Jack Drinker
I featured Jack Drinker for his single “Who Is This Person?” through a heartfelt open letter. Today I’m proud to feature him once again through this interview. Our first interview. He has a new song out, it’s called “Plane Ticket” and I couldn’t help but fall in love with this record immediately. Jack Drinker’s vocals are out of this world, you cannot ignore them. When you add his honest melodies and brilliant songwriting, you end up with a beautiful and emotional song.
“Plane Ticket” is available now.
Photo credit: Norrel Blair
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
My name is Jack Drinker and I’m a 22 year old singer/songwriting and LA native. I have been performing in church choir and musicals since I was four years old and started writing songs more seriously when I was a junior in high school. I recently graduated from UCLA’s Herb Alpert School of Music where I studied Music History and Industry. This program allowed me to learn so much about both the creative and business sides of the Music Industry. I’ve released three Indie Pop songs prior to my upcoming single and have released one official music video that I creative directed. I’m super excited to start playing more shows in LA as well as releasing music that I’m extremely proud of!
What did you grow up listening to?
That’s a great question. My mom listened to a lot of KROQ so artists like Green Day, Foo Fighters, and Linkin Park. My dad listened to more pop music like Jack Johnson, Owl City, Fergie, Coldplay, James Blunt, Mary J Blige, artists like that. I definitely gravitated more towards that music because of the lyrics and emotion that those artists evoked. I also listened to a lot of Whitney Houston and Celine Dion. I've loved powerful voices like that since I was really young.. I always wanted to have a powerful voice like they did. I would try to mimic different artist’s voices to see how well I could do.
When did you know you had to be an artist and release your original music?
I always knew that I loved to sing but always thought I was going to do musical theatre. I performed in choirs and musicals since I was really young, acting was a big part of my life. It took me a long time to realize that I prefer telling my own story to telling someone else’s. I love the comradery that comes with musical theatre. Being a songwriter can be a pretty lonely job that I don’t think I would have been ready for until after high school. I started seriously writing songs when I was a junior in high school because it’s such a tricky time where you learn so much about yourself and those around you. It’s a painful time in a lot of ways which is why I naturally began writing poetry and lyrics to try and make sense of what I was feeling and going through every day. I’ve always been a very private person which is a big reason why songwriting is such a healthy and important outlet for me to express myself.
Could you list a few records that influenced the music you are making today?
This is such a great question! I definitely classify my music as Indie Pop, however, a lot of my recent music has been influenced by more of a folk pop sound. It’s taken me a while to find “my sound” or at least a sound that feels authentic for where I am in my life right now. I definitely see myself in the singer/songwriter lane because storytelling is my favorite part about songwriting. Some of the records that have been inspiring my recent music are “Norman F***ing Rockwell” by Lana Del Rey, “This is What It Feels Like” by Gracie Abrams, “Rx” by Role Model, “five seconds flat” by Lizzy McAlpine, “To Emma, Forever Ago” by Bon Iver, and “The Hardest Part” by Noah Cyrus.
Who was the first person to ever believe in your music?
I would say my whole family has been extremely supportive from the start. They definitely believe in me more than anyone and I really value and appreciate their unwavering support. I would also say my producer Steve Ornest definitely believed in me before I even really knew what I was doing. I made my first single with him when I was 18 and had no idea how to record a song or anything. I’m very fortunate to have a lot of supportive people in my corner.
"Plane Ticket" is your latest single - what's the story/inspiration behind this song?
I wanted to write a song about the relatable feeling that there’s always that one person that you would drop everything for and get in the car or hop on a plane if they called you. I liked the imagery of picturing that person calling and you just buying a one way ticket to see them without even having to actually talk on the phone. I think it’s hard to admit that someone can make you that vulnerable, but it’s reality for a lot of people. The song is definitely an extreme exaggeration of that feeling where I really push it to the limit. I’ve definitely had experiences with people where I felt like if they called me, I wouldn’t be able to help myself. It’s not a good feeling and I’ve seen a lot of my friends go through it as well. I just wanted to write a song that portrayed that emotional state in the most honest way possible.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this song? Who helped you create it?
The songwriting/production process for “Plane Ticket” was such an interesting one. I first wrote the lyrics and melody in December 2021 and brought it to my friend Jacob in May 2022. He’s such a great pianist and really helped me build the structure of the song. I finished writing the second verse of the song and brought it to a producer named Alyssa Wilkens. Alyssa helped me every step of the way and really brought the song to life with her production. She also had some friends add live piano and strings which was a game changer.
