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Interview with
JACK BOTTS

(29th May, 2021)

Interviewer – Dave Bruce

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Image: Kieran Tunbridge

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Have you always wanted to be a musician? When did you get the song writing bug?
No actually haha. I was always pretty big into my soccer. That was the dream growing up. But I always played music behind closed doors when I wasn’t on the field. Soccer faded out, the guitar came in and that was it haha.

How would you describe your sound? Why do you think people resonate with your music?
I’ve always really struggled with this haha. I guess folk, singer/songwriter if I had to put a label on it. A few people have mentioned that they find a lot of my writing pretty relatable to their worlds which I think is an epic thing. My main goal has always been to try and connect with as much of the audience as I can, so I’m glad that some of my songs are reaching someone.

Which artist’s music and/or performance, past or present, inspires you today? 
I’m currently fascinated with a band called Mt Joy. They’re a band from the US who are making killer tunes and playing some pretty epic venues around the world. I think what I find most inspiring about them is that most of the band members had normal jobs and kept their jobs as the band was progressing. 2 of the guys were lawyers and they both just thought they’d have a crack at music. Pretty epic.

Your new EP Slow Mornings is about to be released! Describe its origin and evolution. 
This EP is a collection of tracks that represent a pretty crazy point in time, life, and career. All the ups and downs of balancing a long distance relationship with work. It talks about all the moments when you want to throw the towel in and give up, to the realisation that giving up just isn’t an option, despite the heartache. I was so stoked I had the opportunity to record some of these tracks in Vancouver as well which was super exciting!

What are the signature pieces on the EP, and which is your favourite track?
Tough one, I don’t usually pick favourites but for me, I really enjoyed ‘18th Floor’. I kind of stepped out of my comfort zone for this one and used a different style of writing and recording to what I would normally do. Super stoked with how it turned out and how it differs from the rest of the EP.

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Any tours or events coming up soon? What are you looking forward to, and what can the fans expect?
Yeah we’re 1 week away from kicking off my national tour which will be heaps of fun! It’s my first capital city run so I can’t wait. We’ve got a pretty epic crew of supports and players coming this time as well (Felipe Baldomir, Dusty Boots, Ben Camden & Maddy May) so I’m very keen for these shows with the gang.

If you could perform with any music artist, Alive or Dead, who would you choose? And why? 
Oooooh. As a kid, I always wanted to jump up on stage with Michael Hutchence from INXS. Awesome Aussie rock band, red hot songs. I reckon that’d be a pretty good time haha.

Do you have any long-term aspirations as a music artist? 
Throughout all my music journey, I’ve never put any expectation on anything. I figured I enjoyed the excitement of not knowing “what would happen next” or where it is going to end up. I love doing what I’m doing at the moment, so if I can continue to write, record and tour my music, I’ll be pretty chuffed with that.

What is the best thing about performing to a live audience? What’s been the career highlight so far?
One thing I can never get over is when people sing your songs back to you. For me, that is hands down the best thing in the world. The thought of people singing a lyric that I may have written in my bedroom over a year before, blows my mind. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that.

Finally, a few questions for some quick answers:
FAVOURITE
Album – ‘Vulture Street’ by Powderfinger
Artist – deep down, probably U2
Movie – Top Gun
Place to visit – Sri Lanka
Venue to play – Northern Front Bar
Food –  Japanese
Drink – Stone and Wood
Person in History – sheesh, my Mum  
Tattoo – (If you don’t have one, what would you get?) My fav tatt is my Batman on my left arm. I got it done kind of hidden so no one really knows haha.

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Full EP out Friday June 4 – HERE
Released independently by Jack Botts,
distributed via UNIFIED Music Group

‘SLOW MORNINGS’
EP Tracklist:

1. ‘Hold You’
2. ’18th Floor’
3. ‘I’ve Got You’
4. ‘Slow Mornings’
5. ‘Southbound’
6. ‘Tattoos’

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JACK BOTTS
‘SLOW MORNINGS’
EP release tour

w/ special guests Felipe Baldomir, Dusty Boots,
Ben Camden & Maddy May

Tickets on sale NOW

Friday June 4 – Jive Bar, Adelaide, SA
Saturday June 5 – Indian Ocean Hotel, Perth, WA
Friday June 11 – The Zoo, Brisbane, QLD
Saturday June 12 – The Lansdowne, Sydney, NSW
Thursday June 24 – The Corner, Melbourne, VIC
Sunday June 27 – The Northern, Byron Bay, NSW

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Follow JACK BOTTS
Website – Facebook – Twitter
 Instagram – Spotify

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AMNPLIFY – DB