We recently connected with Jack The Underdog and have shared our conversation below.
Jack The Underdog, appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?
Hi there! My name is Jack The Underdog! I am a pop punk/rock artist originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota living in Nashville, Tennessee. I make music for the kids that got bullied, got picked last in gym class, the emo kids that never grew up, or more generally – the “underdogs” of society.
I put out my EP titled “Junkie” in September of this year and then immediately started looking to get features on each of the songs to re-release with the goal of getting some more attention around the music. I made a list of people I would ideally like to feature on one of my songs, and Kellin Quinn of the band Sleeping With Sirens was on that list. I’ve been a fan of the band Sleeping With Sirens for about 10 years. I’ve probably seen them perform live 10+ times, and I’ve posted multiple videos of me covering their songs over the years.
Shockingly, I got connected to Kellin Quinn through one of his producers (Cameron Pierce Mizell) and started chatting with him. He gave my EP a listen, shared some kind words about the project, and was most interested in my song “Conversation”. He called it a “banger” and wanted to feature on that one specifically. I was in shock. I’ve been a fan of Kellin and SWS for almost a decade, and now he was going to be featuring on one of my songs???
Kellin and I went back and forth while he wrote and recorded a new second verse for the song, and sent over all his dry vocal stems. I sent the stems off to my producer, Joel Jorgensen, and we worked to get the new version of my song engineered up and ready for distribution.
8+ years ago, I was the ‘weird’ high schooler that listened to rock, punk, & metal, and I even got made fun of for the music I liked to listen to. I never let it hurt me because the music always made me feel so free and happy. I felt like the bands like Sleeping With Sirens and other bands in the warped tour scene related to my lived experience, and I felt a lot less alone during a time when I struggled quite a bit. Now, as a 25-year-old guy, I think about if I had the opportunity to talk with little, young emo Jack about this. I can’t even imagine the reaction he’d have when I tell him that he’d grow up to one day get a song with Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens. Disbelief? Screams and/or tears of joy? Fainting? Probably all of the above.
I couldn’t be more proud of where I am as an artist now, and this is just the start, I’ve already gotten the next feature for my next single confirmed, but y’all will have to wait to hear about that one!!
“Conversation feat. Kellin Quinn” of Sleeping With Sirens dropped on all platforms on November 11th, 2022.
Listen to it today! https://distrokid.com/
Jack The Underdog, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am an independent LGBTQIA+ Nashville-based pop punk/rock songwriter and artist that is originally from Saint Paul, Minnesota. I write songs for myself and for others and release music and put on shows for the public’s entertainment!
I’ve been songwriting for over 16 years, and play a multitude of instruments, including guitar, bass, ukulele, piano, cello, tuba, as well as electronic instruments & production. I participated in School of Rock, music lessons, choir, band, jazz band, orchestra, performing bands, and songwriting lessons as a kid.
My previous band, Painting Stars, opened up for The Story So Far in the fall of 2015. I am currently in the middle of the release cycle of my new pop punk/rock/emo music, and am looking to start touring soon!
The Underdog community stands up for those that are marginalized or put down. My community is an accepting place that welcomes all inclusive people <3
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My creative journey is driven by the feeling that I had when I was younger. I’ve dealt with depression and anxiety my whole life, and music was and has been my main escape and form of feeling better my whole life. If I can make even one person feel a little less alone, or like someone out there understands them and relates to them, I am happy. I want to support the “underdogs” of the world and give a voice back to those that feel like they don’t have one or aren’t heard or taken seriously.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.
One thing I’d love for non-creatives to understand is that *every* bit of support counts in a huge way!! It’s easy to doom scroll and ignore what we are seeing, but every song pre-saved, every post liked, commented on, or bookmarked, every song streamed or bought, every song or post shared on social media – ALL OF IT IS CONNECTED!! Getting exposure on social media can help lead to getting placed on playlists which can truly help launch-start someone’s career.
If you want to support local independent artists & musicians but don’t know how – start with all the free stuff you can do!! You already have social media accounts and a Spotify or Apple Music account, so follow your favorite local artists, like & comment on their stuff and listen to them!! Unfortunately, numbers are a huge part of getting attention in today’s world, so every interaction & engagement counts!! Us independent and local musicians notice support and we are so incredibly grateful for the people that make our dreams a reality :)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.jacktheunderdog.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jacktheunderdog/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jacktheunderdog
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/jacktheunderdog
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY9JPio2HZTucHpe9BN6daw
- Other: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5SAYvojx5xHsRISXBOZz0A?si=NOUmmwVgRTirHFpKWNscmQ
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jacktheunderdog
Listen to my new song with Kellin Quinn of Sleeping With Sirens!: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/jacktheunderdog2/conversation-feat-kellin-quinn