Walk me through your journey from coming out as Jayson to realizing you had a vocal gift to producing your own music to becoming Jayse Vegas…
That is a lot.
Okay, once upon a time, not long ago…
No, just kidding.
I came out at the age of 14 or 15, right before my freshman year of High School. This is a funny story. I had always been picked on for being a “very flamboyant” boy. The way I spoke, walked, even ran, was looked upon as “not boy enough”, and it SUCKED cause I didn’t understand. I was young, I loved to sing, I loved to dance, I loved girls and I LOVED HILARY DUFF UNAPOLOGETICALLY. I had about about a thousand “girlfriends” too, not to be a beard or to hide anything from anyone, but because I was really into girls.Honestly, I’m gay because a girl broke my heart, and at an early age I said if not you then no one else. No. just kidding. Haha. BUT. Kinda not really. My little teenage heart was broken cause I was a stupid boy, and I met this boy at an audition. He was my first openly gay friends, who eventually became someone I spoke to EVERYDAY. I had no issues with looking at another guy and complimenting them on their looks – I was comfortable with my own interests. I also had no clue I was actually gay. It was up until I released I had a crush on this new friend, actually. We had only seen each other maybe once or twice after that audition, but his personality was so attractive. He made me laugh, he cared, he was talented too!! I remember texting him like “yo, I think I like you…” and his response was “ aww, Jayson, I like you too buddy”, and that was followed by “NO, lolz, I actually like you, like you”…
It took me months to come to terms with it. I didn’t realize that it was thing for me, and not only that but the people around me definitely made it seem like it was a bad thing. Being Gay. I had not fantasized about another guy, I might’ve thought one a boy or two were cute, BUT I THOUGHT I WAS CUTE, and I’M A BOY….so…? I don’t know, it was all so weird. I was young, and I shouldn’t have had to face the amount of hate and judgement I faced. Those pressures put on top of a child are so damaging.
I should have never had to go through half the things I went through. The name calling, the harassment, the threats from strangers, the threats from family members. Why was I 14 being asked “So, you want to have sex with men”… NO, well yea, BUT I’M 14, I WANT TO PLAY YU-GI-OH AND NOT GET TERRORIZED FOR BEING DIFFERENT. Why was I 15-16 and being told that I’m “going to hell” and “jesus hates me for being sick with homosexuality”…
It’s funny because once I embraced it – once I wore it proudly, all the hate around me slowed down – because at some point it was either DEAL WITH IT, or LOOK THE OTHER WAY , OR… WE COULD FIGHT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO.
My love for singing and dancing goes as far back as any of my memories allow. I was performing at almost every chance given as a kid.The stage was where I felt alive. Jayse Vegas has always been inside of me, he’s always been Jayson but with the spotlight on him. I started taking this serious in late 2013, early 2014. I never went to college, I had plans that I would work for this in a different way. I took a year off from school after graduating HS in 2012, and in that year I went through so much that in the end I was like, “No more being stupid. No more distractions.”. I got a job, and I put every penny ever made into getting the life I wanted to live. That life involved making JAYSE VEGAS a reality.
Music has saved my life so many times.
At an early age I was experiencing a lot. Abandonment issues, I was borderline facing anorexia at like 13, my family had almost been edited twice before I even became a teen, I COULD GO ON. I seen some dark days. But no matter how black the skies turned, if I put on the right songs, if I put on some Whitney Houston, some LINKIN PARK… there was always going to be a rainbow after the storm.
I want to help others, the way others helped me though life, and that’s with the power of music.
What inspires your music? Where and through which artists do you find your inspiration?
Music inspires my music. My love and passion for music inspires everything you hear and experience from me. It is my form of expression. My get away. I love being able to sing my emotions, and feelings, and thoughts, and points of view on my life experiences and the lives that are around me.
I love artists that made their passion their life.
Artists that sacrifice(d) for their dreams.
Madonna. It’s a gay man’s cliché, but she’s someone who definitely puts me in my zone and, helps keep the fear out of my head. I’m inspired by her and those who understand what “actions speak louder than words” means. Whether it be with political actions, fashion statements, or with demonstrating what real LOVE is (on the inside and out) – artist who use their platforms to make the world a better place are the ones I like to keep an eye on.
