credit Catie Lafoon

Jack is branching out with a new solo EP this Spring, the first single of which, “Listen 2 My Heart” comes out on Valentine’s Day. It’s no coincidence that this song is being released on a day dedicated to all things of the heart.  This dance-inspired track shows Jack at his most vulnerable point, opening up his heart and laying it all out. The song is a cathartic release for Jack, which was intentionally put to a danceable melody, since there is so much release to be found through dancing. He hopes this inspires people to dance away their pain and open up their hearts. I was hoping to get him and this song on your radar to see if you’d be interested in a Q&A with him.
This song set the tone for the EP, which weaves a sonic tapestry drawing from indie, techno, experimental, and Brazilian jazz. It taps into Jack’s signature genre-pushing songs that aim for the sweet spot where interesting meets satisfying. A link to the song is below! Thanks so much for giving him your attention. I appreciate it and look forward to hearing from you.

“Listen 2 My Heart” is a deeply personal track. What inspired you to release such a vulnerable song on Valentine’s Day?

It all came together super organically- Having it be an uplifting breakup song that reckons with one’s inner voice and sense of self, felt finished just in time for V-day. The song was recorded from instrumental to vocals almost entirely in one go and so its a real true expression of how I was feeling at that time. 

You’ve made a name for yourself with The Gerrymanders in the LA music scene. How does your approach to music change when you’re working solo versus with a band?

It’s definitely a different process. When I’m working solo I’m really trying to get out of my own head and live in the moment. I love surprising myself with an unexpected lyric or sound that crawls out of some subconscious place. When I’m working with the band I have an idea of how the song goes (chords, form, melody, and lyrics) but the parts are totally open to interpretation and I love finding interesting arrangements with different instruments, both are totally different processes but they form a really diverse palette.

The new EP draws from a wide range of influences, including indie, techno, experimental, and Brazilian jazz. How did you go about blending these different sounds into a cohesive project?

I try to remain open to any idea and make it work as part of a cohesive whole. If there’s a dramatic left turn coming (genre-wise)  I feel it’s important to preface that change with a melody line that carries over and links the two sounds. Its all about taste and an unexpected sense of fun. A lot of contradiction and bold colors.

Jack Xander by Catie Laffoon

Collaborating with Blu Jay on “All Fuh You” clearly struck a chord with listeners, hitting #1 on aBreak Music. How did that collaboration come about, and what do you think made it resonate so strongly?

The collaboration with Blu Jay was really natural. We basically reworked an old demo I had with this glimpse into a turbulent love story. It’s a small slice of a grand tale that encapsulates a moment in time that represents love and life for both of us. 

You mentioned that “Listen 2 My Heart” is about finding release through dancing. How important is dance and movement to your creative process?

Hugely important! I started using dynamic mics to record my vocals because even though the sound quality is arguably worse, you can blast the speakers and not have a lot of bleedthrough. 

This allows me to get up and dance and feel the music vibrate my body instead of feeling trapped inside a pair of headphones. I find it really helps me sing, to throw off the feeling of self consciousness and get lost in the song. 

The Gerrymanders have become a fixture in the LA scene. How has being part of such a tight-knit creative community shaped your music and your artistic perspective?

It has shown me how important collaboration is. There are so many young artists and musicians in the world today- more than ever before- and everyone has got a different perspective and set of ideas. It’s really an endless world of possibility.

With this new solo project, what are you hoping listeners take away from the EP — both musically and emotionally?

I really hope people forget about the music itself and just live their life. I love the feeling when a song starts to blend with reality and attach itself to memories. It makes the music so much more important when it means something personally to the listener. I hope it means as much to them as it does to me- but in a totally unique way.

Pushing genre boundaries seems to be a signature of your work. How do you balance experimentation with creating music that still feels emotionally authentic and accessible?

As long as you’re not trying to be something you’re not, then it’s really impossible to create something inauthentic.

Trust yourself and the process and keep an open mind. You might be surprised as to how many different things you can create and still feel true to who you are. 

Most people don’t just listen to one genre so why do so many artists only make one? I think it’s because people put themselves in boxes and are afraid to fail- even though the most natural mistakes can be really beautiful and that’s what makes the music unique and authentic.

Can you walk us through your songwriting process for the EP? Did any particular track challenge you more than others?

The process for the EP was almost accidental. I didn’t know what direction it was going to take until I saw it as a complete whole. 

However I tried the whole time that I was creating music about where I was in life, thematically and emotionally. Only after I put the songs together did I start to connect the throughlines.

Looking ahead, do you see yourself balancing solo work and The Gerrymanders, or do you envision your solo career taking center stage moving forward?

I look at The Gerrymanders as a vessel for my songwriting, as both an escape and a tool. 

 

It’s really hard to make band music alone and also hard to make electronic music with a band full of drums and guitars… not I/we haven’t done both. I like knowing that I have the freedom and ability to make anything no matter what and I would like to keep expanding and pushing myself and the band into surprising and exciting territory.