Meet JAM: Singer-songwriter & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with JAM and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi JAM, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
Everyone has a creative gift in this life. It’s up to us to discover what they are; and tend to them like seeds that will one day grow into a flourishing forest. Whether that’s being an excellent mechanic, painter, poet or baker we all have infinite potential to create. It’s human nature. I was blessed to discover that music was my gift at a young age. Music fills me with purpose and meaning. It takes people out of their mind and into the present moment. All the stresses of your life are forgotten and you are timeless while the music frees your soul. It’s a beautiful thing. Being able to share that with people is why I chose this path.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a singer-songwriter with the intention to bring more love and joy into the world through music. I believe one thing that sets me apart is my aspiration to share positive energy with my audience. That’s what it is all about. Music reaches deep into our limbic system and is linked to relaxing parts of the brain that are associated with fear and negative emotions. Have you ever been in a bad mood and then put on an upbeat song? I bet you started to feel better! That’s my goal when I’m in the studio recording or performing live. If I move one person, and make them feel better about their day, or an area of their life even if it’s just for a moment then I am living my dharma. I’m really excited about everything that the new year has in store. I’m planning on releasing some fresh music in January of 2021 and have some really big things on the horizon. I got to where I am today because of the beloved support of my family, friends and fans. Together we have gone through a lot in 2020 and its made us stronger. Strong winds create strong roots. One of the principles that the Buddha teaches is that suffering is inexorable. We cannot go through life without experiencing it, but don’t wait for it to pass to be happy. There is joy in every moment. We must shift our perspective to discover it. In the wise words of Napoleon Hill, “with every adversity there is an equivalent or greater benefit.” Regardless of the tribulations there is always a glimmer of hope. It might not be easy, but that light at the end of the tunnel is what guides us through to brighter and better days. It’s because of the dark void of space that we are able to see the stars. The moments when we feel defeated, broken and alone are when we are actually so close to reaching our greatest potential. That is one thing I have learned along the way. Have you ever heard the story about being three feet from gold? It’s about this ambitions miner that went out west during the gold rush to become rich. If only he knew that truly being rich is merely a state of mind. After weeks of excavating with a pickaxe and shovel he started to hit ore; so he poured all of his money and time into the project and then the vein of ore disappeared. He had his crew keep digging and digging, and then finally they gave up. He sold the mine to a trash collector for only a couple hundred bucks. The person he sold it to brought in a mining engineer to see if there was still a chance of striking big. Little did the original owner know he was only three feet from his dream. All he had to do was seek council from someone that knew more than him about mining to figure that out. So never, ever give up on your dreams. They’ll take you where you’re destined to go. Just trust the process and enjoy the ride.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
That’s an interesting question. If I had a friend vistiting from out of town I would defiantly take them to the Coronado Restaurant in Phoenix. It’s my favorite vegan restaurant in town and even friends that I bring there who aren’t vegan love the vibe and the food. Plus they have really good craft beers… can’t beat that! Honestly, I would probably hit up my buddy that owns the Best Western in Sedona and book some rooms there for the rest of the week. It’s my favorite place to stay up north. It’s right on Oak Creek and the rooms are epic! During the stay in Sedona I would take the homie to the Amitabha Stupa and Peace Park for a serene hike, maybe head to Flagstaff to see a show at the Orpheum Theatre and then if we have time go to Jerome for a ghost tour or to hit up Maynard James Keenan’s winery.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I wouldn’t be the artist I am today if it wasn’t for the love, support and encouragement instilled in me by my family. Each of them played a meaningful role in my life that inspired me to pursue a career in music. I come from a very creative family. My grandmother on my mom’s side is an artist, her brother, my great uncle was a guitar player and their father also played music; so I was constantly singing and dancing as a kid and around creativity. My dad is a huge music fan and he would always put on Yellow Submarine by the Beatles or The Blues Brothers (film) for me growing up. I would jump up on the couch singing to Ray Charles playing Shake A Tail Feather and I fell in love with music from that moment forward. It’s the little things your parents tell you that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. My mom and dad would always let me know I had a good voice, and that seed planted in my mind is probably the reason why I kept progressing. I owe a lot of credit to my mother, for being the source of inspiration behind my positive mental attitude. She introduced me to an author named Louis L. Hay when I was in Highschool. Coming across her work was an awakening for me that the atmosphere of your mind reflects the quality of your life.

Website: https://jamnowmusic.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jam_now/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jam__now
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/JAMNOWMUSIC/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JAMNOW
Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4OijHOzKJpLlXPo0kP9RIv?si=uWxdqWjhQ1S4vW8nPd7B1Q

Image Credits
Please tag Surrealsister Photography