Q&A: Jack Page
Ōtautahi-based R&B/soul artist Jack Page has created his own brilliant sound-palette, combining luscious jazz harmony, live instrumentation, modern production and intimate lyric writing. After quickly becoming an established live and session musician, he decided to take the first step of his solo journey last year with the release of his debut EP “The Days, Pt. 1” which has now reached over half a million streams!
Most recently, he’s released the final chapter of his project with “The Days, Pt. 2 EP” (self-produced alongside Devin Abrams and Neil MacLeod), and will be heading on tour next month joined by his 5-piece band.
We’d love to know a little bit about your musical journey from when you first started singing and creating music!
I sang and played music all the way through school and then went on to study jazz piano at university. It was then when I was studying that I really began to take writing and playing seriously - after a few years working on my craft, I began to release music.
Congrats on your latest EP, the incredible “The Days, Pt. 2”! What would you say is the main concept of this EP?
Oh thanks, that’s so kind. This new record follows on from the Part 1 EP which came out last year. It's all about relationships and learning about life in your early 20s, and the love and loss that comes with that.
“Halfway” is an absolute masterpiece, with lush strings in the intro shifting to a groovy vibe filled with slick guitar solos. Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to write this track?
I wrote this track with friend and co-producer Devin Abrams. This song is really quite literal - it’s about being halfway in and out of love with someone. It's about the on-and-off dynamic some relationships have and trying to find some peace and contentment in that.
We also love “What Happens Now” and how the energy of the track completely changes halfway through when the drums and horns drop! Can you tell us a little bit about the meaning behind this track and what was the writing process for this song was like?
This is the first track on the record, so I wanted the first minute and a half of the track to play out as an introduction to the energy that the Part 1 EP left us with. The production mirrors the lyrics in its themes of confusion and uncertainty. Then the second half of the track gets it the groove stuff which was fun as ever to write and record.
What were your main highlights working on “The Days, Pt. 2”?
I was super grateful to work with both Devin Abrams and Neil MacLeod on this EP. They’re both incredibly talented and helped me take the production to a new level. I was also grateful to have some killer muso's jump on some tracks. Chris Anderson on drums for “What Happens Now”, Ashton Sellars on the shredding guitar solo on “Halfway” and Ben Hunt on the horns for the record.
If there’s anything you could change about the current music industry, what would it be and why?
As much as I love the New Zealand music industry for all its gorgeous music, it's no secret that there's a massive gender disparity at all levels from management, promotion, A&R and the artists getting booked for festival line-ups. We really need to level up and work to get representation where it needs to be across the industry.
Who are your biggest inspirations in music?
The greats - Stevie Wonder, Al Green, D’Angelo.
Who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you especially love or connect with?
NZ is overflowing with incredible music. Have recently been thrashing Pickle Darling, CHAII, Skilaa, The Beths, Connan Mockasin - too many to count.
What do you love most about living in New Zealand? Do you have any favourite places to travel to or local spots to visit?
He tāngata! The people in New Zealand make it the warm and fuzzy place it is. I’m a big sucker for the Nelson Lakes region, but there’s not really any spots that don’t dazzle with glory - aren’t we lucky!
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your career so far and what advice do you have for new artists out there?
The biggest lesson I think is to just stay true to what you want to make. I think the build it and they will come mantra is a good thing to live by in music - you can hear authenticity in music and the easiest way to achieve that is to LOVE what you’re making. As far as advice for new artists go - I would say just work, work, work. It always pays off one way or another.
Lastly, if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?
Go jam my new record heh! “The Days, Pt I & II” - available now on digital AND vinyl!!
Thanks so much Jack! Make sure to keep up with him on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify or Apple Music.
