Jack Schwab
Meet London-born UK Open Mic performer, Jack Schwab:
Hi Jack Schwab, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:
Do you play solo only, or also in a group?
Group
What’s the name of the group?
Jack Schwab
How old are you?
21
Where were you born?
London
Where did you grow up?
London
How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)
My father is American, my mother is British, and they grew up all over the world as military BRATS. As a result, the musical influence not only came from London, but was truly global. As a chorister, I learned the value and effect that harmonies can bring to a piece, so I love bringing that into my tracks.
Where are you based now, and why?
London
What got you into making music in the first place?
Was head chorister at Southwark Cathedral, My father is an actor and musician, so there was always music in the house with a range of instruments including guitars, piano, bass, drums, keyboards, mandolins…everything really.
What instrument/s do you play?
Singing, Guitar, Bass, Piano
Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?
Bret Dennan
Bruce Springsteen
Glen Hansard
The National
Phoebe Bridgers
The Weepies
Ondara
Sleeping At Last
Pearl Jam
Ben Folds
These are all artists that are capable of sucking you intor their creative vortex within the first line of a song. They are master storytellers, master craftspeople, master musicians and master lyricists. They are all unique in their styles, but their sense of rhythm and definition of character are second to none.
Do you write your own songs?
Yes
How many years have you been writing songs for?
8 years.
What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?
I carry my phone with me wherever I go. Something may come to me for a melody and I quickly record it in a voice note. The lyrics come to me when I experience a life lesson. I don’t really write music just to write music. Each of my songs has a true story behind it, and that is what drives me. I also write with my bandmate, guitarist Brad Wilmot. We will often shoot ideas over to each other and let the song grow organically. We started doing that during lockdown, and that process continues today.
Why did you get into playing open mics in the first place?
I love meeting new musicians and hearing new material, which you often don’t get to at polished gigs. It’s a great way to discover up-and-coming artists, which is how I classify myself.
What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?
Go for it. Don’t be perfect, be honest. That is what comes through the mic.
What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?
Trying to book them and make sure that I’m hitting the right audience on the right night for my music.
What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?
I played an open mic night in Hammersmith where they made my father get up and play a set. I got to play alongside him, and it was an fantastic experience. He played some comedy songs he used to play back in the day, so it was a completely different night of music!
If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?
Yes
What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?
Getting seen and heard by the right people. I am producing and recording music, putting it out on all the normal streaming platforms, but it is finding the audience without having the luxury of a label behind my name.
What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?
I’m colorblind.
What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?
I have an EP that is coming out in April 2024 during Addiction Awareness month. It is a very personal project, and one that I am extremely excited about getting out there. It takes the perspective of recovery from addiction according to each member of a family. Father (addict), Mother, Artist (me) and Brother. I sincerely hope it helps anyone who has been affected by addiction and alcoholism. If it reaches just one person, then I’ve done the right thing.
Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?
https://www.youtube.com/c/YouDontKnowJack
Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?
Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?
What other sites/profiles should people go to to find out more about you?
@rightaboutjack on Insta and X
We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?
No thanks!