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[0:00] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? It's The Roundtable with me, Robert Bannon.

[0:09] Robert Bannon: Welcome to The Roundtable, everybody. My name is Robert Bannon. You're listening to this on Broadway World over here on the Broadway Podcast Network, iHeart, Spotify. As a Detroiter now for the past two years, I moved here. I'm on 7th and Livernois, J Brown. I'm right here in the city, city. My favorite place to see a show is over at the Aretha, and I love Detroit artists, people who have come from the city and have taken the art and artistry of the city to the next generation. Our next guest has absolutely done that, coming back to the Aretha. J Brown, welcome to the show. What's up? How you doing? I am excited to see you do your thing live and in person right here on the Detroit River this summer. What's it mean when you come home and perform in Detroit?

[0:43] J. Brown: Oh, you know, it's definitely a great thing. You know, it's always a welcoming situation, I would say, you know, when it comes to performing in front of my city. And it's just always good energy. So it's definitely one of those memorable moments that I'm looking forward to.

[1:04] Robert Bannon: When I was reading about you and your journey, you're the youngest of five.

[1:07] J. Brown: Seven.

[1:08] Robert Bannon: Oh, seven? Yeah, seven. Oh my goodness. So you're the youngest, you're the baby.

[1:13] J. Brown: I'm the baby. I'm the baby, but I'm the big brother.

[1:15] Robert Bannon: Okay, I get it. Did you always sing as a family? Did you sing at church? Did you sing as a group? How did it come to you?

[1:23] J. Brown: Yeah, thanks for asking. I grew up singing in my father's church. So I grew up Southern Baptist, that's where it started. And then from there, it just kind of progressed into like talent shows, and, you know, just other things, you know, that pertain to me, I guess, becoming this artist. And with all that experience, it just kind of led me to this point.

[1:42] Robert Bannon: Incredible. And I see when I was reading about you, like a lot of the Detroit-ness is in what you've done, if it's singing with the Pistons or the Lions, or if it's Detroit Mosaic Youth Theater, like that growing up, did you find art and culture within the city that guided you and inspired you to be an artist?

[2:00] J. Brown: Oh, yeah, definitely. There's a lot of that, you know, a lot of influence in Detroit, just considering, you know, Motown, you know, like, you can't get any better than that. So there's a lot of influence. And I want to credit, you know, people like Mosaic Youth Theater, you know, different churches that I've been a member of that. And just the experience of like doing talent shows. I don't remember the names of those people who put those talent shows on. But all those things help as a collective to develop me into the artist that I am today.

[2:27] Robert Bannon: When you started to release music, and you signed a music deal, you made the decision that you're going to make this your living, like, this is not a hobby, like, this is what I do. I'm an artist. And you put out a song, and you put out a song, say you put out, you know, Sunrise Sunset, for example, back in the day, back in the, and it starts to chart, and you start to see people singing the song, and you start to hear it on the radio, and people start to reach out message you and tell you what, what's it feel like to manifest this your whole life, and then to come true?

[2:56] J. Brown: You know, I don't know, man, I've yet to feel something from that. And I've been on radio for as long as I can remember, with three number ones and eight top 10s on the Billboard chart. And I'm still, you know, trying to climb that ladder, so to speak. So I think it's, I'm definitely humbled by it. It's a blessing. I'm excited, but it's a different type of excitement, you know, like, from an exterior standpoint, you won't see me just, oh my, like, internally, it's cool, you know, but I have so much work, you know, to do. And I feel like I'm still at the fetal stages of my career, in my opinion, even with the success I've had, it's still like, like a journey trying to connect people with my face, you know, versus just the music, you know, because a lot of people know the music, but they don't know what I look like. So that's the problem as an independent artist, you know.

