Jack Swing are back with their second EP, released back in September. This EP combines three great tracks to create something that is definitely worth watching out for. I thought it would be a good opportunity to catch up with Isaiah from the band.
For those out there who haven’t heard of Jack Swing before, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Absolutely. Jack Swing is a rock band from Pittsburgh PA that consists of Isaiah Ross (vocals/guitar), Rowdy Kanarek (bass), and Alex Nelson (drums). We are best buds, live together, and started officially in 2016. We enjoy movies, kung fu, anime, badminton, and one of us is extremely into cheese. Stylistically we’ve heard we’re a bit all over the place but I’d say we’re rooted in rock and frequently touch upon other things such as funk, soul, ect.
Where did the journey into music begin for the band?
We’ve been playing together musically for a long time. When I was about 14 I (Isaiah) asked Rowdy for bass lessons. At the time I was a rapper and my act and Rowdy’s band, The Incredibly Suave (who Alex drummed for at the time) would tend to share stages. After a while of doing these lessons with Rowdy I realized how much I love rock music and how much I needed to actively be in a band. All three of us played in numerous projects over the years both together and separately. After coming out of a tough emotional time I realized that none of my current projects were satisfying the things I needed from music. At this point I started Jack Swing and though we have had some lineup changes things have come full circle and currently the band is myself and the two people I’ve personally jammed with the longest.
Where does the name Jack Swing come from?
When I initially attempted to start this project I wanted its name to serve the same purpose as how I saw the names of my musical heroes (Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, ect). Unforgettable names yet powerful titles that have stood the test of time. New Jack Swing was something I heard a lot growing up, I suppose on some level that stuck with me. I went with that because it felt right in that regard and it’s felt right thus far.
You recently released your latest EP Get What’s Mine For You. What does this song mean to you as a band?
As a band with this entire EP we really wanted to capture the energy of us playing together at the time as our previous drummer (Jonathan Lightfoot) was leaving the band as well as Isaiah Small (keys) was moving from Pittsburgh to Minnesota. This song represents that unique and special energy and all the memories that come with that. To me personally, this song represents doing whatever necessary to get the things from life that you want and deserve. We all have parts of ourselves that we’ve sacrificed as we’ve grown older. This song represents the energy of choosing to get those things out of life that you may have given up on in the past. Getting these things out of life that you deserve for yourself.
Did you have any help with the recording and producing process?
Absolutely. We recorded the EP at The Church Recording Studio in Pittsburgh PA. The EP was recorded and mixed by Dave Hidek and mastered by Garrett Haines out of Treelady Studios.
The music video looks like it was a lot of fun to make. What and who were involved in making it?
This video was a true blast to make. Some aspects were definitely easier than others, for example Alex is a big fan of rotisserie chicken so that passion definitely comes across in the video. Fake ghost-riding on a 90 degree day in a tracksuit on the other hand… A lot of very talented hands went into the creation of this video, I like to refer to them as the dream team. The dream team consists of the following:
Anthony Peduzzi – Director
Director of Photography: Raffaele DiLullo
Production Design: Shannon Dailey
Swing/Set Dresser/ Transportation Captain: Max Cianci
What were some of the biggest hurdles that you had to overcome when making your music, and how did you deal with them?
For me I think it was more the realization that the hurdles would be nonstop, and to not let them slow you down when they do happen. With any craft, troubleshooting is just as important as any other aspect, making music is no different. In music and life in general few things go according to plan, the best you can do is learn how to roll with whatever comes and keep moving towards your goals.
Before the world went mad, did you have any opportunities to play any shows?
Live shows were definitely a huge part of Jack Swing’s existence pre-covid. As a band that was known for our live shows, making the adjustment was tough. Fortunately by living together we were able to immerse ourselves in different aspects of the music. But normally, we are very active in the live show regard.
Are there any plans to get back on the road when it is safe?
Without a doubt. As soon as it seems genuinely safe we plan to hit the road harder than ever, until then there is always more tightening up to do.
What is next for Jack Swing?
During quarantine we have written our debut album and currently are in the process of completing demos for it. We plan on getting back into the studio to work on it as soon as possible and ideally by the time it’s finished getting back on the road may be an option (fingers crossed). Otherwise we will keep writing and working on making music that we can stand by.
Where can we find out more about you?
You can find us on any of our social media @jackswingpgh (facebook, Instagram, Twitter). As well as on all streaming platforms.
Anything you would like to tell us?
A huge goal with our music is putting out light in a time where it’s hard to find any. Check us out and we hope you like what you hear. Keep an eye out for our full-length and check out our new EP and the video in the meantime!
I’d like to thank Isaiah and the band for taking the time to answer my questions and wish them the best of luck for the future, and I hope to catch Jack Swing at a show at some point.
TrueStyleMusic 