Perpetual Change — Jay Jay

Jay Jay

Late last year, our editor Angela Gardner told me about a “local girl” in the Philadelphia area by the name of Jay Jay who is becoming a well known acoustic musician. As with most things and contacts regarding this and my companion TransVocalizers column, it took a while to establish contact with Jay Jay. And, since I had more than one interview and/or review “in the can” as it was, I’m only just now getting around to featuring this wonderful performer.

This is a good way to start off a new year, though. Jay Jay is a seasoned, accomplished acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter who is very dedicated to the craft of music making. “Music is the key to all things in my life,” she says on her website. “It ties together everything that has touched and shaped me into the person I am today and forever.”

Jay Jay has graciously consented to undergo the rigorous Perpetual Change interview process — and, she survived. We are proud to introduce this talented lady to TGForum.

TGForum: I know that you live in the Philadelphia area. Are you originally from there?

Jay Jay: Yes, I was born in the Philadelphia city limits, but moved to thte suburbs while I was still in grade school.

TGF: Would you mind sharing a little background information, such as how long have you been playing, and do you have any formal musical training?

JJ: I have always remembered loving music. My first exposure to music was listening to my older sister’s 45s when I was young. I was captivated by the sounds and feelings of the songs.

I am generally self-taught, however I took voice, piano and guitar lessons as a kid. Was never able to stick with a structured learning schedule and didn’t progress much with my instruments. I really didn’t get interested in actually playing music until one day a friend of mine sold me his guitar for $50. By this time, I was 19 and for whatever reason I dove into learning how to play. Things didn’t get really serious until I met a friend who also played. We decided to start a duo and that was like 25 years ago. I have been playing in various bands since then. I only recently started performing as Jay Jay. I also bill myself as Jaya.

A girlfriend and I had been wanting to go to Sister’s nightclub in Philadelphia for ages. We finally got to go, and the night we went, a wonderful woman named Dani Mari was hosting an open mic. Dani Mari stops over to us at the bar and asks if anyone wants to perform. My girlfriend says, “She plays….” So I play and get a very good response from the audience. Later that night, Dani Mari asks if I will come back next month and be the featured performer. Unfortunately, Sister’s closed it’s doors a few days later.

Until I played at Sister’s, I wondered how, or if, I ever would play music after transitioning. Now I have a foothold into something that makes the reality of playing alive for me. I would absolutely be crushed if I couldn’t perform.

TGF: These are questions I always ask: what were your influences growing up, and what do you listen to now?

JJ: I went through a lot of influences as I got older and discovered new music. At first it was the standard fare: AM radio stuff, Beatles, Stones, etc. As a teen, I got into more progressive rock music like Yes, Genesis, King Crimson; then New Wave, Punk, Funk/R&B. Now I can find some common ground with all styles of music. I like everything and get inspiration from everything. I love being turned on to new music. I like songs with harmony and melody, with inspiring lyrics, and music that makes you feel something.

Casual Jay Jay

TGF: How often do you perform and at what type of venues?

JJ: Depending on the time of year, I perform from 4 to 12 shows a month, sometimes more. Since I am still mid-transition, I play most of my gigs as my birth gender. As I transition, I am also starting to transition my music and performing. The type of venues I play are generally small to mid-size restaurants, taverns, bars, and parties. I usually play mostly cover material and a small selection of originals.

TGF: As a solo/acoustic artist, is it easier for you to work different types of smaller venues?

JJ: Yes, definitely. I have only been doing the solo thing now for about 4 years. Before that I was in bands and it was difficult finding places to play. Even as a solo performer, I sometimes find it difficult to find places to play. There is a lot of competition from DJs, Internet jukeboxes, karaoke, quizzo, and a host of other entertainment things places are using to draw crowds. I found that it’s easier to squeak into a place as a solo performer because I can do it within a price owners and managers can handle. The economy has affected all places of business. A number of places I used to play don’t have live music anymore. .

