Q&A: Jack Boyd and His Inspiration for Creating Movies For Your Ears
NEW TO THE SCENE AND TO THE FRONT OF OUR MINDS — is singer/songwriter Jack Boyd, hailing from the bible belt of rural Texas. His emotional vocals and soft indie soundscape perfecetly blend together to bring forward feelings of nostalgia and the sudden urge to confront your emotions head on. His single “Bad Parts” has set him up for the release of his first EP, which releases in February of next year.
“Bad Parts” delves into the struggles of being a hyper-empath, describing the overwhelming experience of feeling so intensely that it can lead to emotional numbness. The next single, “Steep”, is set to release November 22nd. From this track we can expect to see an attempt at exploring the challenge of empathizing with someone who is mentally struggling particularly when Boyd is struggling mentally himself.
We were able to dive deeper into the EP with Boyd to discover what the songs mean to him and what we can expect from what’s to come.
LUNA: Congratulations on the release of your debut single, "Bad Parts." Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this song and what it means to you personally?
BOYD: I appreciate that! And thank you for taking the time to ask me some questions! The inspiration behind this song was wanting to get back to my roots sonically - as much as possible. Which for me means writing a song on acoustic guitar. I’ve always been heavily influenced by the Americana/singer songwriter genre because it’s what I grew up around and I wanted to juxtapose that sound with the 90’s breakbeat drums and droning synths. Bad Parts is my favorite song I’ve ever written (for now) and it feels like it’s a song that encapsulates me as a human being.
LUNA: "Bad Parts" touches on the concept of hyper-empathy and feeling so much that you shut down. Could you share more about your personal experiences with hyper-empathy and how it influenced the songwriting process?
BOYD: It’s something I’ve always felt, but I never had a name for. I think hyper empathy could be correlated with someone who is sweet and sensitive in a sort of melancholy way. However, my experience with it has sometimes made me resentful & angry towards everything & everyone - because in a selfish way I feel alone with that emotion and at times unrelatable. The hyper empathy thing felt like an essential feeling that needed to be portrayed in the song and was the driving force in getting it to its final place.
LUNA: Your music often juxtaposes a cynical and depressed landscape with a more sweet and innocent soundscape. Can you discuss your creative process in merging these contrasting elements to create a unique musical experience?
BOYD: This sound came pretty naturally to be honest. I’ve always sang in a delicate way more out of insecurity than anything, but it kind of became my schtick, and paired with the fact that I can tend to be a cynical person, turning those feelings into lyrics is my way of having those conversations with people without actually having to do it.
LUNA: How do your personal experiences and emotions shape the way you approach songwriting?
BOYD: I think my emotions are the only thing shaping my songwriting, whereas actual experiences are only loosely touched upon or referenced. There are some songs that really feel like me trying to capture a memory in my life and others are like distorted realities from a moment in time. In my songs I always kind of feel like I need to get something off my chest, but that lyrical content or storytelling isn’t always something that directly happened to me.
LUNA: You're known for writing and producing everything yourself from your RV in Texas. Could you share how your surroundings and your life in Texas influence your creative process and the sound of your music?
BOYD: Like I mentioned before, I grew up around a lot of Americana music. That was partly due to the fact that I grew up in the hill country of Texas, but also both of my parents are songwriters and musicians! I think my upbringing has had an affect on my music whether that be positive or negative. I’ve always considered Americana to be sweet & sugar-coated, so putting my own “less happy” imprint on that genre of music is my way of sticking to my roots while creating something new.
LUNA: Your debut EP, "Bad Parts," is set to release in February 2024. What can listeners expect from the EP, and how does it fit into the narrative you've started with your debut single?
BOYD: Listeners can expect a somewhat familiar landscape from the first single, but with new sonic elements being added or tweaked from before. I think whether I try to or not I’m always following my own little story in my head that I want to tell people through my music. All of the songs feel like a friend group made up of a bunch of different types of people, but you all bond on the same thing.
LUNA: You've mentioned an epic story of growing up in the Bible Belt of rural Texas. How has your background and life experiences in this environment influenced your musical journey and the stories you want to tell through your songs?
BOYD: In some ways I think it made me resentful towards authoritative environments and that doesn’t just have to be in a religious setting. There’s always someone telling you what to do at some point in life, but I think it’s a bad thing not getting to choose your own beliefs and not feeling free to be open minded from a young age - that doesn’t resonate with me. That dynamic has led me to believe that if everyone else has an opinion, whether it be religious or whatever, then so do I. And I am able to voice that opinion and say whatever I want through my songs.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the rest of the year?
BOYD: I just want to continue to try and make the best songs I possibly can, I’m constantly in competition with myself and I’m always trying to write the best song I’ve ever heard. World domination!
