Q: Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how your childhood impacted your musical direction?
A: HEY – I’m Jackki Harrt, A big ball of energy with the desire to uproot the underbelly of life and connect with like-minded people about it. Growing up we always had music playing around the house. I think having so much music always playing around me comforted me. I never had anyone to look up to who played music in my family but i would always day dream while listening to music that it was me performing it. I wish i could say “I played since i was a kid or i come from a musical family” but no, i actually came from a high anxiety family, single mom, poor, lots of bullying, no sense of reality and dismissive of expression but the one thing I found was our common ground was turning on some music, even my dad who rejected me since birth would burn mp3 cd’s with a 100 songs at a time and passionately give it to me and my sister – it was the only calm connection i had with my parents somehow. Honestly it’s too bad i didn’t commit to an instrument until 21 because I’m sure that would’ve saved me a lot of grief for expressing myself instead of bottling it all up until I was 26 – but hey, at least i picked punk music to thrash on in the end : that more requires passion and power chords, totally my style.
Q: How are you planning on growing your fan base and sharing your music with the world? What message do you have for anyone who is about to discover “Jackki Harrt”
A: TOURING. RELEASES. PROMO. SHOWS. MORE SHOWS. FESTIVALS. MORE SHOWS. haha, gosh the industry is extremely saturated but as long as the project is consistent in showing up on the social media feeds/ the music scene (with no parameters) if people like it, word of mouth and shares are our best crack at it. For those who are about to discover Jackki Harrt : This project is about bringing to light uncomfortable topic that we all think about in the world we live in, if you want that cute lovey dovey stuff or topics about laying in the sun and having a good time, you’re in the wrong place. My voice is being used to scream about injustices and topics that relates to the dark alleys and suffering, we need to start normalizing living in REALITY not some fantasy like fake social media sells to you. There is nothing scary or inappropriate about it: THATS PUNK BABY!!!!!!
Q: Who is the most inspiring artist for you right now? And where do you find inspiration for making music?
A: Green Day, The Cramps, Rancid, Offspring, Distillers, Agent Orange, Misfits right now – but also i am a huge fan of other genres than 90’s pop punk/punk i believe Im influenced by a lot of different side genres that bleeds into my songwriting. I do commit to listening to full albums but i love indulging in discovering new music which are compiled as varieties of singles in my playlists. My inspiration for making music is feeling a sense of obligation to throw up a bright beacon to people who feel as i do “HEY IM HERE IS THIS HOW YOU FEEL TOO??” I usually know what i want the song to be about when Im about to write it, i pick the topic and just start messing around with chords until the melody is hummed out. I wish i could quit my “muggle” job and really lean into this project – i have so much to say in a world that rather have me be burnt out instead of inspiring passion in others, that pisses me off lol
Q: Can you tell us about the story or message behind the song, “SHEVAMP.”
A: SHEVAMP is a girl-on-girl love affair of blind toxic passion. In reality the “she” vampire is keeping the ghoul as her prisoner. The helpless ghoul can never escape from her (because the ghoul is deeply hypnotised/the vampire’s slave). The story/message is one of intoxication of love that completely traps the ghoul to the point the ghoul accepts its abusive fate and is forced to live through it alone. The ghoul herself doesn’t necessarily know why but she does know that she won’t ever fight it because the ghoul believes deep down the vampire would hunt her down even if she tried to run away, in the end, the ghoul doesn’t question why and succumbs to what the ghoul believes is her unescapable fate and also believes, It’s love – the magic kind.
Q: How would you describe your sound in one word for potential listeners?
A: SPOOKY
Q: Did you face any challenges while writing or recording “SHEVAMP”?
A: I did not, honestly it all went smoothly. Me and my buddy Kevin had a blast recording it and launched the track with a DIY video i made. Overall, a good spooky time.
Q: What is the message of your music? And what are your goals as an artist?
A: With our upcoming album, the message is about connecting through the pain i see in ordinary working-class people. I’ve had a lot of people come up to me after our set and say “wow this song NEEDED to be heard” and I talk about my 3-month substance induced psychosis, to racism, i have a sarcastic anthem that repeats in the chorus “It’s alright! – we’re just fighting for our lives”, overdoses/life of an addict on the street, our health care system that has been budget cut that people can’t get proper help in timely matter….topics that real working-class people are living through right now. My goal is to amplify that voice and make sure people don’t get desensitized to the abuse going on between us and the “priority” co operations and government are partnering up about without real thought to consequences. We aren’t livestock, we aren’t consumers = we are real people who are having our emotions toyed and gaslit/ being pinned against each other. That has to stop, we got to turn towards communities if we’re going to inspire real change and give people the power to believe in themselves without compromising. We need real change, not complacency.
Q: Who is your dream artist to collaborate with? (dead or alive)
A: BILLIE JOE ARMSTRONG
Q: What is your advice for people interested in pursuing music as a career or for those trying to enter the industry?
A: Be organised, make REALISTIC goals that have specific bite size steps to get there. Be social, get out there and engage with the community, how are people going to care if you’re avoiding them/not giving them the time you wish they’d give you?????
Q: If you could go back in time and give a younger you some words of wisdom, what would they be?
A: I would tell younger me to pick up a electric guitar ASAP instead of picking up my electric guitar up at 27 (I’m 33) ….That would’ve helped me with my depression i suffered from as far as i could remember. (I’m ok now, because of my outlets of expression) and probably also tell her : treat yourself like you would treat your own best friend. I was really cruel to myself inside my head until my later 20’s. I’m just glad i was able to navigate through that in the end.
