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CG Interviews Pop Artist Jay Loftus!
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Twenty-four-year-old pop singer Jay Loftus believes it is his time to shine in the music industry, a...Twenty-four-year-old pop singer Jay Loftus believes it is his time to shine in the music industry, and his songs definitely back up his goals. Jay is currently working on an E.P. and has released “Fortune Cookie,” “Velvet Arms,” “Mona Lisa” and “The Time Traveler,” all soft-pop tunes that are soothing, melodic and easy to listen to.
Strangely enough, Jay has never actually taken a formal vocal lesson in his life; however, from a young age he knew he wanted to be a singer: “[ I can remember] sitting in the waiting room of my piano teachers house, waiting for my mom’s piano lessons to be finished. Looking up at a picture on the wall of my music teacher’s son who was in a famous hair metal band at the time and thinking it would be cool if that was my mom with a picture of me on her wall.”
While Jay has loved every minute of his music career so far, he says it is “being able to meet new people” that is what makes his job so amazing.
Read on for College Gloss’s exclusive interview with Jay Loftus...
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Jay Loftus Is More Talented Than John Mayer
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Lately, I’ve been wondering – where’s John Mayer? He’s been conspicuously absent from the interwebs ...Lately, I’ve been wondering – where’s John Mayer? He’s been conspicuously absent from the interwebs lately. Shouldn’t he be calling somebody “sexual napalm,” or at least promoting his new single? Some quick internet sleuthing reveals that, oddly enough, he’s been hanging out in my hometown of Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It’s cool, John, you can stay there. Because there’s another guy with a guitar that we’d rather listen to.
New Jersey native Jay Loftus caught our attention with his irresistibly catchy melodies and fresh sound. He’s taken to YouTube to display his versatility, mixing in his originals with a wide range of covers. His talent, along with his humble, relatable personality, has us feeling pretty confident that we’ll be seeing a lot more of him in the near future.
If you live in New York City, you might just catch Jay playing a song or two in the subway. He also admitted that he was once persuaded to serenade a group of girls while riding the Staten Island Ferry. So maybe, if you ask really nicely, he’ll sing a song just for you.
Check out our interview with Jay below.
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Exclusive Interview with Jay Loftus!
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If you’re looking to fall in love with a musician whose voice is enough to make you completely melt ...If you’re looking to fall in love with a musician whose voice is enough to make you completely melt into his velvet arms (we’re not even going to start talking about those brown eyes!), here he is—Jay Loftus—a name that’s impossible to forget once you press play.
This NYC-based musician is not only a phenomenal artist, but his goofiness, slight nerdiness, and ability to tell stories through his lyrics is something we can’t get enough of.
L20: Tell us about how you got started as a musician.
JL: I started really young—when I was 5 years old. My mom got me a piano lesson, and then from there at the age of 9, I started playing guitar—because guitar was cool. I stopped playing piano, and then started writing songs at the age of 12 and then went on from there. That’s pretty much it in a nutshell.
L20: And you had some troubles as a child with bullying. What would you tell your 12-year-old self now and all of the people who are going through the same issues?
JL: It might sound kinda harsh, but I would just say to deal with it. It’s not that big of a deal in the scheme of things, ya know? Stuff is really not worth getting that upset about and letting it ruin your life like that is not an option, because it’s just pointless.
L20: What inspires you and your lyrics?
JL: I like to think of myself as a storyteller. I remember my father always telling me he really likes how Bruce Springsteen paints a picture with his lyrics, so you can just close your eyes and see what he’s talking about. I’ve always thought that in the back of my mind—you really have to bring those people into that situation. When I record my songs in the studio, I sort of put myself back to the time when I wrote the song because that’s the time when you’re most raw emotions are going to come out.
There’s a song we recorded for the new album that’s not a sad song, but it’s kind of a bummer, so I had to put myself back into that frame of mind. For the rest of the day, I was all bummed out and pissed off. Laughs. I had to keep telling my friends I was sorry I was all pissed off, but I had to think about this stuff.
I like to live what I write and write what I live, and I feel like I continually connect with the people that listen to my music and I’m doing it for that reason—not just to sing songs.
L20: Do you have certain spots you like to write your music?
