Today we’d like to introduce you to Jack Charles.
Jack, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I have a personal debt with music. Growing up an outsider and a misfit, music lit a passion and gave me a sense of belonging. At 17, no longer satisfied being a fan, I became the lead singer and lyricist in a punk band— The Casuals. Back then punk rock literally saved my life. It gave someone like me something to be. However, like everything truly punk, it burned itself out, and personal circumstances would lead me on other paths for many years until I knocked on death’s door. Faced with this reality I had only one question: “what would you do with the last day of your life if you knew tomorrow would be your last?” The answer: “the music.” And here we are! I’m a #darkcrooner and my voice brings a layer of graveyard velvet to complete a sound that is a dark and personal tribute to rock and roll. I’m paying my debt in full along with my band Musical Partners in Crime (MPIC). The currency: The Ante Mortem Songbook, my first album. Our shows have an alternative retro-rock-goth-lounge vibe, and we channel various influences like surf, synth pop, r&b and post-punk.
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
I am a singer/songwriter/performer fueled by nothing but passion. Music (art) is the way I make sense of and assert myself within the realm of a chaotic world. My lyrics are my treasure, and the subject matter ranges from the deeply personal (The Line), to the profound (Somewhere in The Universe), to the collectively fun and rebellious (Let’s Go to Town). My lyrics are the alpha for each song. When performing, I sing for those searching a deeper meaning to the insane general human experience. I sing for those who know the ultimate consequence of solitude. I sing for those searching for their true identity. I sing for those who love to rock. Leonard Cohen inspired me with “There’s a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.” I believe that best describes what I hope people take away from my work: a sense of hope in spite of it all.
Do you think conditions are generally improving for artists? What more can cities and communities do to improve conditions for artists?
The digital age has opened many doors for artists, but it has made cutting through the oversupply and the corporate stranglehold almost impossible. Most artists (in fact, the greatest) never started with a trust fund, so just the cost of living can sink an artist’s attempt to build a career. Cities could begin by providing affordable living conditions for artists. People could invest a couple-of-lattes worth to buy an album, or maybe toss a buck or two in the tip jar when new acts are performing.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can stream my music on Band camp, iTunes, Soundcloud and Spotify. You can download the album on iTunes and Band camp. You can see me perform rather regularly in Austin, and hopefully soon in the Big D. Any DFW venues interested?
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jackcharlesmusic.com
- Email: jackcharlesmusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackcharlesmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jackcharlesofficial/?ref=bookmarks
Image Credit:
Jimmie Kadaver @kapturedbykadaver
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