A Chat About Lockdown (Lovers) with JXCKY

Melbourne based artist JXCKY (pronounced: Jacky), is on a journey, seeking to encapsulate the dramatic, tumultuous and fleeting moments to create a lasting, sentimental effect on anyone and everyone who is willing to listen, empathise and understand.His new single titled Lockdown Lover explores the unprecedented events of 2020, where, through restrictions and isolation, people are feeling disengaged and disconnected from one another. JXCKY captures the melancholy and heartbreak being felt the world over, but through his silky vocals shines a light of hope; a light at the end of the lockdown tunnel. We caught up with him to discuss his new single, maintaining isolation friendships and new found hobbies.

Thanks for chatting to us Jxcky and congratulations on the release of Lockdown Lover, can you talk to us about the processes behind the single?

Thank you and thanks for having me Australian Music Scene! I’m so excited and keen for everyone to listen to Lockdown Lover. I feel like I’ve been sitting on this in secret for a long time.

It was as soon as I knew that I was falling for someone, when Victoria was in its first lockdown, that I had the title of the song written in my notes app. It was left untouched until one night in May. I heard ‘Stuck with U’ by Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber and that’s when I realised I’ve never tried to write that classic, 6/8 love song. I’m thinking ‘Lover’ by Taylor Swift and ‘Perfect’ by Ed Sheeran.

I sat by the keyboard and most of the song just came out of me. A few days later, I had an idea for the bridge. I just loved this entire concept of writing a detailed love story happening in a pandemic.

Two months later, a friend of mine, Craig Kemp, hit me up about collaborating on a track. We were writing a completely new one when I sent him a demo of Lockdown Lover and he started toying around with it. As soon as he sent me a pass and I heard the synths at the beginning, I knew it had to be released. A few months, several zoom calls later and still under a lockdown, it’s happening!

Obviously this song is somewhat inspired by the current situation you find yourself in, in Victoria. How have you managed to maintain close relationships with friends and family during this difficult time?

Fortunately, I still live with my family and they’ve kept me fed and sane during this time but they’re probably sick and tired of hearing me record music in my room! As for my friends, we actually recently had a huge Zoom call games night with silly hats, alcohol and online Cards Against Humanity (shout out to my bestie and fellow muso, Julienne Maesa, for organising that!). I’ve also picked up this habit to pick up any of her calls, whether I’m asleep or in the shower.

Apart from creating fantastic music, have you found any new iso hobbies or interests that you probably would not have thought about prior to isolating yourself?

Aside from falling in love, which I didn’t expect to happen, I’ve also fallen in love with working out. My sister and her fiancée are like… fitness gurus and they set up this backyard home gym, bought equipment and taught me how to do everything. Fast forward and I’ve gained 10kg, a booty, bigger arms and I’m drinking protein shakes. Oh and my room definitely looks cooler now! So if there was no lockdown, I’d be... unfit and my room would be extremely bland.

As well as being big fans of Lockdown Lover we are also massive fans of your Quarantunes playlist on Spotify. There is a massive variety of genres in there from artists like Colour Castle all the way to Anderson Paak. Have you always had such a versatile taste in music, and how does that influence your own music?

I’m so glad you guys checked that out! Actually, a friend of mine and artist I love, Zoe Adore, toplined that Colour Castle song! I’m obsessed with her music, especially ‘Galaxy’.

I didn’t always have a versatile taste in music. I only listened to mainstream pop music for years. It wasn’t until halfway through my uni degree and studying songwriting that I started to dabble with R&B chords, soul sounds and funk grooves. I started to listen to artists like Daniel Caesar, Bruno Major, Emily King, Anderson Paak and Winston Surfshirt.

Suddenly, I found myself writing catchy pop hooks over R&B chords or writing a pop song and then tomorrow, writing R&B. I definitely think that’s had an influence on finding the right balance in my songwriting between the simplicity of pop music and the complexity and depth of R&B/Soul.

What's in store for 2021?

There are two projects I’m working on. One explores the universal themes of anger, jealousy and revenge in a signature dark pop/R&B soundscape. It moves away from the sound you hear on Lockdown Lover and has a more sinister, rebellious tone. I’m currently working on a track with my extraordinarily talented friend, bassist and producer, Daniel Roughley, and hoping to have it out before 2020 ends!

The other consists of songs I’ve written on public transport here in Victoria, whether on a train, tram, bus or v-line. It’s a concept project inspired by PTV (Public Transport of Victoria) and I’d describe this project as sounding similar to Lockdown Lover!