Tattoo Talk: Jay Putty Discusses His Newfound Love for Tattoos

If you know anything about Jay Putty’s history, then it’s not surprising that his songwriting stands out so much for its authenticity. Tomorrow marks the release of Putty’s brand new EP, Mountains and Valleys. This one comes straight from the heart, a relatable collection of songs that assesses the relationship between love and loss and reflects on the daily moments where memory and grief collide. The songs examine grief and how we cope with it on a daily basis. We may suppress it, but it’s always with us and can manifest itself at the most unusual of times. It’s all balanced by Putty’s knack for crafting anthemic choruses and his ability to tell a story within a song.

Putty is a small town musician, originally from rural Indiana and now situated in Nashville. A former athlete, any hopes of a career in sports were dashed by a serious sports injury. These unfortunate circumstances led him to really pour everything he had into songwriting, which has become like his therapy over the years. He lost his father at a young age, also a close friend to cancer, he survived a house fire when he was 15, and has battled mental health issues over the years. Songwriting became Putty’s lifeline, and these life experiences have shaped who he is. He pours it all into his songwriting, which is both real and relatable.

Outside of his love for songwriting, Putty has also, more recently, become a lover of tattoos. He joins us today for Tattoo Talk to discuss his tattoos, their significance to him, and the special story behind the compass tattoo on his arm.

What was the first tattoo you ever got?

Jay Putty: “First tattoo was actually two. This past October, I got in my dad’s handwriting, ‘Hey Jaybird,’ because that’s what he called me. And our Rosewood symbol, which is the name of the friend group of all my best friends from back home. After Brendan passed away, we all got this tattoo in memoriam, but also to link us forever as friends.”

How many tattoos do you have on your body?

“As I’m writing this out, only four, but getting more soon.”

How did you get started?

“I was always someone interested in it, but was so indecisive, so I just never got them. But I use them now as a way of memorializing my loved ones.”

Is there a tattoo you’ve received or given recently that is a personal favourite?

“‘Hey Jaybird’ will always be my favourite. Every time I see it, I hear it in my dad’s voice.”

What inspires you for your tattoo designs?

“I’m big into minimalism and fine line tattoos. All my tattoos have been done by Snappy Tats, who is amazing at it. I think it just allows for my own story to be narrated through the art pieces.”

What advice do you have for anyone looking to tattoo or get tattooed?

“Your body is a canvas that can be an extension of your art, your expression, and your loved ones. Treat it like it is.”

What would be the most surprising thing people who have never been tattooed might learn about your tattoos?

“I think the most surprising thing would be the fact that I waited until I was 30 years old to get my first tattoo. Being in the music industry for almost 20 years, it’s almost like a rite of passage to get them at a young age, and I never did.”

Do you have a crazy, weird, or super memorable tattoo experience you’d care to share?

“The compass on my arm is designed as the compass from my song ‘On My Way.’ I got it the week it hit its 20th consecutive week on Billboard’s ‘Adult Airplay’ chart, which was such a wild accomplishment because, as an independent artist, doing anything like that is hard. Let alone 20 weeks straight.”