My first artist interview ever is with the amazing Folk-Pop Singer/Songwriter Jackson LeBeau member of the band, Jackson LeBeau & Co., from Virginia Beach, VA. For awhile, he played the guitar in a band alongside his siblings which consisted mostly of them playing at open mic nights at a local bar in his home town. After some twists and turns taken amongst the band and its members, Jackson took a risk and dove into songwriting and began teaching himself to sing – it’s safe to say he loved it and hasn’t stopped since.
Website – Jackson LeBeau & Co.
(Interview was done via email – I sent Jackson some questions to answer and he kindly responded with some interesting and thorough answers)
What has been your most difficult experience/setback on your journey as an artist?
The most difficult experience has been distance. The three steady members of the band have lived in different states at times and it creates an interesting set of challenges. Luckily we have the technology to be able to work together wherever we are.
What is your favorite experience you’ve had as an artist thus far?
I got a chance to put together a show and share the stage with some friends in my hometown. I’m a fan of their music, so I started the night as an audience member and then got to perform about an hour later. It doesn’t get much better than that.
Where is your favorite place to write songs?
I try to write outside as much as possible, but when an idea hits you, it doesn’t matter where you are. Your current location becomes your favorite place for that moment.
You wrote a song called, “Things I Never Said,” on your EP also called, “Things I Never Said,” which is something we can probably all relate to as there are always situations where we wish we said some things but never did. How has the theme of “Things I Never Said” played a role in your life?
It was a crutch I used to try to protect myself. In hindsight, it turned out to be an extremely limiting defense mechanism. I have to be able to step back and appreciate it though, because that lack of a voice sent me down the path of songwriting. I needed an outlet to solve a problem I had created for myself. That’s why I used that phrase as the title for our first EP. It was my way of finally getting a chance to express those ideas.
If you could play at any venue in the world, where would it be and why?
I would love to play at Red Rocks. I imagine the environment would add something special to the experience for the band, as well as the audience. It’s a level of connectivity that you’d share even before the music starts.
What is your favorite song you’ve written?
That would probably be a new (unreleased) song called “Wishful Thinking”. It’s a simple song, but it aims to capture a lot of what the darker moments in my life are like right now. I’m always looking to find a perspective that adds a productive spin to those experiences, even if it’s just simply the act of acknowledging them.
I know it can be hard to depict one person as a major musical influence on you in your life so if you had to choose three, who are they?
This answer is always changing, but right now my three biggest musical influences would be “Dawes”, “The Head & The Heart”, and “Passenger”.
If you could collaborate with any artist in the world who would it be?
I would like to write with Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes. He has a very unique lyrical perspective and I’d be interested to witness/participate in that process first-hand.
What is your favorite lyric of all time?
This is a tough one. Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about a Passenger lyric – “All I need is a whisper, in a world that only shouts”. It resonates with me because I often struggle with relating to the “connected” world of social media. I think it really only separates us further from each other. It creates a culture that rewards the volume of a voice, instead of the substance or content of what’s being shared.
The most important question of all (not really but kind of), puppies or kittens?
I feel like I should say puppies, but I’m going to have to go with kittens. They look like miniature tigers and they’re born vicious/evil. I find that entertaining for some reason.
You can get the band’s first FULL LENGTH ALBUM, “Start A Fire,” which is now available for $1 (or however much you are willing to pay) at www.jacksonlebeau.com/startafire and please follow Jackson’s social media links to keep up with their musical journey:
Twitter – @JacksonLeBeau
Facebook – http://facebook.com/jacksonlebeauandco
Instagram – @jacksonlebeauandco
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