With the current pandemic, the state of the music and touring industry has dramatically changed. Where were you when everything was brought to a halt?

It was either January or February in 2020 when I was on a boat from Phi Phi back to Phuket in Thailand (where I had taken some time to travel alone and song-write without distraction) when I saw on an IG story that "The first Brit to get coronavirus is currently being airlifted back to Phuket from Phi Phi". I looked into sky and couldn't see a plane - but I do remember thinking at that point that something rather big was about to happen when I got back home!

In any case, I was actually back in London when everything was currently brought to a halt. It was actually my birthday weekend and I had a dinner booked for me and about 20 friends. Over the course of the week, everyone backed out, which sucked but I understood haha.

The next week - lockdown! But I tried to take it in my stride to be as creative as possible in that time, and not let boredeom/fear take over.

I'm blessed to have my own home-studio, so I was able to keep making music.

How has that affected your plans for the coming year? Did you have a tour planned, upcoming album release?

To be honest, it made me develop as a songwriter and producer massively. I've always produced my own tracks, but often I'd hire session musicians and get things done semi Nashville-style and then send my tracks off to be mixed and mastered.

Over the course of the lockdowns, I've had to get competent at doing things myself that I hadn't previously done such as recording bass / keys / drums.

And I could dedicate a lot more time to developing my skills this way, because I was using the time that normally I'd be spending on rehearsing for live shows etc.

I think that when one door closes, another often opens. We just have to spot the opportunities we're faced with, even if they're not the opportunities we expected / would have thought of to begin with.

What have you been doing to fill/make the most of your new-found free time at home? How are you supporting your mental health through all of this?

Haha everything I said above - really!

I find being creative is a great outlet. It helps you grow as an individual and it also helps circumvent boredom. It can also really help vent your frustrations. The final track on my new EP '2020 Won' is a song I wrote out of complete frustration and despair at our government and the establishment in general.

So instead of letting the anger / resentment build from within, until it becomes something nasty, it's often good to get these things off your chest, whether it be in art form or by talking to someone you can trust.

Funnily enough, I'm actually a cognitive behavioural therapist as well as musician, so from a mental health perspective, my continuing education in the area and counselling of other people throughout this time has certainly been pivotal to my own self-care.

I think looking after our physical and psychological selves is of phenomenal importance - and the need for it is only growing in the era we're stepping into.

As things are reopening & restrictions are lifting have you booked any new gigs? Tours? Etc? If your region is still under restriction, how are dealing with the Covid third wave?

I've actually been out of the UK for a great deal of the summer filming new music/travel videos and

recording new songs.

Right now, this is taking priority over gigs and tours.

It's a strange thing - because the whole world has adjusted so much in the past year to the delivery and consumption of music within the digital domain, that's kind of where I'm comfortable now. I've put a lot of effort into growing my socials, and making good quality music videos, and I don't intend to slow down now.

I'm definitely keen to start playing live shows again soon, but I'm not in a rush as there is so much in the air right now with my new songs / projects.

Do you have a message for everyone at home reading this?

Thanks so much for giving my music your attention. I appreciate you so much for it!

And whilst we might be in a very difficult time, where lots of us are struggling, I guess one message I would have is to try as best as possible to keep your faith about you.

There's SO much uncertainty in the world right now - and worrying about what you can't control is wasted energy.

Focus on what you can control - aka your own life, your own decisions, your own well-being.

Jack Galloway

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Artist of the Day | JACK GALLOWAY

ARTIST OF THE DAY

10.09.2021

JACK GALLOWAY