Meet Jay Edwards

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jay Edwards. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jay below.

Hi Jay, so happy to have you with us today and there is so much we want to ask you about. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others developed certain skills or qualities that we are struggling with can be helpful. Along those lines, we’d love to hear from you about how you developed your ability to take risk?
One of the biggest decisions of my life was to change my major in college. I say “decision” because at the time I thought it was an actual “risk”, meaning that if I deviated from my original Music Production degree & got a General Studies degree with a focus in music, that I would be doing my career a disservice. It was January of my junior year & I had come to realize I had earned 120 credit-hours. So, after a couple weeks of asking people what their advice was, I made the decision to switch over to a different major so I could graduate early. The three big takeaways I got from this decision were that I was totally in control over this aspect of my life, that a degree doesn’t define your value or potential for success, & that peoples’ advice totally depends on their life experiences & world view. Later that year I moved to Houston, TX in my car, where I would meet some really kind people who supported me in my dream to do van-life in LA. Every risk I’ve taken has always been well-thought-out & worthwhile. I would encourage others to really think about what they want their life to be & take action to make that happen.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My day job is teaching music to people one-on-one. I teach voice, drums, piano, guitar, ukulele, bass, & recording! I provide online as well as in-home lessons where I drive to clients. I love helping people pick up a new instrument, learn their favorite song, or empower them to play things they never thought were possible. I’m always taking new clients, so hit me up if you’re interested, readers! I’m also in a pop punk band called, “You Were Never Lovelier”, which just released a new, silly music video for our song, “Alone Now”. I love creating & performing music that allows people to “let go”, whether that means you’re singing along with the band at a show having the dandiest time of your life or crying along to a song in your car after a rough day. I also do this fun gig called, “Rockstar Singing Telegrams” where I dress up like a rockstar & surprise people with a song & balloons for their birthday, anniversary, or whatever other occasion! (see picture)

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Not being afraid to mess up and not caring about what others think has served me well. I received plenty of commentary – disguised as light-hearted jokes – about my van & the lifestyle I was choosing, which would have derailed my plan of moving to LA and starting a band if I really took peoples’ opinions to heart. “It’s my life”, as Bon Jovi said, and I’m gonna do what makes me happy. Being resourceful is also another great skill to hone. Can you offer a service in exchange for something else (I’m thinking about making music videos with not much money)? Can you do something yourself with a little training/work (such as constructing a home inside a van)? I wanted to move to LA as soon as possible, so instead of staying in my hometown & working for YEARS to save up enough to comfortably move, I got creative and landed on van-living as the answer. Another good skill or character trait is persistence. There were days when I felt like giving up on recording music or building in that van, but I pushed through the discomfort, made it happen, & it always paid off.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?
I’m actually in need of new band members since the current bandmates are swapping out. I need a bassist, lead guitarist, drummer, & there’s room for an unclean (screaming) vocalist. “You Were Never Lovelier’s” influences include Mayday Parade, A Day to Remember, State Champs, Get Scared, & Beartooth. If you like those bands, are proficient in your instrument, & are interested in making a business with original music, then DM me on social media (@jayedwardsmusic or @neverlovelierband).

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