Jay Bowman - singer, guitarist, songwriter, and yogi - sits in his recording studio with his legs curled up on his seat like a 12-year-old. He's moving, shifting, and fidgeting incessantly while running his fingers through his hair in a habitual, yet purposeful sort of way. It is this non-stop energy that defines him as an artist. Listen to him talk freely about his life's passion - creating music - and it is abundantly clear that behind his youthful impulsiveness is an unmistakably mature resolve. It is this trait that has enabled him to find his voice...again.
For eight months in 2004, Jay had no voice. "I was coming off of a tour in Spain and I lost the top end of my voice. I thought I was just tired and was getting off of a cold. But then two months passed and I still had no top end." Jay went to his otolaryngologist (ENT) physician who found a throat polyp the size of a dime. According to Jay, singing or speaking at over 80 decibels of sound for over 30 minutes and singing with rasp can eventually lead to polyps. He had been doing both. Jay faced a daunting treatment regimen - cortisone injections and voice rest. He complied and didn't utter a word (or note) for eight long months. He communicated with paper and pen. His discipline paid off. The polyp shrunk to the size of a pebble and his surgeon was able to perform surgery to remove it. This experience taught Jay a valuable lesson about the delicate and sensitive nature of one's voice and how to preserve his gift: "It was a godsend getting that condition - it really introduced me to technique and the proper way to talk."
Years before he regained his voice, Jay admits, "I had no clue what my voice was or how to find my voice." At the time that Jay came to this realization, he happened to be working as an elevator operator in the same building where John Scott was teaching voice lessons. Jay would hear voices through the door and took it as a sign - he met up with John Scott and their partnership began.
Performing was nothing new to Jay when he started his vocal training with John. He had been in bands since he was 15. He was a guitarist and co-writer of songs for his first band, Groove Yard. Jay later got his first taste of commercial success at age 19, when he signed a record deal and moved to San Francisco, which has been his home base since. But after a whirlwind of events with his band and some soul searching, Jay realized that he needed and wanted to bring his singing abilities up to par with his guitar skills. He had no vocal technique. He needed formal training.
Singing and developing his technique with John Scott was an enlightening and inspiring experience for Jay. Jay was determined to "find his voice." When asked why he loves singing, Jay says that, "It is the most expressive art form . . . it is the most direct link to your soul. It moved me the most - my mind, body, everything." Jay had found his calling and was determined to be, first and foremost, a singer.
In John Scott, Jay found a teacher and friend that shared his perspective on life - "He gave me patience and encouragement and showed me the way. He had faith in me, which I really needed." After six years of studying with John, Jay's voice has been transformed, and he is more than able to make a living off of his voice. He is currently working on a solo record and performs across the country as both a solo artist and with other bands, including: Michael Franti and Spearhead and Late Night Sneaky. He also does music spots for TV commercials, writes music for movies, and works on projects with renowned artists such as Pink and Sting. Unequivocally, Jay attributes the turnaround of his voice to John's focus on "technique, technique, technique."
But his success doesn't come without hard work. Jay's "play time" is working with friends and fellow musicians in the studio. He hones his vocal skills with at least one hour per day of singing. One of the most useful skills he has learned from John to improve his performance style is to rehearse in front of a mirror - it has done wonders in refining his stage appearance.
Jay has put his new and improved voice and stage presence to work all over the world, performing in southern Spain, San Francisco (sold out show at The Fillmore), Hawaii, Miami, New York, Colorado, Oregon, and Canada. For Jay, a self-proclaimed "Navy brat," touring the world and making friends is a way of life. He performs at least twice a week, sometimes at a concert venue, sometimes at a bar, and sometimes at more unique venues like Alicia Silverstone's wedding at a Tahoe mansion.
For his new solo album, Jay is focused on creating a mainstream rock and roll sound infused with his unique outlook on life - a message of hope, faith, and perseverance that speaks to a broad audience. "Don't give up. There is always hope, and you just gotta believe. That's what I'm working to express to as many people as I can everyday."
Jay's perspective on life is firmly rooted in his blood - he is half Native American and is eager to share his message with his community, performing at various events such as the Unthanksgiving Day Ceremony on Alcatraz . His heritage has played a crucial role in who he is today, and he firmly believes that "You need to know where you came from." Listening to Jay's rich, powerful, and honest voice, it is clear that he knows where he came from and is determined to pave a way for the road ahead.