[3:48] Robert Bannon: I love that you're an independent artist, because you get to be in charge, you get to put out your music, you don't have people telling you what to do. So when you want to put out Late, a new single that's just out and about, you say, I want to put this song out, and you get to be in charge of it. But there's a lot of pressure, there's a lot of responsibility that falls on you. So what is it like, take us take the new single, for example, when did you come up with it? How do you design the cover? Do you design, you're in the studio, you're very involved in the whole process?

[4:12] J. Brown: Yeah, for this particular record, I'm now doing the type of music that I really enjoy doing. Not to say I didn't enjoy my previous music, because I had success with those, number one, on the Billboard charts, which is great. But now I'm doing what I love to do. So with this new single, Late, I encourage you guys to download it. It's a phone record, it's relatable, and I produced it, I wrote it, along with my manager. I'm excited about this new journey, man. This single is something that you'll hear in the clubs, and it's relatable. So if you're in a relationship, and somebody's only calling you when it's late, you might as well run for the hills. Unless you're just into that, I don't know.

[4:50] Robert Bannon: Look, there's a season for everything, Jay Brown, but I'm old now. Don't call me after 11 o'clock at night, asking me, you're not sliding into my, well I'm married, but you're not sliding into my house.

[5:02] J. Brown: Come on, you get it, you get it. I'm in the bed by nine. For real, bro.

[5:09] Robert Bannon: I totally understand. So you write, like you sit and you play, I see that you play keyboards, and you play-

[5:15] J. Brown: Yeah, guitar.

[5:17] Robert Bannon: What is your, how do the songs come to you? Are you waking up in the middle of the night, recording in your phone? Are you writing things down on an airport napkin? How does it come to you?

[5:25] J. Brown: Just in my iPhone, I just start writing stuff down in the notes, and I'll sing voice memos, and take it into the studio from there. Or normally, I just kind of freestyle, so yeah.

[5:36] Robert Bannon: While we're talking, everyone, you can go to TheAretha.com. July 29th is going to be PJ Morton and Jay Brown. They're going to be at The Aretha, and it's a Wednesday, it's a series that is everyone's ad. We were at Kelly Price, who was just here last week, she just blew the house down, and they're going to blow the house down when this is next week as well. So what is a Jay Brown live show like?

[5:54] J. Brown: Ooh, that's a good question. I don't know. I mean, it's just a good experience. I would just say this, I love to interact with the crowd. I love to perform. I don't put too much thought into it. I kind of just get on stage and do it. And maybe I should put more thought into it, but I've always had really great outcomes with just getting on stage and making it happen. So just expect a lot of excitement, crowd interaction, because I'm big on that. I could see somebody in the audience and I'll hand them the mic and let them sing, whatever. It's just about having fun. So at the end of the day, it's never a dull moment. I'm not coming with dancing, I'm not doing any of that, but I am a performer. So just expect the unexpected, I'll say that.

[6:36] Robert Bannon: Okay. And you're going to sing. He's going to be singing.

[6:39] J. Brown: Oh, no, no, for sure. Yeah, I'm from the church, so I'm a real singer. You know, the mic is on. The mic is going to be on.

[6:42] Robert Bannon: When you work with other artists, and I saw you in Stevie Wonder or if it's Tank or October London or people like that. What do you, when you sit around and you're all on this R&B, is there a camaraderie? Is there competition? Do you like collaborating with other artists? How do you work with other artists?

[7:03] J. Brown: For me, it's never competition. I don't get into the whole competitive side of things. Some people may feel that way, but for me, it's just like, as long as you're doing what you love to do, that's all I care about. All the other stuff outside of that, it's just noise, it's just noise, so to speak, a distraction, if you will. So I just let it do the music, man, and go home. That's it. That's how I sum up my career.

[7:27] Robert Bannon: And what I love about your music and listening to it, especially the new stuff like the single Late, which is streaming right now, which you got to download and save, send it to your person. Send it to somebody that you love.

[7:36] J. Brown: Send it to somebody. Late, available on all downloadable platforms right now.

