JACK JOHNSON IS JVCKJ, DROPS SINGLE “YOU LIE”

JVCKJ is a storyteller who is inspired by the endless stories happening around him. The Omaha, Nebraska native uses his music to share and create stories, pushing himself creatively to the boundless spectrum of possibilities that he could create as an artist on his own.

The other half of the multi-platinum selling duo Jack&Jack embarks on a new chapter as a solo artist, a new phase that according to him, “helped me discover my full musical capabilities.”

In this interview, read more about JVCKJ, the story behind his new single “YOU LIE,” his creative process, his music journey, an exciting project that he will release this fall his inspirations, and lessons he learned in his career so far.

What’s the story behind your first solo single YOU LIE?

“You Lie” is a record that was inspired by a vengeful relationship. Sometimes when you feel betrayed the most natural response is to reciprocate that energy. A lot of times people tend to jump to conclusions in relationships and do something impulsive without talking it out with their significant other, and then you get caught up in this awful cycle of toxicity. It can happen to the best of us, even if you love that person to the moon and back and really want to make things work.

How is this new phase for you as you explore your individual musical interests?

This phase has really helped me discover my full musical capabilities. Obviously when coming from a duo, you tend to compromise on certain things even if you have similar tastes and are as in sync as Jack and I have always been. We wanted to step outside of our comfort zones and really push ourselves as individuals. We know how important this chapter is for both the future of the group, and in terms of our personal growth.

You have a debut project set to release this fall. What can you tell us about it?

All I can say right now is that it’s really going to showcase the full spectrum of what I bring to the table as an artist. From production, to rapping, singing, and everything in between, I really think people will have a better understanding of where my heart lies when it comes to my craft after hearing this project.

How would you describe your music/sound?

My sound is very fluid. You’ll catch me on one song telling a story via multiple 64+ bar verses, and then the next may be something downtempo and melancholic with far more melodic elements. Everything is held together by my voice, which to me is the glue of the project and my sound in general. The biggest thing I want to do is ALWAYS keep people guessing as to what’s next from me. If I, or any artist for that matter, don’t push myself creatively, the music simply becomes stagnant in time.

Where do you get your inspirations whenever you create music?

My inspirations can come from so many different places. Lately I’ve been trying to write records from outside perspectives as opposed to my own. It could be a story my parents told me from their childhood, a narrative on the music industry from an up and coming artists perspective, something based off of a friend who has been dealing with mental health issues, etc... getting out of the box and your own life is extremely important as a writer, especially with so much going on in the world that may not directly affect me. Everyone has a story to tell, and there’s no reason I can’t try to tell them all!

Does music run in the family?

My mom’s side of the family is where I would have to give the majority of the genetic credit. My grandpa on her side is a great jazz pianist, and loves to sing whenever we have family get together. He really inspired me to pick up piano, along with his youngest son, my uncle Garth. I always say he was born in the wrong decade, because he composes some wickedly impressive piano songs with such beautiful lyrics to accompany that I swear would’ve taken the 60s and 70s by storm. He’s massively inspired by Springsteen and you can hear it in his storytelling. My mom and brother have pretty damn good voices too (even though I can’t sing anywhere on their level even though I try my best haha)

How’s your creative process like? Can you walk us through your process?

My creative process could be best described as spur of the moment in its roots. Once I have a beat or direction for the production, whether I’m working solo or with another producer, I always like to freestyle on the mic and find some melodies that come naturally. Once I find something that I can’t get out of my head, I like to nail down some lyrics and build out a potential base hook. There’s always room for amendments, and you can’t let yourself get too attached to an idea. Once I have my main part, or the “hook” in place, I love to keep the verse section on loop for as long as it takes me to write the respective verses. I’ve been using a pen and pad lately as opposed to my iPhone notes because it helps embed the lyrics in my head better, actually writing them out and what not. When it comes time to record, the less you’re reading out the lyrics and the more you’re actually feeling the emotion behind what the words mean, the better the performance will typically be. My favorite part of the process is after I have all of the base vocals down, and I get to play with the background vocals, harmonies, ad-libs, and sound effects that help keep a record versatile and ever changing. I’m always looking for new elements that can be introduced to keep a listener on their toes. Predictability is boring in music. Yawn.

For you, when is the best time to create/write music? What’s the most ideal environment for you?

I love working at night. For some reason that’s when I notice my mind is the most creative and active. The ideal setting would definitely be people I’m comfortable with and not apprehensive to try literally anything around, no matter how stupid and idea may be.

Which artists inspire you?

So many. I grew up on classic rock and people like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Springsteen, and Aerosmith inspired me from a young age. They would talk about the weirdest shit, a lot of the time I would have no idea what it even was they were talking about since I was so young. Then, once I started falling in love with hip hop around the age of 6/7, I would sneak into my brother’s room to listen to explicit rap albums. I still remember my mom catching me listening to Lose Yourself by Eminem on my brother’s iPod. She wasn’t too thrilled (even though that song is extremely tame when it comes to Eminem’s discography). Em, Lil Wayne, and Andre 3000 would have to be my biggest 3 inspirations in hip hop, all for different reasons. In terms of right now, Anderson Paak, Brockhampton, and 070 shake have been big inspirations as of late.

How did your music journey begin?

It began back in Nebraska when two local producers reached out to Jack and I. They saw we had some covers on our vine page, and wanted to see if we we wanted to track something for real. We made our first 4 songs out of their bedroom studio, and the rest was history. Shoutout to Travis and Turner!

Do you prefer working alone when you create your art or do you thrive whenever you work with other people?

I would say a healthy mixture of both. When it comes time to writing a rap verse, nobody is touching that thing except for me. That’s definitely my heavy strong suit. But then on the flip side, I love working with people when it comes to musical composition and melodies. Sometimes it’s good to have an ear to run an idea by, especially one you really respect. At the end of the day there is a time and place for everything, and a lot of it depends on your current mood.

Aside from music, what else keeps you busy?

I love video editing, playing video games, and playing sports with my friends. Speaking of sports, I’m absolutely over the moon that the NFL season is right around the corner. Our fantasy football league gets pretty intense to say the least.

What’s a valuable lesson that you’ve learned from your career that you still carry with you today?

Self-belief must always be your driving factor. Nobody else can truly motivate you except for YOU. Learn the ins and outs of your business, be proactive, form personal relationships with everyone. Don’t be dependent on a middle man to get things done, because nobody will have your same sense of urgency when it comes to your life and your vision. Take the reins of your destiny into your own hands baby!

If you were a book, what book would you be and why?

I would probably be Lord of the flies. Trying to figure out the balance between what part of me is truly within my nature, and what part of me is a product of my surroundings has always been an interesting thought in my head. At the end of the day, I’m alone on JVCKJ island, and I have to fend for myself while making due with the resources around me. It’s a vicious and inspiring world, so always be prepared for whatever life may throw your way!