By Cheryl Patrick Leader staff writer
Jay Weinberg is a musician with a message — a songwriter for more than a decade, Weinberg infuses his lyrics with the many causes that he champions and the beauty he observes in the world around him.
“I’ve been writing songs for the past 11 years. And my songs are as diverse as my life experience. If I am angry or upset, it could sound like a hard rock song. If I’m exploring the innocence of childhood and viewing the world through the eyes of a child, a song could sound like a ballad,” Weinberg said.

Some of Weinberg’s music has a spiritual theme.
“One of my songs is called ‘Better Eyes.’ It’s about viewing the world from the innocence of children. The song has a biblical undertone — ‘Except as a child, you should not enter the kingdom of heaven,’” he said.
Weinberg based his lyrics on scripture found in Matthew 18:3.
An eclectic artist by nature, Weinberg uses his craft as a platform for causes he believes in.
“Some of the stuff I say is politically abrasive. And I think some people may be turned off by that. I’m just trying to make sense of the world I live in... Compassion drives everything I do” he said.
For Weinberg, music is an outlet that is used not just for personal gratification, but to speak for those incapable of being heard. “I’m just trying to give voice to those who don’t have a voice. I’m trying to stand against the tide,” he said.
One way Weinberg stands against the masses is by launching protests. “I climbed up on top of a gas station by Ind. 2 and Ind. 49 in Valpo. I had a megaphone; and I was just singing this song I wrote called ‘Price Gouging’ — and I was arrested for criminal trespass and disorderly conduct...,” he said.
Weinberg found great irony in the consequences of speaking out about what he viewed as an injustice and an exercise in free speech.
“It’s ironic that I can be charged with trespass for climbing on this building; but we have corporations and nations that cross borders without consequence to help themselves to another man’s resources,” he said.
Weinberg believes that society thrives on despair, injustice and tragedy. It’s everywhere one goes and he wants his music to act as a sort of antidote to all the garbage people are immersed in on a daily basis.
“The main thing I’m trying to do is let people know that the chaos of the human condition bombards us from every direction. And when they listen to what I have to say, they will realize that they are not alone — there is someone who gets it,” he said.
While his musical crusade won’t cure the ills of the world, Weinberg takes pride in the fact that at least he’s doing something.
“I’ve had people say ‘What does he think he’s doing?’ Nothing’s going to happen. It’s a lose, lose situation... But at least I’m trying to do something. I’m putting myself out there,” he said.
Weinberg’s music is a way for him to reach out and share his message with people, while doing something he loves.
“I’m on a musical crusade. I’m not only dedicated to inspiring and challenging myself, but to inspiring others and challenging their conventional thought patterns. I want to help them to see the world in a different way,” he said.
One of Weinberg’s latest projects to improve the human condition is his album, “10,000 Hours.” Weinberg considers this his first solid recording. And it’s full of issues that deal with everything from the dirty business of fossil fuel to the innocence of children or depression that leads to drugs and suicide. Weinberg uses his gift to bring peace to his listeners.
“My overall message would be the world is in need of self awareness in relation to the fear that’s pumped into us day in and day out — whether through politics, media, movies or music. I just want to give hope. I want to challenge those who just want to cut individuals down. You’ve heard people use the phrase ‘delusions’ of grandeur, many apply that to me. But as far as I can see, the only ‘delusions’ is of mediocrity. Meaning that the overall perspective of those without hope is that you’ll never make it, you’ll never produce anything of significance and just get in where you fit in,” he said.
This artist with conviction isn’t content to just sit in a sound studio to spread his message. He takes it on the road and to any public venue where he feels he’ll be heard.
“With a bicycle donated by Trek, I rode some 675 miles - from Northwest Indiana to Washington, D.C. This was my own campaign trail. I’d like people to think outside the ballot box. I think you’d be pretty hard pressed to find an artist who takes what he’s saying as seriously as I do,” Weinberg said.
Weinberg isn’t daring enough to say his way is the right way. But he does believe his views are filled with common elements that many people can relate to.
“I don’t know if I’m so bold to say my view is necessarily correct. But I’ve done quite a lot of self examination — and I feel if you have hope, if you have a dream and if you have love, we’re probably looking in the same direction,” he said.