Generally, too, I notice that people are not “into” live music as much. Maybe it’s the overflow of technology that we are bored with entertainment since it’s as close to us as our smart phone. I sometimes go a whole night without someone clapping after a song, but other nights you get a few people who are into the music and enjoy themselves. I played an outdoor Harvest Festival and an older gentleman came up to me after the show and thanked for the music, and said I had made his day. What a compliment. Music has power.

TGF: Over the last couple of years, acoustic music, and in particular folk, has gotten a lot of mainstream attention. Has this helped artists such as yourself?

JJ: I think yes. Bands like Mumford and Son, The Lumineers, show that by stripping down the sound and getting sway from overly produced music and auto correction and other technology … I think music goes in cycles. There’s only so much you can do with the notes and chords that we have, and the instruments. So until someone creates different instruments or discovers some other forms of music, maybe from outside this world, we have maybe heard it all at this point. Styles go in and out of vogue and right now a stripped down style seems to fit where we are at this point. Bet it changes in a few years.

TGF: How involved are you in GLBT politics?

JJ: Not as much as I want to be. To be dreadfully honest, I am still working out a lot of things with my spouse and how to handle transitioning. We have a young child and I want to make sure everyone is comfortable with how far this goes and the timetable. I am taking things day by day and trying not to be selfish about my needs. After many years, I am getting more and more honest with my spouse about my being Transgender and it has been really, really difficult for her. I have had to make concessions for doing what I want to do, so I am able to only express myself outside in the community a few times a month. Last year I was a participant in a fashion show that supports the Philly Trans March. I performed at the Philadelphia Gender Reel Festival.

I hope to do more in the future. I believe we need to stand up for who and what we are. We all can’t stand on the backs of the brave people who fight this fight everyday. A good portion of my songs deal with mine and other’s trans issues. I hope that I can bring awareness through the media of music, similar to the way the song Same Love by Macklemore and Lewis does.

A clip from Jay Jay’s Alone, performed live

TGF: If you had one thing to say to the transgender community, what would it be?

JJ: That we are the most courageous and real people I have ever met. A magical blend of everything a human should be. I really believe that we may be the pre-cursor to what humans may evolve to some time in the future, where people are seen as people, not male, female, black, white, gay, straight, whatever. Or, I might just watch too much Sci-Fi….

TGF: What would you offer by way of advice to young musicians, trans or not, who are just starting out?

JJ: Easy, and I borrowed this. I hear the actor Chazz Palminteri (writer/actor of Bronx Tale) say it recently in an interview, but it’s been my unofficial credo, too: When you get an opportunity to play music, (or in his case, act), you do it. Actors act, musicians play. The only way you get good at doing something is to do it, and do it in front of people. Don’t get hung up on making a buck. The best exposure is letting people hear and see you.

TGF: In closing, are there any future plans you can share at this time, or anything you’d really like to say?

JJ: Well, I am currently recording new material and plan on putting a Jaya CD out soon. I have decided to cut back on my cover material schedule and focus on performing my originals at more places. So make sure you keep up with my doings at my website. Also, make sure you contact me for entertainment needs especially for the GLBT community.

ALSO THIS MONTH

Our Lady J

Our Lady J will be in concert with Terra Naomi at WitZend, 1717 Lincoln Blvd., Venice, CA on Wednesday, Jan. 15th, 8 p.m.. Tickets are $10.

David de Alba

David as Judy

David de Alba was recently interviewed by the local Fox News affiliate in Las Vega, NV about his extensive collection of Judy Garland memorabilia. He has posted a YouTube video of this interview.

Justin Vivian Bond

Justin Vivian Bond, a.k.a. V, has announced that he willb e appearing in a new production of Bertolt Brecht’s A Man’s A Man at The Classic Stage Company (136 East 13th St., NYC) throughout January until February 12th. For more of V’s upcoming performances, please check out v’s website.

Georgie Jessup

Georgie Jessup will be hosting an open mic night with guest Jacob Panic on February 1st at Edith May’s Paradise, and on February 22nd, she will be hosting The Geoffrey Himes Trio. (Follow Edith May’s Paradise on Facebook.)

Tags: featured, music, Musician, Transgender

Category: Music