Hi, I’m Jay Adana. I write songs and stories that say the quiet parts out loud.

I wrote my first song in a bathroom. I was performing in a devised work puppet piece with some friends from college and they couldn’t make the climax work. The whole piece had been wordless to that point, but the moment clearly needed words. So I ducked into the bathroom of the half condemned apartment my shady landlord was having me squat in, and whipped up a song because how hard could it be? (Fool.) The piece had a lot of heart and a lot of luck and became THE WOODSMAN, a puppet forward origin story of the Tin Man from THE WIZARD OF OZ. That show ended up winning an Obie, becoming a TimeOut Critics’ Pick, and transferring to New World Stages. It’s streaming now on BroadwayHD, and kickstarting my work in musical storytelling.

Since then, I’ve been lucky to collaborate on some wild and beautiful projects—like adapting Toni Morrison’s BELOVED into a short musical film for #BARS at The Public Theater (directed by Carlos López Estrada and featured on PBS), or writing THE LOOPHOLE, an epic Black Civil War-era musical with a dash of magic. That one won the Richard Rodgers Award, was developed by The Public, and headlined the Pass the Mic Hip Hop Festival (Janelle Monáe and Chinaka Hodge are past headliners, so I was in very cool company).

My most recent piece is THE JORDAN & AVERY SHOW, a dark comedy about grief, friendship, and almost fame. It’s a tonal pivot from my earlier swampy, moody sound and was first developed at the Eugene O’Neill National Musical Theater Conference. I’m always chasing whatever’s most honest—even if it’s sticky.

Along the way, I’ve been honored with the Jonathan Larson Grant, a Vivace Award, a commission from the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and a bunch of other deeply affirming opportunities. I’m grateful for every single one.

But what I care most about is this: that the work feels real. That it meets you where you are and makes space for you to feel something true.

If you’re into poetic honesty, platonic love stories, emotional depth, vocal layers, and songs that help you come home to yourself—welcome. You’re in the right place.

You can hear my music on Spotify or YouTube, or come see it live when it lands next. I live in LA with my husband Sean, our daughter Freddie, and our dog Charles Barkley.