Have you ever felt this overwhelming need to always be there for someone – literally one call away? If so, you’ll probably be able to relate to Jack Drinker’s latest song, “Plane Ticket,” which was released on March 10th. We had the pleasure of interviewing Jack Drinker, and here’s what he had to say:
Q: What does this song “Plane Ticket” mean to you?
DRINKER: 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 a reality for a lot of people. The song is definitely an extreme exaggeration of that feeling where I really push it to the limit but 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. I feel like it’s also so exaggerated that I feel like I’m just poking fun at myself
Q: What is your favorite memory from the production process of this song?
DRINKER: 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.
Q: What role do you think music played in the early years of your life?
DRINKER: I think music played a huge role in my early years of life. I was in a church choir from the time I was four years old and subconsciously learned vocal technique over the course of many years. I think that performing from a young age taught me a lot about my passions and looking back, it makes sense that my career is music based. My parents also listened to all sorts of music that helped me fall in love with albums and artists. I’ve always been really drawn to ballads and emotive storytelling. I like to think of a song like a picture that is being painted and I’m always trying to create a better and more refined painting with each song I make.
Q: In what way(s), do you think your sound has evolved since the beginning of your career?
DRINKER: My sound has definitely evolved a ton and still is. I’ve learned more about the direction that I want to go in with my music as I’ve gained inspiration and my own music taste over the past couple of years. I know that I’ll continue to figure out my sound as I listen to more music. My experience at UCLA also helped shape my sound a lot because I was surrounded by so many different types of music all the time. I was able to try new things without being judged and collaborate with different artists. I don’t ever want to pigeonhole myself into one sound or genre so I think it will just continue to evolve as I mature.
Q: What effect would you love your music to have on listeners?
DRINKER: I would honestly just love for my music to make people feel seen and less alone. If my lyrics can remind someone of a memory or make them feel validated in any way, that would make me so happy. I try to be as raw and vulnerable as I can when it comes to mental health and love, which can often discuss experiences that I think are pretty universal.
Q: What projects are you currently working on?
DRINKER: The music video paired with the song is coming out next week which I’m SO excited about. It’s 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 was a newfound skill that I didn’t know I was capable of. I’m really looking forward to sharing it because I think that it pairs with the song so effortlessly and sort of adds a new meaning to it. I want people to take different things away from video and interpret it in their own way. I also made a fun lyric video which is up on my youtube channel! Besides that I am working on finishing my EP, all of the songs have been written for a while so I’m just in the recording process now. All of the songs are very different but it has a cohesive theme to it at the same time so I’m really excited for it to be my first project.
Good luck with your EP Jack Drinker!
Interviewed by Zoey King
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