getting intimate with it—until the track and his emotions sync. That obsessive approach meant the first verse of the soundtrack single (produced by Kansas City veteran Don Juan) took three weeks to perfect. “I could write a song in thirty minutes,” he says, “but the passion wouldn’t read the same.”
Influenced by icons as diverse as Michael Jackson and Tech N9ne, Jay once tried to imitate mainstream trends. Ultimately, his naturally deep timbre became an asset, slicing through modern mixes with a bass‑rich resonance few peers possess. “Why hide what makes me different?” he asks. “The voice is the hook before the hook.”
Guided by what he calls “universal alignment,” he picks partners who match his high‑voltage creativity—people like touring poet TK Da Poet, whose upcoming Poetry Life League contest Jay will host, judge, and score. Another key ally is Dallas‑Fort Worth soul singer LāLowe Music, featured on “Loose My Head,” the lead single for Vol. 2: Incubus vs Succubus. Her choir‑bred vocals anchor the track in the gospel roots that shaped his youth.
For Jay, staying indie is a spiritual decision. Tales of major‑label meddling reinforce his resolve to keep ownership—and keep the message intact. “Going viral quick is cool,” he says, “but signing away my voice? Never.”
More than streams or sales, he wants listeners to live in the BODY COUNT universe. The meticulously engineered audiobook drops you inside the narrative, while the soundtrack acts as a visceral companion—music that breathes the same air as the story’s demons and dreamscapes. “If someone finishes a chapter, presses play, and feels transported,” he says, “I’ve done my job.”
BODY COUNT Vol. 1: Birth of an Incubus is available now through Barnes & Noble, with future volumes and singles already in the works. Step into Jay Dunn’s supernatural saga—and don’t forget to queue the soundtrack for full effect. Follow the journey on Instagram @by.jaydunn or catch character cameos on TikTok @Adontas.
Instagram: @by.jaydunn
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