Jack Drinker is a 21 year old singer/songwriter living in Los Angeles. He grew up singing in a choir which helped to strengthen his passion for singing from a very young age. He first fell in love with non-classical voice before transitioning into the world of Pop, realizing that it was the genre that fit his lyrics and vocal style the best.
What first got you into music?
I started singing in a church choir when I was 4 years old and sort of just learned how to sing by doing that every week. My parents also loved music and would introduce me to new artists all the time. I was in that same choir and we did two musicals a year until I finished 8th grade. This allowed me to use my voice in many different ways from a young age. I then did choir and drama in high school and was trained in non-classical voice. I also started to write songs more commonly which helped me learn the techniques of a Pop musician.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
That’s really tough because I love so many artists. Right now I would probably say, Gracie Abrams. I love her new album and just her overall vibe. Her storytelling is incredible which is something I strive for in my music. I just know I could learn a lot from her. I actually went to her concert in LA a few months ago and she had a great opener. I was definitely manifesting that that would be me one day soon.
What is your creative process like?
My creative process varies depending on the type of song I’m making. I really like to play random chords (I’m not very good at guitar lol) and just write lyrics almost like a brain dump. Sometimes I’m in the mood to record a song right away so I’ll find sounds on Logic or Splice and just write a song based on whatever sounds I like. There are also some cases where I come up with a melody in my head first and then have to figure out what lyrics fit with the melody. It really just depends.
Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
I actually played my very first show this past October through Breaking Sound at a venue called Adults Only on Sunset. It was so much fun. My family and friends came and I had the best time. I haven’t played any shows since then because I’ve been working really hard on finishing a cohesive project that I’m proud of. The show I played was a few covers and four original songs which is great but I’d like to ideally play a full set of my own songs, all of which I love and connect with. I’m graduating from UCLA in a few months which will give me more time to release this project and start playing shows with a full band. I definitely have a vision and I’m really excited to bring it to life.
Are you finding the isolation of the pandemic conducive to your writing or is it hindering the experiences you can write about?
I actually found isolation to be a very creative time period for me. I went through a lot of personal battles over the last year and I chose to write about all of my struggles. Honesty and vulnerability are really important to me as an artist. I’m not always the best at expressing myself verbally so writing my thoughts down is how I feel I can best connect and relate to people with similar struggles. I wrote my song “Who Is This Person?” during the pandemic and I held onto it until I felt like I moved on from those feelings. It felt too painful and too on the nose at first. Discussing topics like mental health and body image is really important but felt very scary for me at the time. The positive reactions I’ve gotten from the song have been amazing and have allowed me to bring my vision of my first official music video to life.
What are your ambitions as a songwriter and musician from here?
I would love to be able to one day tour and make music as my only job. I’m currently a Music Industry Major and have learned so much about the industry as a whole. Right now I’m taking diverse music courses that will (hopefully) set me up for my future including a Marketing internship, Songwriting classes, Industry courses, etc. These different classes have definitely helped me become a more well rounded artist. I plan on working in the Music Industry fresh out of college along with making my own music and building my personal brand as an artist. I would also really love to write for other artists and for licensing projects in the future.
What’s next for you?
Well, I released my first Official Music Video for “Who Is This Person?” on March 3rd which I’m SO excited about. It was 9 months in the making and I couldn’t be happier with it. I worked with Blake English of Two Seas Media who really helped bring my ideas to life. For now, I’m going to be promoting that video but I also have other music that I want to release shortly after. I’m planning a promotional photoshoot and my next video which I’m so excited about. This next song is about a different side of me. It’s so much fun and is more upbeat than anything else I’ve done. Hopefully, after that my debut EP will be done and I can release it in Summer 2022 !!!
Do you sing in the shower? What songs?
I always sing in the shower. I feel like my go to is Adele or Whitney Houston or some soulful singer that I could never do justice to. I don’t know what the science is behind it but there’s something about the shower that makes people feel like they can be the best singer in the world. Maybe it’s the natural reverb showers usually have… I don’t know. I also write a lot of songs in the shower and have to grab my phone to turn on a voice memo.
Which is cooler? Dinosaurs or Dragons?
Definitely Dragons… Because I was born in the year of the dragon but also. Who wouldn’t want to fly? And breathe fire? Dragons are superior.
Do you have a cherished childhood teddy bear or other stuffed animal sitting on your bed at home?
That’s a great question. I have a few actually. I was obsessed with CuriousGeorge as a kid so I definitely still have that stuffed animal somewhere probably covered in dirt. Embarrassingly enough I also have a stuffed version of Totoro literally on my bed as we speak. I mostly just like that his color matches my bed but I’ve also had him since I was really young so he’s special to me.
What was the last TV series you watched on TV?
Hmm I’ve actually watched a few recently. The last series I finished was probably The White Lotus. It was really good but also very strange. None of it made sense but I think that was the goal? The actors were amazing in it and I loved always being on the edge of my seat. There was definitely an unsettling feeling throughout the entire series which I definitely found entertaining.
If you were talking to a younger version of you, what advice would you give yourself? :
I was definitely not a confident kid, I was very insecure for a lot of different reasons. I would like to tell my old self that people’s opinions of you don’t matter. Of course, it’s different with family and friends but worrying about what I’m wearing or how I look for random people on the street doesn’t serve me. It’s a work in progress but ever since I stopped caring about if everyone likes my music or if everyone likes what I’m wearing or doing with my life I’ve been SO much happier. I also think believing in yourself and your art is the only way you can make it in any field of work. I wish when I was younger I had more confidence in the fact that everything would be okay as far as figuring out exactly what I want to do with my life.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackdrinker_/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoYaZBBnZ5JJErKlpRi8s0g
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jackdrinker
