We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Jackson Parten. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Jackson below.
Jackson, appreciate you joining us today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?
My last album, Happily Ever Aftermath, is a very meaningful project . It was the first album that I produced and played every instrument on. My wife also sings harmonies on the songs and it’s our first time to be recorded together. I had the opportunity to go on a last minute tour in Europe in February 2020 and wanted to have some new music to share. I went into Stone Creek Studios in Helotes, Texas and made the record in a couple of days. The tour was obviously cancelled early and with all the other exciting news that year, the album didn’t get the release it may have deserved. When stages began opening back up, it was exhilarating to play the new songs and finally hear them live.
Jackson, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I have been drawn to music and making it as long as I can recall. I began writing and preforming in high school and fell into gigging locally in and around San Antonio shortly after that. I grew up listening to older rock music but was drawn to the roots sound of the local songwriting scene in central Texas. I’ve been working on refining a sound that blends them together ever since. Over the years I have released six albums, expanded my wheelhouse as an instrumentalist, written songs that have received considerable airplay and produced recording for other artists. I’m proud of the diverse nature and scope of what I have done so far and believe the variety keeps it interesting. Currently, I balance a schedule of performing, writing, being a sideman for hire as well as being music director at Gruene UMC in New Braunfels, Texas
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
My only goal is to enjoy the music. Admittedly, that’s not always the only motivation when selecting gigs or projects, but I try to only involve myself in projects that feed my soul more than my bottom line.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
I would have considered a path as a musician earlier in life if I had seen more examples of local and regional artist that were sustaining careers and making a living. Mainstream culture shines all of the light on a few anomalous stars and doesn’t hold up enough examples of working artists and musicians.
Contact Info:
- Website: Jacksonparten.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/jacksonparten/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/jacksonparten/
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/user/jacksonparten/videos
- Other: https://linktr.ee/Jacksonparten
Image Credits
all photos by Miranda Terry Parten