Rachel Jack - For You
Earlier this year, Scottish singer-songwriter Rachel Jack released her debut EP The Calgary Tapes to much acclaim, securing The Scotsman Artist of the week, Jim Gellatly’s track of the day on multiple occasions as well as a feature in his new music column in The Sun.
The EP received radio play from BBC Scotland, The Roddy Hart Show, BBC Radio Introducing nan Gàidheal - Rapal and Amazing Radio. It was featured by a number of blogs including Tenement TV, BBC Social and the SMIA and of course my own.
Following the success of her latest single, Magazine Girls, described by Amazing Radio’s Jim Gellatly as “sounding like a Scottish Taylor Swift”, For You is the second single to be released from her follow up EP and has already gathered the support of BBC Introducing in Scotland with Phoebe I-H and Shereen Cutkelvin.
The four track EP, Magazine Girls heralds a significant departure from the folky acoustic style of The Calgary Tapes. It is a collaborative offering, combining Jack’s thoughtful, evocative lyrics, with the production mastery of award winning producer and former classmate DUNT. Jack and Dunt (producer of Stanley Odd, SHEARS and Solareye), met while studying music at University West of Scotland, where Rachel was awarded a one year songwriting scholarship from local musician Paolo Nutini.
The EP which is set for release in early 2021 is drenched in shimmery, saccharine optimism, and is inspired by alternative electro pop royalty such as Cvurches, La Roux, Robyn, and Lorde.
For You, was written upon reflection of the summer of 2018 and Rachel commented:
I had a period of illness that completely altered my perspective on life. During my four month long recovery, I didn’t know if I’d be able to sing again and the thought of having my voice taken from me was devastating. I figured if I grieved the possible loss of my voice that much, it was probably time to do something with it. For You is a song to my friends and family who got me though that time, to the scholarship, my mentors, my new friends in music and also to the scars I now carry, they’ve taught me so much.
For You was released on Friday 20 November and it’s another uptempo indie pop banger, with it’s heavy bass and pounding synths this grabs the attention.
Once again Rachel is proving that she can step away from her folk roots and deliver punchy pop songs with a confident and powerful vocal which more than matches DUNT’s glitzy production of the track.
However, it may just be Rachel’s ability to write honest and relatable lyrics that make her stand out from the crowd. For You is a personal homage to friends, family and others who helped her through some tough times giving her a shoulder to lean on etc, this is summed up perfectly in the words “laughing ‘til tears roll, talk all night on the phone ‘bout all the things that we’ve been through, I’ll do it all again for you”.
More importantly when times are difficult you learn more about yourself and this is highlighted in the verse “new perspectives the lessons I have learned burning bridges, that needed to be burned, burn burn me words of black and grey, I’ve learned to ignore the things they say, I’m stripped of everything so I can renew, I’d do it all again for you” when Rachel sings openly in a heart on the sleeve moment about the need to change.
For You is another fantastic release from an artist that I only discovered earlier in the year, but Rachel Jack is certainly one of my tips to explode in 2021.
The release is accompanied by a music video which will premier on Rachel’s YouTube page on Thursday 26 November.
Give For You a stream now: below:
https://open.spotify.com/album/3YwpnIP5ZE3cDO4oXqafsL?si=gcY-orRPRvGH4vv55JSJ4w
Rachel Jack can be followed on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Spotify:
https://www.facebook.com/rachelloojack
https://instagram.com/rachellojack?igshid=1xtlcj9vcafm0
https://twitter.com/Rachellojack?s=21
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7g9p7NptP3Dn6j9Ncgruqk?si=eXmGfr1DQUSA4We2NdLp_Q
Photo Credit - AG Wylie