[PREMIERE]: Jackie Tech’s Dance Banger ‘You Can Have It All’
Summer’s not over yet, which means there’s still time to hit the dance floor, and Jackie Tech has just the right tune for it. This fierce Swedish songstress draws inspiration everywhere from second-hand fashion, to the lyrics of Eminem – and she’s here to deliver us her first single, You Can Have it All.
This song’s got it all: pulsating dance beats, addictive pop appeal, with a topline melody that’ll get trapped in your body, and your head. Check out the premiere of Jackie Tech’s “You Can Have It All” and if you get stuck on repeat, we won’t even be mad at ya!
Don’t forget to check out our Q&A with Jackie below!
First of all, we need the origin story. How did you realize you could make music and what made you want to be a musician?
This one is tricky, because I’ve always been a musician. I was born into a big family where everybody played at least one instrument. Piano, accordion, guitar, drums, trumpet, clarinet, the works. It rubbed off, so there are videos of me singing and dancing from age 3 basically. I found an old diary from when I was 7 years old where I promptly stated I would be an artist when I grow up. That or a police-officer.
When I was 8 years old I begged my mom to get me a piano of my own. I was super stubborn and practiced as often as I could. Never learned any music theory, I just listened to tracks and tried to mimic. I was a big fan of classical music and I could just sit by the piano and let the music swift me away for hours on end. Today I think my passion for music was ignited by just listening and being absorbed by the dynamic and emotional spectrum of classical music.
When I was 14 I realized I could sing – with a little encouragement from my grand dad Jackie Täck – and I started mimicking the greats such as Eva Cassidy, Bonnie Tyler, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston just to name few. From that I started building my own sound and technique for singing. I’ve always loved to write, and the written word has had a way of affecting me throughout my life.
Be it books or lyrics. One particular lyricist that captured me was actually Eminem. I got his album “The Eminem Show” for my 13th birthday and I learned every song. Fascinated by his way of constructing the lyrics.
By the age of 18 I was captivated by Lady Gaga and her album ”The Fame monster”. Her way of being completely devoted to her art and excelling in every aspect of what it means to be an artist inspired like no other performer had before. The experience of that album and her live performances was a catalyst for me having the guts to write my first song. Fast forward a couple of years and I attended a music production school in Sweden where I met the producer of You Can Have It All Lexej. We found each other immediately and combined his producing with my songwriting in different projects. One of them was You Can Have It All. And the rest is still unwritten.
You’ve named some of your musical inspirations as Florence and the Machine, Major Lazor, and Lady Gaga – what are some of your other inspirations?
When I write I don’t think about anything but words and melodies. If I’m affected by fashion or designers, it’s subconsciously collected inspiration from my friends and what I’m exposed to.
How does fashion relate to you as a musician? How do you decide on an outfit for a performance or a video?
I’m ever changing and versatile when it comes to fashion, preferring to be undefined. If I love it, I’ll wear it. Both designer clothes and shopping second hand is equally exciting for me when preparing for a show. I think about the whole experience of listening to the music, which needs to be supported and enhanced by the visual aspects. I prefer extraordinary before proper, provoking in front of safe.
You’ve said you don’t follow trends, do you have any favorite fashion designers or icons?
I love Issey Miyake. Versatile shapes and wearability. BACK has some awesome gear. I’m also a big fan of Tiger Of Sweden and Acne Studios.
Choose four items for your last night on earth: An Amazing Leather Jacket; a pair of glittery ankle boots; a digital player with your favorite song on it; A guitar; your BFF; Take out from your favorite restaurant; Sweatpants.
Ha! Easy, my best friend and I will be eating take out from my favorite restaurant Surfers in Stockholm. We’ll be howling along to a digital player with my favorite song Are you gonna be my girl whilst I strum on a guitar trying to find the chords. We’ll be butt naked since I could only pick four things.
If you were to describe your sound, like Cyndi Lauper meets Guitar metal, what would it be? If you were to tell someone about your music that hasn’t heard it – how would you want it described?
Up until now I’ve described it as Florence + the machine had a wild night with Major Lazor and 9 months later they had a baby and named it Jackie Tech. Sia would be the god-mother. If I was to tell someone who hasn’t heard it I would describe it as a big voice on top of edgy, groundbreaking electronic dance music. I would also say that it’s music that can be broken down and be played acoustic on a piano and still hold it’s own. The message and content of the songs are always what’s most important.
If “You Can Have It All” were on a movie soundtrack, set to a specific scene maybe, what would it be and why?
Tough one. Right now I’m thinking The Hunger Games series. I’m a big fan of both the book and the movie, and I feel like the underlying theme in The Hunger Games could be portrayed by YCHIA.
What inspired you to write “You Can Have It All”? What is it about? Is it an anthem or a party song?
You can have it all is an anthem about devoting yourself to something or someone. I would call it spiritual without being religious. Us humans always strive towards finding a higher purpose in life and something to dedicate ourselves to. In my case it’s music and the joy of writing and singing. Even if it consumes me from time to time, It makes me feel like I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. This song also reflects on the destructive side of human nature where greed drives mankind into thinking short term instead of long term. Consumer society didn’t evolve by itself, it was implemented by companies. It requires continuous escalation of corporate influence in our daily lives. We’re tuned into social media, gender stereotypes and other ways to help companies sell their products. We’re distracted from what’s going on the rest of the world. While capitalism is fueling the concentration and centralization of capital into fewer and fewer hands.
Do you believe that every song is about something? Or do you think songwriters just write what sounds cool?
I can only speak for myself on this one, all of my songs reflect on a thought. I could never write words that sound cool. I’m too much of a writer. That said it doesn’t have to make sense, sometimes the lyrics only portray a feeling. Great lyricists manage to capture a single moment and transfer it to the listener, and make them feel what’s in that frame. Take Purple Rain for example, absolute perfection. Even though there is no clear storyline, you understand the feeling of freedom.
Do you think it’s easier to be an artist in the day and age of digital music and Spotify? Do you think it’s harder to connect with people in terms of getting the music out there?
It’s easier in the sense that global exposure is available on platforms such as Soundcloud, Spotify and other digital music platforms. Your music can be heard anywhere around the world in a way it could never have been 30 – 40 years ago. Gear for a studio at home is also a lot cheaper nowadays,back then you had to have a record deal and a budget in order to get in a studio and record your music. If you weren’t blessed with riches that is. But since there are so many talented songwriters, artists, singers and producers out there, there’s a lot of music being released. So you really need to do your own thing in order to stand out.
Do you feel there is pressure for female musicians to wear less and portray a very sexy image?
Not more than in everyday life. That question is part of a bigger one addressing structures in society as a whole. I imagine a lot of male musicians are also pressured into taking their tops off.
If you could play an acoustic show like MTV unplugged, what songs would you cover?
Emeli Sandé – Breaking the Law
Aretha Franklin – Respect
Brandon Flowers- Crossfire
Sia – Alive
Tove Lo – Like em Young
Jet – Are you gonna be my girl
What’s next for you? Is there an upcoming tour?
I’ve been a studio rat for too long and I’m dying to perform live. No tour plans yet but it’s on my Christmas list. We’ll see what the future holds!
Where can we find out more about you? Social media links?
Yes let’s get social! You can have it all here:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JackieTech/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jackie_tech
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jackietech/
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/jackie_tech