That’s why I spend so much time with Drag Queens. I can’t speak for all of them, but my friends are all activists in their own ways. All pushing their careers to prove to other younger LGBT children that ANYTHING is possible, and a future with more love for our community is real. They inspire the shit of me!!!! I know some of the coolest guys and gals because of my nightlife experiences, that are fierce as f*ck.
All of my music is written by me. Surprisingly, a lot of artists may not have too much influence on my song writing though!
My song lyrics are inspired by instrumental playlists, or jingles I come up with myself. I like to speak about my life experiences, like i said – my music is a piece of my journal in a way.
You’ve been happily taken for quite some time now, how has that support helped you grow as a person and an artist?
My boyfriend is unusually understanding, HIGHLY patient, and respectful when it comes to JAYSE VEGAS. He’s always had an open mind, and keeps pushing me to do everything I want to do despite what others think. There is an incredible amount of communication, and honesty between us that keeps us running so smoothly. This lifestyle comes with a lot of late nights, a lot of weird mood swings, and whole lot of stress that tears me down on a daily, but, there is a lot of inspiration and motivation that comes from someone who loves you unconditionally. As an artist you need someone who allows you to be fully free, someone who wants to be as free as you. I am a completely different person from who I was a year and a half ago, and he definetly plays a role in that.
What is your most memorable performance? Where was I️t and why did I️t touch you so much?
This is the hardest question. THERE ARE SOOO MANY!!! OK. There are two!
One performance that solidified this whole “I’m going to be a performer for the rest of my life” thing, comes from my sophomore year of High School. I sang a cheesy little cover of Katy Perry’s TEENAGE DREAM, and went into Nicki Minaj ’s ROMAN’S REVENGE – The performance was ALRIGHT for a 15 year old, at his High School’s Talent Show – but , the staff and teachers of the school had to form a human barricade because the audience was so excited they tried to bum-brush the stage. It was the first time I had ever heard my name being screamed and chanted that loud by so many people. It was just a High School Talent Show performance, but for those 5-6 minutes of my life it I felt like I was at my own concert, and EVERYONE was there to see me. That was one of the first times I got off a stage and felt complete. I felt like I had reason and I felt that there was nothing else I’d rather do with my life.
Fast forward about six years, to this past September. At the TAKE WHAT YOU NEED FUNDRAISER – my first ever “JAYSE VEGAS PRESENTS” event – I’ll never forget the feeling of anxiety being destroyed by satisfaction and accomplishment. I remember after my performance – again, not an amazing performance – all the emotions that ran through me. I had just closed out this beautiful event at this beautiful venue for an amazing cause, with the help of my super talented friends… It was moment of “OH, bitch, we’re doing this!! Look at what you’re capable of!!!”.
I could tell you all about my high production numbers, where I’ve had dancers and crazy shit happening around me, but those two moments of my life were defining.
If you could give one piece of advice to another aspiring young artist such as yourself, what would it be?
Perseverance is KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is ALL ABOUT COMMITMENT.
If you’re an aspiring artist like myself, then you already know what you want, and that the end goal is not a hop, jump, and a skip away. It’s more like taking public transportation from New York to Southern California, and having little to no friends in each state between OR there. This is not an easy thing to do. I can’t give too much advise because I’m still figuring things out myself – it’s like every time I think I got it, NOPE – but, that’s why I say being persistent is the BEST way to go about it. IF this is something you want, IT IS UP TO YOU TO GET IT!!!!!! Yes, you’re going to endure a lot of unnecessary criticism, a lot of people are going to change up on you and around you, YES, you’re going to cry a lot because this means so much to you and yes, you’re going to contemplate giving up a thousand times because another door has slammed in your face. But if you’re an artist like me, you know that no amount of pain will ever over power the amount of happiness you’re going to receive when you get to your end goal. Be PERSISTENT with your craft.
What can we expect coming from Jayse Vegas in the future?
Jayse Vegas doesn’t even know what to expect from Jayse Vegas anymore.
Haha, well, lets see…
We’re shooting my next music video soon , and planning on releasing it in January. The concept revolves around FIGHT CLUB and the LGBTQ Night Life. So get ready for some literal wig snatching!
Besides that, I can’t tell you what to expect, but I can expect everyone watching to either go “YASSSSSSSSSS” or “look the other way”, as per usual.
