Today we’d like to introduce you to Jamar Rogers.
Hi Jamar, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I was born in New Orleans, but Los Angeles feels like home to me. Though my family bounced around a lot (we were religious fanatics), I was raised here as a child and I always find myself coming back here.
Back in 2012, I was a semi-finalist on The Voice which completely changed my life. Before I was on the show, I waited tables in NYC. Music was just a dream. The Voice changed all of that, not only because I got to show off my singing skills but because I decided to share my truth about living as an HIV-positive person.
You see, my life hasn’t always been so great. Because my family was so religious, I knew I couldn’t tell them I was gay. I suppressed it and built a new identity for myself, an identity based on inauthenticity.
This inability to be myself led to drug addiction and homelessness. I was addicted to crystal meth between the ages of 18-23. I received the HIV diagnosis on a hot summer day in 2005. In fact, because I only had five t-cells, I actually had AIDS and was at death’s door. This was my rock bottom. Life was extending an invitation for me to do something different, to take a chance on me, for once.
Though the process was slow and arduous, I began to love and accept myself. This radical self-acceptance led to me choosing to stand in my truth on TV. And I’m so glad I did. I’ve been invited to sing all over the world and I’ve even been a panelist for The Clinton Global Foundation talking about my story.
Now, I have an amazing partner (that lives in Hollywood) and I get to make content/music that inspires others to tell their stories. Truth will always set you free…
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
There’s been a lot of struggles. The obvious ones were the drug addiction and homelessness. But some struggles are more insidious and internal, like the struggle to accept yourself fully. The struggle to respond from love and not trauma. The struggle to choose to love yourself unconditionally. I’ve faced these and have found that life is better on the other side of the struggles.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m known for my music and public speaking. I was a contestant on American Idol and The Voice and I was signed to Tommy Boy Entertainment from 2014-2018. Now, I release music independently and am also creating meditation tracks.
I’m a unique guy because I decided to let Love rule my life a couple of years ago. This means living a heart-centered life even as the world seems to be crashing. My hope is that letting Love lead won’t be such a unique concept, and that maybe we can all find a way to love ourselves enough to have the capacity to love others.
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
I’ve learned to submit to my heart on a deeper level. There are so many reasons to be afraid right now, so many chances to go crazy. My meditation/mindfulness/breathwork practice became a habit during the crisis, and I lost myself in that. I lost myself to find myself. I learned that I have no control over what’s happening around me, but I can control my reaction. I can focus on gratitude while also holding compassion for my friends and family who are rightfully scared about what’s going on.
Contact Info:
- Website: TheJamarRogers.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jamarrogersofficial
- Facebook: www.Facebook.com/jamarrogersthevoice
- Twitter: www.Twitter.com/jsquidward
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/c/JamarRogers
Image Credits:
All photos shot by Jeremy David Creative
