Jack J Hutchinson Talks ‘Battles’, Songwriting And More

You have announced your forthcoming album ‘Battles’ which is scheduled for release in early 2024. How did you want to approach this record and who did you work with on it?

The word that was used a lot during the early stages of the writing process was ‘positive’. I felt my last album ‘The Hammer Falls’ was quite a dark record. It was written during the pandemic and during a period of personal struggle. When I started talking to my producer Josiah Manning about the approach to the next release, I said I wanted to make a record that captured that feeling of there being light at the end of the tunnel.

I’d also never really co-written music before, so there was a conscious decision to try and work with Josiah on writing the songs. I had to shift my mindset regarding that as I am very much a control freak in terms of my music. The original aim was to do two songs, but we had so much fun that we continued writing and ended up with 10 new tracks.

Where did you record the album?

It was recorded at Josiah’s studio Momentum Studios in Plymouth. I wanted to work somewhere outside of my comfort zone and day to day life in London, and being able to spend 9 or 10 days in such a unique space purely focusing on creativity was perfect. It really allowed us to pick apart the demos I’d written, rework parts and create the best possible versions of the songs.

Who is in your band with you and what do they play?

Phil Wilson plays drums and Charlie Rachael Kay plays bass. They joined the band just over a year ago and it has been a pleasure working with them. They are absolute pros but similarly enjoy a post gig drink at the hotel bar! So we get on as friends, not just as players.

One of the unique things they both bring to the table is they are so adept at playing different styles of music, which has broadened the dynamics of my set. It isn’t just hard rock all the way through, which I’d probably slipped into doing. They have actively encouraged me to return to my blues and soul roots, and that has improved my playing. I don’t think I’ve ever really played guitar as well as I am right now. The soul is back!

Your first single to be taken from the album was ‘Constellations’. What was the story/inspiration behind this track?

I wrote Constellations in LA last year. I’d actually been out at a Gilby Clarke (ex Guns n Roses guitarist) gig at the House of Blues and wrote the riff when I was back in my hotel room later that night. I was honestly having such a blast hanging out in LA playing my first US gigs and I think that positivity came out in the lyrics. I’d been through a bit of shit over the course of the previous year, but thought “I’m in LA hanging out with all these incredible musicians playing these great shows. Life ain’t that bad!”.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

I was born in Leicester but grew up in Burnley. I’m not sure I can sum it up in 5 words. If you’d asked me 15 years ago it would have probably been: “I. Really. Want. To. Leave.” But I’ve been back lots since I moved to London and now really like the place. It took me moving away to appreciate what a nice place it actually is.

Do you have any live shows planned in 2023/24 to support the release?

We’re hitting the road in September in support of the first couple of singles. We’ll be doing shows across the UK, including London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Hook, Bristol and Bradford, before going to Spain for two weeks in November. The album comes out in February so we’ll be doing a special album launch gig in London for that. I’m then hoping to have a pretty solid festival run next summer. I’m also planning on a return trip to America in support of the album.

Do you have any favoured stage guitars/pedals/effects?

I’ve used a Gibson Les Paul Standard for years, but on the new album most of the guitars were recorded using a Fender Telecaster. So I’ve picked one of those up and have been using it almost exclusively over the last couple of months. I don’t tend to use too many effects, but my main pedal is a BMF Effects Purple Nurple overdrive pedal. I use it on literally every guitar solo you hear live! I’m also a fan of the B.G. Harding pedals. I used a Full Monty on the Constellations solo, but currently have a Big Face fuzz on my live board. It’s essentially a Fuzz Face clone in a pedalboard friendly size!

 In terms of the new album, which tracks hear you at you’re a) happiest, b) angriest, c) most reflective?

There’s a song called Stay With Me which is almost a sequel to my song I Will Follow You. I am particularly pleased with the lyrics on that one, and the guitar playing is very gentle which people might not associate with my recent playing. I really have rediscovered my blues roots on this album. I can’t really say too much about the other tracks as we haven’t quite finished mixing them. But there are definitely a few angry rock tracks!

 Was ‘Battles’ a difficult album for you to write at all?

Not at all. I feel like it all came together quite easily, which is a good sign. I feel like you should never go chasing songs and if you don’t feel inspired to write, just do something else and come back when the vibe is right. All the songs flowed very quickly.

 What makes Jack J Hutchinson happy and what makes you unhappy?

Performing in front of people obviously makes me happy. It feels like the payoff after months of hard work on an album – that those songs now exist and they hopefully make people happy.

I guess one of the biggest things that upsets me is the rise of individualistic thinking that has become more prevalent since the pandemic. I felt there was a moment in 2020 when caring for others became more common. As musicians we are in something of a unique position whereby we see every night the power of a group of people coming together and creating something incredibly positive. I feel that the only solution to the current shit state of the environment and economy is collective action – not being selfish and thinking only about ourselves.

Photo Credit: Rob Blackham/Blackham Images

Jack J Hutchinson’s album ‘Battles’ is released on 9th February 2024. You can pre-order the album here: https://eyesoremerch.com/bands/j/jack-j-hutchinson/ 

In addition, he will support the record with an album release tour which will visit the following venues:  

8 February 2024 – Album launch O2 Academy 2
9 February 2024 – Love Live Festival, Blackpool
10 February 2024 – Esquires, Bedford
11 February 2024 – The Musician, Leicester
14 February 2024 – The Railway, Winchester
22 February 2024 – Flying Circus, Newark
23 March 2024 – Rockin’ The Blues, Sittingbourne
27 April 2024 – St Austell Band Club
28 April 2024 – Bosworth Blues Festival
1 May 2024 – Bannerman’s, Edinburgh
2 May 2024 – Yardbirds, Grimsby
5 May 2024 – Outlaw Weekend, Glossop

Tickets are onsale at his official website here: https://jackjhutchinsonmusic.com/