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ABOUT JACKSON GILLIES by Jackson Gillies
Hi, my name is Jackson Gillies. I'm 24 years old and I live in Santa Barbara, CA, but was born on Long Island, NY, and lived there until I was 13. I was consistently subjected to fantastic music from a very early age. My parents attended over 100 Grateful Dead shows, and cranked their music throughout the house as I was growing up. Also lots of Neil Young, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers, etc.
I started playing guitar when I was 14 years old. I was exclusively a musical theatre kid until I discovered the guitar. My first love was The Avett Brothers. Their music awoke something within me that said, "I need to be able to do that." I began learning every single one of their songs on acoustic guitar, and soon was mimicking their writing style and stage presence.
A few years later, around age 17, I discovered John Mayer and his incredible craft. An effortless blend of classy blues with pop and folk lyrics and structure. Funny enough, I only discovered him because he started playing with the Grateful Dead!
I've been releasing my own original music since I was 19 and I've struggled with it greatly. I'm a perfectionist and would always fault my works as soon as they were released, and doubt myself if people wanted to hear them. I stopped releasing music for a while until the year, when I wrote, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered my first ever album.
(The only instrumental guest appearances are Chase Fierro's violin on "Pretend," and Trevor Hurvitz's acousitc guitar on "Learning.")
The songs are all recorded without a click track, captured on an AKG 414with no tuning or comping. The record is entitled "High & Low" and will be released on April 26.
More about Jackson...
Jackson Gillies is a 24-year-old independent singer/songwriter/producer residing in Santa Barbara, California. Jackson plays solo acoustic, with a trio and JAX PLAYS DEAD which is a Grateful Dead cover band. Jackson's notables include being featured on a Kenny Loggins compilation album called CaliAmericana II; placing top 69 on "American Idol,' of which the Facebook audition has over 28 million views; being awarded a Youth Philanthropy Award and giving the first ever TEDx talk about HS (hidradenitis suppurativa); producing and playing in the first ever HS Awareness Concert; winning the title of Teen Star USA in 2016; and co-producing and performing in the Emmy-Award winning Concert "Teens Sing for Santa Barbara" with Kenny Loggins which raised over 75,000 dollars for the Thomas Fire and Montecitio debris flow survivors.
Jackson attended the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London. He produces his own music and for clients and his debut album "High & Low" will be released on April 26, 2024. Jackson wrote, recorded, performed, mixed and produced the album in his studio for his record label 58Records.
ONE SHEET 2024 - NOTABLES
PRESS RELEASE FOR DEBUT ALBUM "High & Low"
Email all inquries at Tolendalmusic @gmail.com
Jackson's last five single releases are:
"July 17" written, recorded, performed, mixed, masters & prodoced by Jackson Gillies for his label 58Records 2023
"Head Over Heels" words & music by Jackson Gillies (Santa Barbara Records - Kenny Loggins Compilation Album 2023)
"This Is It" by Kenny Loggins - cover by Jackson Gillies with Brian Mann on keys (Santa Barbara Records Kenny Loggins Compilation Album 2023)
"Pretend" written, recorded, performed, mixed, mastered & produced by Jackson Gillies for his label 58Records 2024
"Learning" written, recorded, performed (aside from acoustic guitar by Trevor Hurvitz), mixed, mastered & produced by Jackson Gillies, 58Records
Head over to the MUSIC page to connect with Spotify & Apple music to check out Jackson's music.
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