A Chat with Jack Schwab (15.01.21)
Describing his music as being “somewhere between pop and rock with a tough of a lot of other genres every now and then”, singer-songwriter Jack Schwab has an eclectic originality about him. Only 18 years old, the London-based artist sings songs about life, love and all that important stuff in a moving way. We speak with Schwab about his debut album Better Now, bad haircuts and future plans.
OSR: What can you tell us about your debut album Better Now?
Schwab: Better Now explores stories of love, loss, illness and the process of healing from it all. My father’s recovery from alcoholism (thankfully four years sober now), my mum’s recent emergency visit to hospital in critical condition, relationships and the projections I find myself making. This album’s release also happens to mark one year since my mum came out of hospital.
OSR: Did you face any challenges when writing and recording the album?
Schwab: I was originally set to take a gap year in 2020. The plan was to go on a road trip around America and end up at a studio owned by songwriter and family friend, Krista Detor, to record my album. Unfortunately, because of the Covid pandemic, these plans were put on hold. Instead, everything was recorded at home with some help from a few friends who sent over bits and pieces over the internet. I still plan to one day still fulfil my plans for my gap year, but I imagine it will come after I finish my songwriting degree at ACM Guildford. I’m hoping there is a sense of normality again by then!
OSR: If you could change one thing about Better Now what would it be?
Schwab: Since everything was recorded at home, I was limited on what I could do for the album a bit. The biggest example of this was not being able to record live drums. Instead, we made do with programming drums which is quite a fun process in itself, but that would be the one thing I change. You can hear this on tracks such as ‘Landslide’, ‘Back & Forth’ and ‘Write What You Know’. I do plan on trying to get as much live drums as I can on future albums and tracks as I can.
OSR: What do you hope listeners take from Better Now and your music in general?
Schwab: As a songwriter, I absolutely love writing storytelling songs which is definitely on show in this album. Better Now is a collection of stories that deal with love, loss, illness and the process of healing from it all. The majority of tracks from Better Now are from personal experience; good examples of these are ‘Better Now’, ‘Landslide’ and ‘Running For The Late Train’, but the album also includes stories that I’ve created. I hope that listeners can either relate to the stories or at least take something from them.
OSR: What does music mean to you?
Schwab: It’s a universal language. It has brought me closer to people that I never would have had the pleasure of being friends with if it wasn’t for music. When words fail, I find I can always use music to communicate what I am feeling.
Not only that, but music is a heal-all. Whenever I am feeling low, a bit down on myself or sometimes even angry, picking up a guitar and singing completely gets me through it. Sometimes, a song comes of it too which is always a bonus!
OSR: What is the best concert you have been to?
Schwab: Now this is a tough question! I think my answer has to be U2 at the O2 in London. It was the gig where I decided I wanted to perform my own music. After seeing how much fun Bono was having on stage, I realised how much I wanted to be on that stage singing my heart out. It also helped that the staging was brilliant too.
A few honourable mentions would definitely be The National at Hyde Park, Indigo Girls at Shepherd’s Bush Empire and John Mayer at O2. Three very good concerts.
OSR: If you could perform with any artist who would it be and why?
Schwab: It would be really awesome to perform with U2 considering it was their gig that inspired me to start performing. However, I imagine The Lumineers would also be fun to perform with, they always look like they’re having the time of their life on stage so they’re definitely up there as well.
OSR: What is the worst haircut you have ever received?
Schwab: I’m quite a simple person, I’ve pretty much had the same haircut my whole life with no intentions of changing it just yet. However, at the start of lockdown, I narrowly missed one of the worst haircuts ever. My mum started cutting my hair and it didn’t go too well, but, luckily, my dad had a hidden talent as a hairdresser so he managed to save it! Only trouble is now, we’re in a 3rd national lockdown in the UK. Because of this, I can’t go get my haircut and my dad is away now until mid to late-February. I’m going to have a very strange head of hair next month!
OSR: What do you think is the best way to discover new music?
Schwab: Personally, I would say word-of-mouth. There’s nothing better than listening to an album that was recommended by one your friends and then it turns out you love it too. The easiest way of discovering new artists though is definitely through your streaming platform’s recommendations. It’s gotten to the point where it knows me so well, it’s almost scary!
OSR: Do you have any advice for emerging bands?
Schwab: I would definitely consider myself an emerging artist. I’m only 18 and just released my first album. I still have a lot to learn, so if anyone else has advice I’m all ears!
OSR: What are your future plans?
Schwab: I’m very excited about my future plans! I’m hoping to release my second album this year. I’ve already learnt so much on my degree at ACM Guildford and I feel I can apply it all on this next one for sure. I’ve already written all the songs and I’ve just started recording. I’m not too sure on a release date yet as I imagine this album will take a bit longer to finish. I also have an EP that I’m planning at the moment. I’m still in the process of writing it, but I imagine that will be coming near the summer of 2022.
For now, I’m going to continue streaming on Twitch under the username, “rightaboutjack”. Next week, I’ll be upping the frequency of my stream to three times a week, so I’m very excited!
Thank you to Jack Schwab for speaking with us. For more from Jack Schwab check out his official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