What did you feel when recording this song?
I definitely felt great about the song, this is the first song that I’ve recorded vocals from home for. I really enjoyed being in control of comping my own vocals and being able to take my time on each line. Luckily I felt pretty distant from the strong emotions of the song which allowed me to sort of look at it from an outside perspective and record it with more ease than if it was something I was feeling at that exact time.
What's your favorite lyric on "Plane Ticket"?
I honestly love a lot of the lyrics. I love the whole chorus but I would probably say either “Maybe my pure love was not the love you’re supposed to get” or “it chills my bones to think you’re not alone, to think that someone else’s name could roll right off your tongue”. Those lyrics just feel really personal and take me back to the situation very vividly.
What message do you want to deliver through this song?
I really just want to show that these feelings are valid and not embarrassing. We can’t help the way that we feel and I finally got to a point where outside opinions and judgments stopped affecting the way that I react or grieve situations. My feelings and perspectives are just as valid as everyone else’s and I really don’t let the background noise alter my point of view anymore. I’m not going to dilute my experiences or apologize for my feelings to make other people feel more comfortable.
What can you tell us about the visuals surrounding the single?
I can safely say that the music video paired with the song is the best thing I’ve ever done. The music video that I made for this single is my favorite project I’ve worked on so far and my proudest moment. I worked with a close friend and amazing cinematographer named James Bragg who helped me execute this video from start to finish. It was a DIY video in many ways and pushed me to limits that I didn’t know I had. I also edited the video which felt like an uphill battle at first but turned out beautifully. I’m thrilled to share it because I think that it pairs with the song so effortlessly. I also made a fun lyric video which I’m excited to share as well!
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The hardest part is definitely the release process. It can be difficult to stay motivated because you have to have so much self drive. If you’re an independent artist like me (with no manager or agent), you know that nobody is going to make it happen besides yourself. As hard as it can be, I also love it because it reminds me of how passionate I truly am and pushes me to grow each time. The best part is definitely creating the art and keeping it to yourself for a little while, that period of time is always very sacred to me. I haven’t been able to play very many live shows yet but that is also the best part of being an artist. I have two upcoming shows that I cannot wait for.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think the Music Industry has so many great qualities and so many bad qualities. I would definitely change the amount that artists are paid. It's definitely frustrating to have to be solely driven by passion a lot of the time. Artists work so tirelessly on projects that often make them very little or no money back. I’m very grateful for the people and companies that support indie artists in any way that they can.
What does singing make you feel?
Singing makes me feel seen. Singing feels like a gateway to self expression for me. I have a really hard time talking about my emotions and singing makes it feel effortless. I definitely feel like I become a different person when I sing. It makes me feel powerful and overcome with emotion a lot of the time. There is genuinely nothing that I love more than singing. I can’t imagine life without it.
Do you remember a specific time in your life where music made a huge difference?
Music makes a big difference in my life daily but a great example would be in Fall 2021 when I had my first in person quarter at UCLA. I was so nervous about making the most of my one short year in person. I was determined to say yes to new opportunities and put myself out there. It was the first day of school and I was in a choir class. To take attendance, my professor sang ad-libbed riffs of our names and we had to sing them back to her. She sang my name and I sang it back. After class, a boy from my class came up to me and told me he liked my voice and that auditions for the a capella group he was in were the next day. Although I was intimidated, I said yes. I ended up getting in the group which shaped my entire experience at UCLA. I made many of my best friends through the group and was able to compete in ICCA’s around the country. That was a moment that I am so grateful for because singing led me to the greatest experience of my life.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
I’ve learned to trust the process, trust myself, and follow my gut. That goes for music but it’s also just helpful in life in general. I don’t let people’s opinions of me affect or influence the decisions that I make. I’ve also found peace in the fact that nobody cares that much. People aren’t putting as much thought into anything that you do as much as you think they are. That can sometimes be a harsh reality but can also be liberating.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
The world would be a better place if we all just led with kindness more often. I genuinely think we are all way too wrapped up in ourselves sometimes to have common decency. I definitely fall into this sometimes and have to alter my mindset. I spend way too much time on my phone and not enough time being present. I think that if we were all just a little more present, we wouldn’t be so selfish and judgmental of others. We are all just doing our best.
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