Jan Delay (born Jan Phillip Eißfeldt; 25 August 1976) is a German singer, songwriter, and producer whose stylistic range includes mainly hip hop, reggae, dub and funk. An accomplished solo artist, he became known to the public as a member of the German bands Absolute Beginner and La Boom. He performed with his group 'Disko No.1' at the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany.
Delay was born in Hamburg on 25 August 1976. He attended the bilingual Helene-Lange-Gymnasium from 1986 to 1995. In the 1990s, he became known as one third of the pioneering German hip hop group Beginner. His stage name is a reference to Young Deenay, a pop music act in the 90s: the delay/echo is an important effect in reggae and dancehall music.
Jan Delay's most significant trademark is his somewhat nasal voice. He also frequently changes his stage name depending on his current music style, mood, and collaboration partners. Bald, he often wears a hat and sunglasses.