[7:41] Robert Bannon: There's a throwback vibe to you and your style that you had to grow up listening to. I know you grew up in the church, and I think church singers are the best singers because you're a soprano today and a tenor tomorrow and an alto the next day. But there's a vibe to your songs when you talk about a club or if you're in your car, you're going on a date. There's a certain style, a certain sound that has got a throwback. Are you influenced by music through different generations?

[8:03] J. Brown: Mm hmm. Yeah, I would say that. No, no, no, no, no particular artists, but just different music. You know, I say that.

[8:11] Robert Bannon: I think that's the way, that's absolutely the way to be. So if people have never come to see a Jay Brown show or they've been listening to your music, this is one of this show is the show you have to come and see come on the twenty ninth.

[8:22] J. Brown: Sure. Does your people do they come out? You still have people here in the city is going to be a reunion.

[8:27] Robert Bannon: You know, we'll see, you know, they might. I mean, whenever I perform people from high school or from college or something, they'll come out, you know, we'll see, you know, but I just I just want to go on stage and do my thing. And, you know, hopefully people enjoy it. That's what I care about.

[8:44] Robert Bannon: What has it changed for you now? It's like very single people stream music, the days of buying the music in the way that they used to. I grew up doing it as different. So do you do you feel like putting out singles? Do you want to is the new way of working in this business? Do you have plans for more singles coming out soon? What's what's up for you for the rest of the year?

[9:05] J. Brown: Oh, yeah. Just singles, dropping single after single. You know, I'm certain for that next number one record. So the hope that I land the number four number one record, that'll be a blessing. But we're just dropping singles after singles. You know, I have a very small team. It's just my manager and I punch on my role manager. And, um, yeah, we just got to keep trucking, you know, putting out music until it really sticks into people really know who Jay Brown is.

[9:32] Robert Bannon: So I love that. What was the last number? What was your last number one my whole heart or was there?

[9:38] J. Brown: No, my heart was the first one that went that went number one for three weeks on the Billboard charts. The second was called If You Could See You. And then the third one is called True Love was my, you know, my last third number one. Yeah, number one. And then my most recent single, which didn't go number one with number five was with October London. It's called Just a Matter of Time. I just listened to it this morning. And it's a it's a it's fire. Y'all are fine. You're on this. You want to hear these songs. You want to hear the new stuff. You want to hear what Jay Brown's up to a follow him on all social media. So go to Instagram right now. Follow him and see what he's got going on.

[10:16] J. Brown: Jay Brown music on the Instagram. Jay Brown music only. Please follow me. I need the support.

[10:20] Robert Bannon: Needs the support. Follow it. Stream the music. Share it. Create a playlist. Give it to the person you love. Share it. Play it in the play it out for people and then show up wherever Jay Brown is going to be around the country, including July 29th right here at the Aretha. Go to the my team, bro. I'm ready. Come on, man. I'm ready. You know where I am. I need to connect in the D, man, because Detroit, you know, all my people have moved out. I need some new connects there.

[10:46] J. Brown: I'm sitting here. I'm ready. Come on, bro. Send me your math, man.

[10:51] Robert Bannon: Send me a number through Instagram. OK, I got coney dogs and a Faygo soda for you when you're in the D. And I wish I wish the way my weight is set up, man, I can't mess with it. But I will eat some better made chips. I will do that. Jay, no, no shade. I moved here at 40. Y'all are not the healthiest city. I've eaten so much fried food. I've had more chili cheese fries. Yeah, I think when I moved to L.A., man, it threw me off. I was like, I just changed my thought process as far as my weight and my overall health. So, yeah, I wish I could eat a coney because I used to love them. Not anymore.

[11:29] J. Brown: Well, welcome home. Welcome home. And we look forward to seeing you when you're back home in the D. And congratulations on everything. I know the city is really proud of you and we're ready for what's next.

[11:38] J. Brown: Thank you, man. My man. I appreciate you, bro. Thanks for having me.