Jack Of All Trades - Just Jack

A wannabe be break-dancer at eight years old, a House DJ at fifteen, a degree in furniture design and a qualification in music production among other things, Jack is most certainly from the old skool and more than qualified in his specialist subject. He’s a guy who has no time for musical purists or bravado and doesn’t consider himself to be part a musical scene. Not only does ‘Overtones’ promise to be an all round eclectic audio sensory overload of epic proportions, but its also all of Jack’s own work, which helps to keep his material refreshing, contemporary and sharp both lyrically and musically.

“I do pretty much everything myself. I’ve got a guy who I work with called Jay Reynolds who comes in and helps me with arrangements and recording live instruments and generally kind of co-producing to an extent. But most of the bones of it come from me just in my bedroom with a sampler and some keyboards.”

Taking his inspiration from everyday real life, a love of language, personal stories and different cultures and ideologies, his natural dialect which runs through ‘Overtones’ is set to firmly put him on the UK’s lyrically savvy map. But his innovative creativity has also lead to annoying comparisons. And almost inevitably Jack has been compared to artists like The Streets and The Audio Bullies. Understandable to an extent, but slightly lazy and annoying all the same. But being the laid back bloke that he is, Jack doesn’t let them get to him: “I don t mind comparisons like that really. I’ve had enough reviews and interviews to just accept them as they are. Sometimes you get a little bit narked about things but as time goes by you realise that these things just happen and everyone always makes comparisons. So I just accept them and if they help me sell records that’s good.”

And why not, the record is certainly worth paying for. But the only thing better than listening to Just Jack on or with vinyl is seeing him play live. It’s a completely different experience, there’s an urgent, excitable, edgy yet safe atmosphere at one of Jack’s live shows. A two-way energy exchange exists where the more you give the more you get and visa versa. And it’s not something that Jack takes for granted. “When you’re doing a support thing you have to generate the vibe yourself and when you suddenly go and do your own gig because there’s so much vibe there already it raises it that much more above what you’ve come to expect” says Jack “I always just love the fact that people will get off their sofa’s and pay money to come and see you doing the songs. It’s flattering and I think that’s part of the reason why I enjoy it so much. I’m still trying to take in the fact that people would be bothered to do that.” Laughs Jack.

So as it stands, Just Jack is just enjoying himself prior to the release of ‘Overtones’ and building on an already expanding and impressive reputation. You might not have heard of him just yet, but you will and it won’t be long before his name’s being thrown around with the best of them on a regular basis.