JL: I have one room in the house that I really like. It’s a little space I can escape to. But other than that, I do a lot of writing in my friend’s studio in New Jersey. It’s an escape from the city and a good place to clear my head and just write some thoughts down.
L20: I saw you’ve performed at a lot of colleges. Have you had any really memorable moments while you were on the stage?
JL: Yeah, the first college I played at was an all-girls college in Virginia, and Dave Matthews actually played there a couple times, too. I heard rumors he met his wife there—don’t quote me on that! Laughs. But the most memorable is my most recent college show, which was technically a sorority show that was in front of like 57 girls sitting on the floor in front of me and my two band mates. It was pretty intimidating, but it was a fun show and I definitely had a good time.
L20: They were probably sitting there drooling the whole time!
JL: They were definitely cute!
L20: While we’re on the subject, I asked our readers for some questions for you! To start them off, what do you look for in a woman?
JL: Somebody that can make fun of me and call me out when I’m being stupid, because I’m the first person to make fun of myself, so she has to have a good sense of humor. If I like someone, I’ll bust their chops, and I like somebody who’s going to be able to dish it back to me.
L20: And what are your deal-breakers?
JL: Clubfoot? No, just kidding. Laughs. Jealousy—definitely jealousy.
L20: What’s your dream date?
JL: Umm… this is tricky, because I don’t go on very conventional dates.
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Julia Nunes steps out of the cybersphere
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YouTube went from the computer screen to the stage on Friday, Feb. 3 as Julia Nunes with her ukulele...YouTube went from the computer screen to the stage on Friday, Feb. 3 as Julia Nunes with her ukulele and opener Jay Loftus performed at the Rathskeller.
The headliner played popular hits, many off of her new album “Settle Down.”
Nunes also played her own rendition of a stream of pop songs, including “Poker Face,” “Party Rock Anthem” and “Set Fire to the Rain.”
The YouTube star had the packed audience singing along and cheering throughout the set.
At one point, Nunes said, “I don’t know if you noticed, but my songs are really spiteful.”
As a result of this realization, Nunes played a love song.
She kept the energy alive as she played the ukelele and guitar.
Featured songs included “Nothings That Great” and “Stay Awake,”
among other hits.
In an interview, when describing her album, Nunes admitted, “It’s kind of just like a happy ukelele album.”
The album has 18 tracks, including three vignettes that break away from her typical style.
Nunes said that her YouTube fame was “accidental” and that its impact on her career was “less of a catapult and more of a slow rise.”
Opener Jay Loftus set the tone for the night as he played original songs off his new album, which was distributed for free after the show.
Loftus played songs called “Fortune Cookie” and “She Only Walks on Roses,” in addition to other original songs.
Loftus’ idea for “Fortune Cookie” literally stemmed from a fortune cookie: he was eating a fortune cookie one night when he received a fortune that read, “Your smile is a curve that can get a lot of things straight.”
This fortune compelled Loftus to look at two other fortunes and then write a song. He carries these fortunes around in a laminated card.
Unlike Nunes, Loftus is more reluctant about YouTube, as he feels that the site both helps and hurts careers.
Though Loftus believes that YouTube is an “animal” to tackle, he said in an interview with The Signal, “Plain and simply, my music would not be playing in Brazil right now.”
“It makes me more accessible worldwide,” he said.
Nunes can thank YouTube as her exposure landed her, most recently, on “Conan.” She also opened for Ben Folds multiple times in 2008.
To get more information about these rising stars, check out YouTube or go to their respective websites — junumusic.com and jayloftusmusic.com.
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Honorable Mentions for Spring Indie Feature
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A quick run-down on the artists we didn’t want to fail to notice this spring
honorable mentions i...A quick run-down on the artists we didn’t want to fail to notice this spring
honorable mentions imageReview by Ellen Eldridge
The indie feature was organized through SonicBids to provide indie artists – those acting as their own publicist or those for whom electronic press kits (EPK) are submitted by their publicist – an opportunity for a full-length feature in Target Audience Magazine. The Fall 2011 feature I wrote focused on what Dale Turner did so well with his EPK, and how he could teach other indie artists about marketing. The Winter 2012 feature showed how the inspiration from acting as the voice of JEM in the ’80s cartoon led Samantha Newark to forge her own way as a real pop icon. Every quarter I look for some aspect of an indie artist (band or singer/songwriter) to feature, and the staff gets a chance to decide what submissions to write regular reviews for. The submission fee paid by the band goes directly to the writers for reviews so the community aspect works well to encourage everyone’s dream.
