With his roots firmly planted in Maltese history, a powerful spiritually based friendship with his medium muse, and the very real possibility he is a distant relative of pop princess Britney Spears begs so many questions ... but, for a few moments, fall into the spell of the powerful songs from his debut album, 1565 Patiently Waiting, and you just might find some answers. The album is a gentle mix of balladry and mid-tempo rockers and needs time to wash over you - the more you listen and allow the songs to settle, the more they resonate and stay with you. It’s what people in music circles call “a grower”.

A troubadour with music in his veins, it all started when a young Joseph Portelli, aged 5, grabbed some sticks and made drums out of upside-down buckets in the wash-house of his family’s village home in Malta.

Jay P has forged a steely resolve. Positive, spiritual and deeply passionate, Jay P admits, “You live and learn. You have to experience some darkness to see the light”. And with that light comes a positive outlook on life, doing things his own way and, of course, his trusty acoustic guitar - his one constant in life.

Ultimately at peace with himself and armed with a clear vision of the road ahead, Jay P’s contemporary pop singer-songwriter style harks back to the 1970s and to watch and hear him perform is to witness the mesmerising aura that comes with the ‘Jay P live experience’. His songs gently command your attention and, indeed, it’s impossible not to draw comparisons with British songsmith James Blunt - though Jay P’s ever-growing allegiance of loyal fans around Melbourne will quickly point out that while “Blunt’s music swirls around the heart, Jay P’s songs will pierce it”.

There’s a tenderness in his trademark falsetto. Distinctively sweet and natural vocals that can make your heart ache with their soaring intensity one minute, then swell with optimism the next as he revs up a mid-tempo catchy chorus. 1565 Patiently Waiting offers much diversity, from the sweet balladry and powerful lyrics of the title track, inspired by the true events of the 1565 Great Siege of Malta, and tender Think Ahead To Go Ahead, through to the Beatles-esque bounce of Love, co-written with Gary Pinto, and pop-rock infectiousness of Rain.

Jay P says his songs come straight from the heart. And while they contain stories of highs and lows, love and loss, ironically there’s not a romantic love song on the album, as such. He keeps it real. “It’s me. They’re real. They’re based on real issues and people, real experiences,’’ Jay P explains. “Life’s Too Short – it’s about Adam Basil, my friend and champion runner who ran at the Athens Olympics in the relay. It happened. Love (co-written by Gary Pinto) – it’s happening. Goodbye – it’s all about how we can be close to somebody and then when we part from them, they don’t mean anything to you. Beautiful World – it’s a sort of sarcastic song saying, ‘Yeah, we are in a beautiful world but how beautiful are we making it? Are we screwing it up?’ ”

And what is Jay P trying to achieve with this album named after the Great Siege of Malta? “Just to get my music out there and touch people with it. There is a grain of positivity going through the album. A message to get up and move on with life because it’s too short. Do the simple things that make you happy, take some risks and get the most out of your life.”