Classical Crossover Baritone (now tenor) Jay Dref

Listening to Classical Crossover singer Jay Dref for the first time it’s hard not to draw comparisons to Josh Groban. There is the same accessibility and appeal of a young Groban singing but Jay’s baritone also has a seasoned maturity and his own unique story to tell.

Listening to Classical Crossover singer Jay Dref for the first time it’s hard not to draw comparisons to Josh Groban. There is the same accessibility and appeal of a young Groban singing but Jay’s baritone also has a seasoned maturity and his own unique story to tell.

Jay has been steadily building a following after the release of his debut single, Taxi in the Rain. “Taxi in the Rain is a beautiful song written and produced by Stephan Moccio and Lauren Christy. I immediately fell in love with it the first time I heard it. It’s one of those songs that when you hear the first notes, you know it’s going to be special. I love the simplicity of it and how it takes you on this journey. It’s the kind of song I feel like anyone can relate to.”

When he was eleven a musical director in a children’s chorus suggested that Jay’s voice had potential and should be developed further. “I was always singing around the house, in the shower, everywhere, so I thought I should give it a shot. A week later, I met with my first voice teacher and that really was the beginning of my journey on this path. I was very lucky to have people believe in me and my talent.”

Jay describes being “scared out of my mind” at his first performance a year later. “I sang some musical theatre tunes and a patriotic medley… I think I even forgot some of the words. I had never sung by myself in front of an audience before.”

Over the years he continued to perform in recitals, and performed in musicals and his interest was eventually directed towards classical music. When time came to look for a university, Jay’s voice teacher suggested Julliard. “She had previous students who had gone there and loved it.” Despite its prestigious history Jay admits, “Crazy enough it was never a lifelong dream of mine to go there.”

He prepared three songs for the audition in English, Italian and German. “I also had to brush up on my music theory and ear training skills. I’ve learned that being able to sight-read music is very important in this business. I remember spending multiple hours at the piano going through a ton of scores. You really have to have the patience and dedication which isn’t hard if you really have the passion.”

The passion and potential were evident and Jay was accepted into the program with a full scholarship. “I’ll never forget how exciting it was to open up that acceptance letter. It was a grueling process but definitely worth all of the hard work I had to put in to get to that level.” Furthermore, he tells us, “Attending Juilliard was one of the greatest experiences of my life. I’ve never felt more at home. They made me feel so welcome and the training I got was absolutely incredible. I had the opportunity to work with the best of the best in the classical singing world.”

The Julliard experience equipped Jay’s already impressive raw talent with the skill needed in the professional world. All seemed set for a career in opera. “As I was about to graduate, I thought I had an idea as to where my career was going but that changed. I studied to be an opera singer but I wasn’t sure that’s what I wanted to do. I knew I had passion singing other types of music and I wanted to explore.”

After graduation, Jay discovered a new passion for classical crossover by listening to performers like Josh Groban, Il Divo and Andrea Bocelli.  “Something sparked in me. I just thought to myself ‘Wow I kinda like what they are doing! They are taking these incredible songs that we all know and giving them their own take – putting it to a classical full orchestra’. I fell in love with it and I wanted to do that.”

Recording “felt more fulfilling” to Jay. “I needed to follow my instincts and I’m so glad I chose the path I’m on. I feel more true to myself and I bring more of myself to songs in the classical crossover genre.

“What I love about this genre is how I can take on a song and make it my own. It allows me to go back to my roots of classical singing but at the same time I’m singing songs that I am hugely passionate about. These are also songs that appeal to a wider variety of people. There’s no greater feeling than nailing a huge power ballad, using my vocal training.”

Just at the right time Jay’s music came to the attention of songwriters Stephan Moccio and Lauren Christy. “Moccio wrote one of the top pop songs of the last 20 years with “A New Day Has Come” sung by Celine Dion not to mention songs like “Earned It” and “Wrecking Ball.” It was AWESOME! They heard my demo and immediately fell in love with my voice. Working with them brought me to a new level of singing.”

After Taxi in the Rain, Jay released a Christmas single A Wish on Christmas Day. Two more singles followed (Drown & Embrace Me Now) and then his first EP Drifting. Although his operatic chops are impressive, Jay’s crossover style learns more to the contemporary side of the genre. The sound is rich but also very accessible and allows Jay to share the special musical qualities that have always been important to him like the use of dynamics. “I really love a song that starts out soft and then builds to a forte. I have a powerful voice and love to show that off. I also enjoy singing in my falsetto. It’s another quality I’ve really worked on developing as a singer. It gives me a chance to express my emotion and I’m able to tell a story through the music.”

Through the unexpected covid 19 lockdown, Jay has been actively collaborating with various other crossover artists including the Bel Canto Sopranos and Nadia Eide. He has also participated in our Classical Crossover Magazine concerts. Jay’s Embrace me Now single is especially poignant in the light of current events.

In the future Jay plans to continue to record and hopes to eventually go on tour. “It’s always been a dream of mine to travel the world and sing.” He would also like to continue to develop new skills such as accompanying himself during performances. “It is something I would like to do in the future. I am equally as passionate about the piano as I am singing.”

For those young singers dreaming to someday pursue a career like Jay he advises, “Nothing in this business is impossible. It’s a long road and a lot of preparation but so worth it in the end. I can promise if you work hard at something, stay focused and don’t give up it will definitely pay off.”

To learn more about Classical Crossover tenor Jay Dref please visit his official website: jaylouisdref.com

Natasha Barbieri, Editor

Editor

Creator of Classical Crossover Magazine. For Natasha music has always been closely tied to her faith. At age 18, Natasha made her opera debut playing the part of the mother in Menotti’s ‘Amahl and the Night Visitors’ with the Eastern Festival Opera. At 20, she was a winner of the 2011 Young Artist Competition at Andrews University. Natasha graduated in 2012 with a Bachelor’s of Music. Natasha has released a series of Holiday singles “A Place Called Home” (2020), “One Little Boy,” and “The Perfect Year” (2021). In 2021, she was nominated for the ‘Future Classic Women Awards’ show on Men’s & Women’s Radio Station. Natasha is the creator and editor of ‘Classical Crossover Magazine’ a venture that has allowed her to interview many of the top stars in the genre including Sarah Brightman, Celtic Woman, Mirusia, Paul Potts, and more. During the covid-19 pandemic, she created an online concert series for the magazine that has seen her perform in the same line-up as Alex Sharpe, Lucy Kay, Barbara Padilla, Classical Reflection, and more on the virtual stage. In 2022, Natasha was included on the charity album “Stars of Classical Crossover: Christmas” in benefit of the Wallace & Gromit Children’s Charity.