There is so much fantastic music coming from independent artists this year. July 23, another fantastic drop from one of our favorite artists at PopWrapped, Jackson Harris. If you are unsure of this amazing talent, you might recognize his name if you are a fan of Fifth Harmony, Cody Simpson, Jacob Whitesides, and more as he has been a supporting touring act for them.

Additionally to touring alongside those great artists, Jackson has achieved a lot of success as an independent artists. Including many editorial placements, touring with artists we all love, and a massive creative outlet across platforms where he vlogs, shows his talent with original music, covers, and so much more. Jackson Harris is the epitome of an true artist.

“This Time Last Year” is a song I wrote in the middle of the pandemic. Having that time in quarantine really made me think about how valuable our time is and how much can change in a year. I hope this song captures the energy and spirit of change and gets you excited for a safe return to the people and things that we’ve been missing.” Jackson explained.

“I started singing around the age of 10. I remember singing along to whatever song was playing in the car, or was on the radio. I knew by age 12 that it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. It was a passion that has become a huge part of who I am. Once I turned 15 and began to write my own music it was obvious to me that I had to follow this dream that I had. From then it’s been tons of hard work and the help of so many talented musicians, producers, and collaborators to get me where I am today.”

PW: Looking at all of your career releases, you have been releasing music since roughly 2012-2013 and landed some pretty large editorial play listing. When it comes to making sure you are topping each release, and making sure you’re performing at your best – what are some of the motivational factors you have? & do you ever see periods of burnout as a result of doing music so for now 9 years?

JH: I learn something new with each song release. I’ve found that now the streaming platforms (similar to the social media platforms) favor consistency. This means a bunch of things, but essentially it’s about focusing in on your sound, production, audience interaction, and release schedule. There is so much music constantly being put out by so many great artists that there are times where it feels close to impossible to cut through the noise. To combat this I shift my attention to my fans as well as strategize unique ways to attract new listeners. Showing your full self as an artist can be much more than the music, so yes there can be moments of burnout but overall if I continue to show up, write the songs that I feel are honest, and true, then in the end they will find their way to the right set of ears.  

PW: we cover a lot of different sized and I always like to try to get an idea of who influences each artist. Are there any artists that you find inspiration from? If so, who are they and what stands out to you about them?

JH: So much of the music I make is inspired by a variety of artists! I love all of the new alternative pop artists out there right now that are blending so many different genres. I think Jon Bellion has had a huge impact on my artistry and writing. Anything Ed Sheeran, or John Mayer put out I end up really finding myself inspired by. I love what Jermey Zucker, Chelsea Cutler, and Lawrence are making right now. And I also really dig how some pop punk elements are coming back into some of the mainstream pop songs we’re hearing a lot of today. 

PW: “This Time Last Year” is the forth release this year and we’re seeing some significant comparisons in regards to artwork. Are we getting an EP/Album that these tracks will be apart of? If so, what can you tell us about how this track relates to the project you’re working on.

JH: I wanted to utilize 2021 as a year to put out as much music as I could. In 2020 the world was in a really dark place and I took that time to write and work on my craft. This Time Last Year is the 4th song I’ve put out and there will be a few more. We are in the planning stages right now to assemble all the songs released into an possible EP but I can’t give away too many details, or I’ll probably get in trouble. 

PW: The root of the track talks about being alone around this time last year and it’s a fully upbeat track. What does this track mean to you and your artistry? Do you feel that today, you’re in a more positive space when it comes to any struggles that you have faced since last year?

JH: Yes, I feel like I’m in a much better place than I was a year ago, or rather this time last year… I think we all are. 

PW: During the COVID 19 pandemic, the world has been completely questionable. From when is it going to end? When can shows resume? And just overall confusion of what we have to look forward to. With that being said, I know personally I have felt a lot of burnout. Not just personally, but also from my passions. Were there anytime during this pandemic that you were burnout from your passion or suffered from not knowing what was next? If so, what kept you pushing through?

JH: The idea of being back on stage and playing music to a live audience is what carried me through some of the harder times. This time allowed me to slow down, really hone in on my craft and reflect on what I wanted to create next. Boredom and burnout lead to reflection and soul searching which made me believe even more so that I’m doing exactly what I’m supposed to be doing. 

PW: This Time Last Year has not just incredible writing but a really oddly satisfying production as well. Who all did you work with on this track and what can you tell us about the songwriting, production, and collaborative process for this track, specifically?

JH: I wrote the song along with my co-writer and producer Dominic Florio whom I’ve worked with  for the last few years. We started writing the song virtually over countless  Zoom calls and once restrictions were lifted, we recorded the record and produced it together in-person, which felt like a gift in and of itself. Once we were finished with it, we sent it over to Chris Sclafani who mixed and mastered the track and brought it to life. 

PW: You have achieved many great things as an independent artist. At PopWrapped, we always try to showcase as much independent talent as possible. So, it is hard to keep eyes on everyone that is doing things by themselves. Are there any independent artists out right now that you enjoy? Any that you think we should keep an eye out for?

JH: Oddly enough, I have found so many great new artists through Tik Tok like Tai Verdes and Abigail Barlow who are pushing the needle creatively. It’s great to see the industry start to take notice of these amazing artists. 

PW: Independent artistry is very mentally exhausting if you do not have a massive backing. Do you have any advice for any independent artists who might be reading this? 

JH: I would say constantly reminding yourself of why you started making music in the first place. Having the support  of your family and friends definitely helps but really believing in yourself is the core of it all

We’re stoked to see what is next for Jackson Harris. “This Time Last Year” is available now on all platforms now. Be sure to check out Jackson on Twitter, and Instagram.