With the submissions for the Spring 2012 issue, I just felt like these artists should receive more recognition that, ‘Sorry, we just don’t have the space for review.’
The Wiley One:
Love the artwork and the graffiti art heart showing off the EP title, Kill it With Love, because this band makes a dedicated effort to empower fans through charity. The band is well known for taking a powerful stance on spreading environmental awareness, working with many prestigious environmental companies and organizations such as Zero Hero, ACE Alliance for Climate Education and Disney’s Planet Challenge. The February release contains lyrics like, “I don’t want to swim in your shallow water; let’s go deeper” that could easily refer to an unhealthy relationship or to the power of getting involved with a great cause. This Phoenix band can be found at http://www.thewileyone.com
Jay Loftus:
This 24-year-old singer/songwriter defies the pretentious attitude adopted by many indie artists trying to stand out in a saturated market. His crisp vocals radiate melody and his lyrics venerate introspection about one’s place in everyday situations. His music is the kind of thing that coffee house patrons do not have to hide in their papers from awkwardly, but his ability to invigorate the casual listener will win him gigs. His personal voice in the submission is what won me over, and though I couldn’t find an angle worthy of an entire feature on indie artists I feel strongly that Loftus can teach other indie artists something about genuine sincerity:
In response to, “Briefly describe why we should write about you,” Loftus says, “Well, I guess it depends if you like my music or not. Otherwise, I’m like every other singer/songwriter out there struggling to get my music heard. It’s hard to stand out so, if I do stand out in your ears, then I think it’s worth writing about.”
Solar Spectrum: The Lonely King (Released April 2)
With the submission from Justin Street – now known as Solar Spectrum, I received a specific request for feedback should he not be selected for the feature. The immediate question upon hearing his music was, “Is it a bad thing to sound so much like another artist?” because the comparisons to Jimi Hendrix stood out like a pink elephant in a room full of sober hippies. His band has been gigging and writing music for the first EP for three years, and though the electronic press kit didn’t lead me to choose the band for a feature, I don’t feel it should be passed-by. This link allows folks to follow the process of mixing the album on their producer’s Soundcloud: http://soundcloud.com/eltoncharlesdrum
Photo by Luis Ramos Valencia
Gabrielle Wortman:
I keep thinking that I don’t like pop rock but singers like Gabrielle Wortman keep reminding me that I do get incredibly caught up when a singer can really sing. The fact that she has been booked through SonicBids over 50 times is not a testament to a lack of indie artists – it showcases the fact that she really deserves the attention she attracts! I’ll be the first to admit that a hot chick wearing only a bra may turn heads, but for me it’s the first indication of someone trying to be something he or she is not. Capitalizing on looks is exactly the kind of thing that makes me think I hate “pop rock” and love bands who use stunning artwork on album covers and hide their faces from promos to highlight the music. Well, this top-ranked ReverbNation artist has exactly what the major labels are looking for and that isn’t to say she can’t teach indie artists a thing or two. She writes that she is, “still an emerging artist, who has the potential to break in to a far larger space. I just hope it doesn’t come at the cost of the material becoming packaged in lip-gloss. I am writing this on the day that the death of Whitney Houston is breaking across the world and I am immediately drawn to a comparison in the strength of vocal. What is far more impressive is the structure of the sound, which has real depth, as she has crafted the out-put on the disparity of environs in which she has lived, with melody utilizing significant sharps and flats, to add emotional context to the out-put.”
