Jack Bratt Spades Interview

Hot off the back of winning the prestigious Grant McLennan Fellowship in 2019, beloved Aussie rocker Jack Bratt has announced his brooding new single Spades, a study in over-thinking, out now, and accompanied by an intimate live video.

Spades is a dark, moody track, and will be an exciting release for fans of anthemic legends The War On Drugs, Kingswood, Holy Holy, The Rubens et al. Expert guitar reigns throughout, while Jack's unique, cutting vocal sits within the bed of sound, with sharp, affecting lyrics. Speaking of the inspiration behind the track, Jack explains, "I'm a classic overthinker, and Spades is a bit of a snapshot of me over-analysing everything. It's a lot about comparing where I'm at in my life to my friends and family, thinking about whether or not I'm where I should be compared to, say, when my parents were at the same age."

Such a close, vulnerable track requires careful treatment when it comes to live performance, and the accompanying video for Spades will give goosebumps to anyone who presses play. Directed by Clint Lewis of Red Tape Pictures (Tim Rogers, The Church), the black and white, artistic video depicts a solo rendition of the track, which allows Jack to accurately portray the significant nature of the subject matter in this song, as he says, "I just wanted the video to be simple. Playing this song solo, not in a band setting, is a pretty vulnerable thing. When I walked into the room for the first time and saw the pillars and the stained-glass windows, I knew it was going to be perfect for the song."

Jack Bratt, who still hopes to head to New York City in June for a three month artist residency thanks to his recent Grant McLennan Fellowship accolade, also holds high hopes that he'll be able to play a run of intimate shows while over in the US. With a lot of uncertainty around Covid19, Jack's plans are a little up in the air, but he's got a great attitude about his year ahead, enthusing, "While this is obviously a pretty distressing time for all of us, I'm using the time wisely by writing a lot of music which I'm excited about. And I'm planning on still heading to New York as soon as the travel bans have been lifted."

Interview with Jack Bratt

Question: Can you tell us about Spades?

Jack Bratt: Spades is my first single as a solo artist, and really the first song I wrote after a few years off from writing any music at all. I wasn't really intending to write anything; it just fell out of me one day. I think it was just my mind telling me that it was time to get my act together and start putting music out into the world.


Question: What inspired the song, Spades?

Jack Bratt: I guess I was just going through a phase of feeling stuck. My previous band had broken up a few years earlier and for so long it was such a big part of my life, and I felt a little lost. I felt like I'd lost a lot of my identity. Spades is a conversation I'm having with myself, wondering if I'm where I want to be in my life.


Question: What was it like filming the video for Spades?

Jack Bratt: To be honest, unpleasant! While I was extremely lucky to work with Clint Lewis and Arthur Costa from Red Tape Productions who were amazing, we shot it in the middle of January in a large space with No Airconditioning. I wore a full suit and I was trying to perform as best as I could without passing out from the heat.


Question: How does it feel to be compared to Kingswood, Holy Holy and The Rubens?

Jack Bratt: Fantastic! I love those bands and it's a massive compliment, I just hope they don't mind!


Question: How would you describe your music?

Jack Bratt: It's quite guitar driven and anthemic sounding I would say, but at the core they are simple songs and I just try and deliver them as well as I can.


Question: What was it like winning the Grant McLennan Fellowship in 2019?

Jack Bratt: It was one of the greatest things ever to happen to me. I love Brisbane and the music history here, and to win and award named after Grant McLennan from the Go-Betweens was just an incredible honour. I was also a finalist with three amazing songwriters, it couldn't have been an easy decision for the judges.


Question: Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Jack Bratt: A lot of my songs are about struggle, and everybody is having one, and it's absolutely ok to not be ok. We are all jus trying to do our best. So, I hope people can find some comfort in that.


Question: Do you prefer performing live or recording?

Jack Bratt: That's a tough one, while performing live gives you the instant gratification and the thrill of anything can happen, hearing your music for the first time take shape is really an amazing feeling. I can't decide on that one sorry!

Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Jack Bratt: It's usually the most recent one I've written, because it will change often in the early stages. Live performance is a great way to see what works and what doesn't.


Question: If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Jack Bratt: Josh Frusciante, He's my musical hero. But I'd also be petrified.


Question: What motivates you most when writing music?

Jack Bratt: Just knowing how rewarding it is to hear a song back when its finished for the first time. That doesn't really motivate me to start writing, but to make sure I finish it, and not have it hang around in the ether.


Question: Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Jack Bratt: CLEWS, Rya Park, Hannah Cameron


Question: What or who was your inspiration to go into the music industry?
Jack Bratt: My father! He has been a musician all his live, and music was always around me. I spent a lot of time in pubs as a kid going to his gigs, so I think it was just inevitable!


Question: If you could collaborate with another artist, who would it be?

Jack Bratt: Frank Ocean


Question: What's a typical day like, for you currently, during COVID-19 self-isolation?

Jack Bratt: Life is very simple! I wake up, and then take my Neighbours dog for a long walk. Have some lunch, reply to emails, and help my Fiancé practice her lines for her acting class.


Question: What's next, for you?

Jack Bratt: More new music, I'm hoping to have the next single out around July.


Question: Can you share your socials?

Jack Bratt: @jackbratt or https://www.facebook.com/jackbrattmusic

Interview by Brooke Hunter