Earlier this month, when Jack Panther released his debut single Heartbreakers, we were immediately immersed in his shimmering indie-pop sounds. His music is simultaneously bright and brooding; it’s a captivating blend of sounds that we haven’t stopped spinning since we first heard it.
Now, with the release of a new video for the same track, the New Zealand artist continues to build on his endearing sounds. The new video is a perfect visual accompaniment for Heartbreakers – it’s vibrant and cinematic. We’re stoked to be premiering it for you today.
As Jack Panther releases the stunning new video for his track Heartbreakers, we caught up with the artist himself to chat about the new song, influences, and developing a sound.
HAPPY: Hey man, how’s it going? What are you up to at the moment?
JACK: Hey, I’m doing pretty well thanks. I’ve just had a cool weekend away, unwinding and relaxing since the track release!
HAPPY: We’re loving the new track… could you tell us a bit about it?
JACK: Oh I’m so glad to hear it! Heartbreakers I wrote when I was 16, going through my first heartbreak and trying to understand how and why I felt this way. When you’re young, relationships can always be such a power struggle, where you’re constantly wanting the other person to want you more… and writing this track was a really empowering moment for myself where I gained control of a tough situation. For a moment in my life I sort of lived by these words.
I played it to my mentor, Timothy William, who at the time must’ve seen something in it. From there I began working with Samuel Jordan, a friend from high-school who killed the vocals on it. Fast-forward three years and I was still sitting on this track. I happened to show it to my University lecturer, who then referred me to Stuart Hawkes in London (Ed Sheeran, Amy Winehouse). Within a couple of weeks, I headed to Metropolis Studios in London where I sat in with Stuart who mastered the track. It was just such a crazy experience all happening so quick, but so so awesome.
HAPPY: How are you feeling about the track now that it’s been out for a little bit?
JACK: Yeah really satisfying actually. I had been working on it for so long and within the first few days I was hit with so many lovely, supportive messages and it just really kept me going. Now the music video’s out. I’m really excited to show what Louis (director) and I have been up to.
HAPPY: For a debut single, it feels like you’ve got a really fully-formed sound… how long had this project been in the works before you released this track?
JACK: The making of Heartbreakers has been such a long process, it’s been tucked away for about four years now and I can’t really remember a time when it didn’t mean a lot to me. I first recorded demo vocals with Sam about three years ago, and then over last summer we caught up and kind of agreed to just re-record them.
HAPPY: We’re picking up a lot of different sounds in your music… are there any particular artists that you’ve been looking to for inspiration lately?
JACK: Yeah totally, growing up Mum always playing Blondie and P!NK, where as my Dad loved playing more of Depeche Mode, Glasvegas and old progressive rock. Looking back, I think those really influenced my eclectic range of writing. On my own I then discovered Amy Winehouse, London Grammar, Arctic Monkeys, and Tove Lo which all brought me into this middle ground of indie-pop I began producing.
HAPPY: Heartbreakers is the first single from your upcoming EP… what else can we expect from the EP? Are the songs mostly similar to Heartbreakers, or do you navigate some different territories?
JACK: With this EP, I was really keen on experimenting with a wide range of styles ranging from
indie to pop. It’s still very much Jack Panther though, which I think’s shown in it’s moody imagery and lyrics.
HAPPY: You recently debuted the single at the release party ‘WUNBEE’… how did that all go?
JACK: I was so blown away by the turn out, tickets online had sold out days before and everyone seemed to have a really good night! Three groups, CRYSTAL, Bad Hagrid and HUMMUCIDE, all played such dope sets. The part that shocked me the most was when we streamed the track, which came out that day and all of these people sang along to it. It felt so surreal and I was completely speechless. After all of the sleepless nights and four years of constantly editing, watching these groups of people come together and sing it made all of the hard work feel worthwhile.
HAPPY: Beyond the new EP, are there any other exciting plans in the works for Jack Panther? What’s next?
JACK: Yeah I’m already scheming away at my next few projects for Jack Panther. I’m pretty keen on collaborating with more vocalists and I think I’ll continue to hone into more of an energetic, dark pop approach. I’ve also been working on a few side projects such as co-writing and playing keys in a three
piece alt-pop band, Garden of Sweden. So I’ll expect to be balancing a bit of both, with sounds from each band probably rubbing off on each other.
HAPPY: Cheers for the chat!
JACK: Thanks, nice talking to you!
Watch the new video for Heartbreakers above.