She deserves to be heard: http://www.gabriellewortman.com
Alex the Great
I still don’t have a great deal to say about this band. Alex the Great was not chosen for feature, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t sit listening to the music for hours while doing other things. Just because I can’t always think of something witty or profound to say about an artist doesn’t mean there is no substance to it. I didn’t have the time to write a review and I didn’t see a feature-worthy angle, but the fact is that this band deserves to be heard by those who like pure music not too unlike southern rock with twangy guitar chords and vocal harmonies. The folksy take to the lyric writing recalls Dylan or even Kevn Kinney. “The Saint” plays in the press kit in parts one through three; The Saint is the title of the first EP. This new band will cross the ocean on the backs of fans who share the music they sit and listen to from their computer. http://alexthegreatmusic.com
Randy Vera:
This was close to being the feature because I absolutely LOVE the idea behind the writing of the songs. Vera is a family man with a master’s in comparative literature who claims his three daughters are his life and that hits home to me as well. His poetry-into-songs style of writing means that the accompanying instrumentation has specific reasoning like the creeping bass line that represents the art thief on “Here Made of Gone,” which is the title track on the album produced by AIAA platinum certified producer Anthony J. Resta (Elton John, The Twilight Films Soundtracks, Shawn Mullins, Duran Duran, and more). The song is about The Gardner Hiest in Boston. The Heist is being made into a Matt Damon/Mark Whalberg Film. This is feature worthy, but just wasn’t the choice I ultimately made. Do yourself a favor and check out: http://www.reverbnation.com/randyvera
Love Hate Rebellion:
This band is the reason I decided to do a sort of honorable mentions list – I loved the music, but didn’t have the time for a full review, and because they are based in Australia it may be a while before listeners in the States catch on. They sound similar to much of the mainstream music by ‘90s grunge bands and they consider their songs through a process of exploring the realms of human suffering not unlike the movie “What Dreams May Come.” Love Hate Rebellion just started out in 2011 and 2012 finds them touring and gathering great press so I really think music fans should give this a listen. http://www.lovehaterebellion.com
Oy Vey:
I swear the guitar in the beginning of “The Brooklyn Side” sounds like The Cure on Wish, and as soon as the vocals kick in I heard SonicYouth. By the time the chorus kicked in I didn’t feel it was fair to compare Oy Vey to anyone else, and though I didn’t choose them for the indie feature, I feel they shouldn’t be overlooked. Botanical Curiosity, Oy Vey’s debut album, was released early in 2011, and won universal praise for its high energy, ingenious melodies, and diverse arrangements. Even though the sophomore release, Recession Girls, just came out in February 14, it’s already included in MTV’s music publishing catalog. The band’s influences range from Springsteen to Daft Punk to Fleetwood Mac to MGMT, and with only two members in the band the sound’s size will blow you away. Check out Oy Vey’s Recession Girls: http://www.oyveyband.com
Article 66:
These Florida natives have been on our radar since they enter the “Win A Photo Shoot” contest in 2009. The biggest thing going against them is the production quality because the talent is there and so is the songwriting ability. Combining the influences of musicians as varied as Eric Clapton, Dream Theater, Tool, and Red Hot Chili Peppers gives fans a lot to love about this band. Take the time to check them out: http://www.article66.com
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Living Room Sessions with Jay Loftus
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In the second video of the series, Jay Loftus performs "Fortune Cookie" in his living room At The Cr...In the second video of the series, Jay Loftus performs "Fortune Cookie" in his living room At The Crossroads!
Follow Jay @ImJayLoftus
Follow the Crosstitutes @atTheXRoads
Love up on Jay at Facebook.com/jayloftusmusic
and love up on us at facebook.com/atthexroads
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Lights Out! Playlist
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Sometimes us girls just want to get dirty in our own homes, without any spectators or players. Just ...Sometimes us girls just want to get dirty in our own homes, without any spectators or players. Just us, a scandalous pair of lingerie, and an inviting bed. Here are some sexy songs (from my playlist to yours) to help set the mood!
1. “Looks Like Sex” — Mike Posner
2. “Right There” — Nicole Scherzinger feat. 50 Cent
3. “In The Dark” — Dev
4. “Dirty Talk” — Wynter Gordon feat. David Guetta
5. “Top of the World” — The Cataracs
6. “Birthday Dress” — Lil Playy
7. “Dangerous Girl” — Jay Loftus
8. “Sex 101? — Jay Sean feat. Tyga
9. “Brunettes (Do it Better)” — Kid Force
10. “Girls on the Dance Floor” — Far East Movement
11. “If I Was You (OMG)” — Far East Movement feat. Snoop Dogg
12. “Say Ahhh” — Trey Songz feat. Fabolous
13. “Take Me On the Floor” — The Veronicas
14. “Good Girls Go Bad” — Cobra Starships feat. Leighton Meester
15. “Dirty Picture” — Taio Cruz feat. Ke$ha
supersonic
