Jay Gummer

A talented singer/songwriter with influences ranging from The Smiths to The Talking Heads, Jay Gummer exhibited a passion for music at a young age. Based in his hometown of Dallas, Texas, Jay auditioned for a local band as a drummer at the age of 14. After the group disbanded in 1990, Jay learned the guitar and the art of being a frontman. At the age of 16, he was a budding singer/songwriter.

Eager to hone his skills, Jay started recording with others and playing live in Dallas-area shows. Ultimately, he teamed up with Beatles-inspired producer Salim Nourallah which spawned the mature and unique style of Jay’s indie sound.

In 2006, Jay released his first solo EP, Push. This first crop of songs are upbeat and raw while the lyrics are relevant and seem to be directed both to the listener and the artist himself. Track number 2, “Attacking,” has a strong driving sound and great harmonization and is still considered a fan favorite.

His second EP, “Ask Me Nicely,” was released in 2008 and quickly earned strong praise from musicians and aficionados alike. Track 3, “Don’t Go,” won “Best Song” on Garageband.com, a popular music-review website.

Jay’s third release was his first solo LP. Ironically named “Airbourne,” the album was released in 2010 with CD art that features a dusty plane crash. This juxtaposition — flight vs. crash — is a concept Jay has played with thematically throughout his career. The single ‘Stirring Thoughts’ belies the romance of its title and is about the burden of an unshakeable chemical imbalance while the title track, “Airbourne,” describes the hubris of those that fly too high and then invariably crash.

With his latest release, “Looking for the Exit,” Jay teamed up with the talented Deathray Davies frontman John Dufilho for engineering and contributions. A bonus production was the single “The Spinning in the Next Room.” Madisen Gummer shot and edited the cover artwork for both projects.

After years of performing, Jay now enjoys tracking and arranging nearly exclusively. He continues to play an active part in the Dallas music scene and may be spotted at a variety of local shows, either as a guest performer or patron.