THEAUSSIEWORD.COM – Special Interview with Stacey Jackson.
How and where did it all begin for you? What drew your interest to the music industry?
I worked on a charity album, with a charity called Music for Youth where 30-40 kids from across the UK came to record instruments on my record & one of the tracks got remixed and suddenly I’m sitting next to Lady Gaga & The scissor sisters on the charts. I then got calls from amazing producers to write an original album and on one of the tracks I needed a rapper. I thought I would revisit one of the talented kids from the charity but one thing led to another and I ended up collaborating with Snoop Dogg! I have been very fortunate to get that opportunity & it opened a lot of doors for me!
What motivates or influences you in your quest to make great music?
I feel very fortunate to have lived through many generations of musical changes & since i was a kid, I was into Motown, hard rock and then into dance music in the 90s — loving Robin S and Rozalla. Every single year that has passed i gathered more & more eclectic taste in music. I think I can pull on all those experiences today in my writing and creating music.
What are your biggest goals you hope to accomplish as an artist?
I hope to inspire people. I love that I can make something that didn’t exist 5 minutes before I created it, and that it can inspire or change somebody’s life. Whether my music makes them happy, makes people dance, or helps people get fit.
What can we expect from you in the coming months? Any plans to tour?
Yes, over this summer. I’ll keep you updated!
Tell us a bit about your latest release and how would you best describe your music?
I wrote this track that was actually on another album, and it was a collaboration with this fabulous Afro-Caribbean artist called Papa Levi, and we just had a hoot! We thought the record would do well on my new album StaePumped vol 2 as it was so upbeat and fun to work out to. So we had it remixed by some awesome DJs and it’s smashing it out there!
Give us an insight into your creative process. What gets you writing songs?
It could be anything, I could be walking and catching the beat on my heels clanking on the street & I suddenly have a top line in my head. it could be having a heated discussion with my kid or my hubby & I would say “I’m gonna write a song about that!”
Is there a hidden meaning in any of your music?
It depends, like i said, I could be having a conversation with someone or I could write about a spiritual experience… For example the song with Snoop Dogg was about my late father who visited me in a dream and it was a very spiritual song for me – but it depends on the track. “I Just Wanna Disco” is a very fun, light, a very pro-woman “go have some fun & live your own life” type of track. And I think a lot of my songs will hopefully inspire a lot of woman to enjoy their life and really try to live out their dreams.
Success, what is the secret to it?
Every opportunity I’ve had is a door that had opened & I think you just have to to be scared and go see what’s on the other side. It’s scary but you just need to take the bull by the horns and take a little risk sometimes. You don’t want to be 80 years old and think “I should’ve I could’ve” And I think any little or tiny accomplishment or step forward in this industry is a success. I also think that you can measure success on how you make other people feel and inspire their life- its not always about how much money you make or how many records you sell, but I also think it’s how you inspire people, for me it may be through music or fitness or through writing my books. And if anything I do in my life motivates people to go off and do what they love and make them feel like a better person then i feel like i’ve accomplished that!
What has been your biggest career highlight so far?
My claim to fame would be my record with Snoop Dogg, but I do feel like I’ve really slogged it for a few year playing all over the place, and being able to juggle that life on top of being a mommy of four has always been the challenge, so anytime I see people dancing at my shows or knowing the lyrics to my records, its always a career highlight for me.
Which stars of the music industry do you find inspiring?
If I had to have a “dream dinner party” right now, I would invite Diana Ross, Axel Rose, obviously Snoop Dogg and probably also Nile Rogers, who is an incredible producer, everything he touches is gold. I love David Guetta, I think how he’s changed the perception of dance music in the last few years & commercialised it is incredible.
Are there any new projects in the pipeline?
Yes! There is StaePumped volume 3 to be released, also I’m working on a passion project that i’m keeping ‘top secret” right now. Plus, I’m in the throes of writing a trilogy of books about my life!
The music industry is huge, where do you see yourself a few years from now?
Well…I’d like to continue writing, and if I can’t perform as I age, maybe to continue writing for other people and other projects! I’ve been writing soundtracks for movies and TV series which has been such fun and so challenging so would love to continue that.
How did the collaboration between you and Papa Levi come together?
I co-wrote a few songs with raps in them but I had a vision and wanted a specific sound for this track so when I was introduced to Papa Levi I knew it was the perfect fit!
I Just Wanna Disco was on your 2013 Live It Up album, why did you decide to revisit that song specifically?
Great question… it was actually meant to be one of the singles off the Live It Up Album but I had just released the title track with Snoop Dogg which had a totally different feel to it. So as the follow up single, we decided to launch a cover track of Is This Love off that album which did really well. As timing is everything … the carib-rap pop fusion track “I Just Wanna Disco” is now being released as the single off the dance music and fitness compilation album Staepumped Volume 2
Maybe I was ahead of my time when I wrote it! Haha! But the sound and feel of the record is super fresh and current — especially the remixes by AM2PM and Moto Blanco.
What is your favourite and least favourite part about this line of work and why?
I think the juggling is really difficult. Because in this industry you have to show up and be present, tour and radio tours and performances – which is always fun but I do have to leave my family and thats always a challenge
Name a few of your favourite Australian artists.
Keith Urban! I’ve had a secret crush on him, forever! Obviously Kylie… she’s an icon!!
The shape of the music industry has changed significantly over the years, including the use of social media, how do you feel about the industry as a whole and what does it mean to you in getting your records out into the public eye?
Well, social media is an incredible tool, I’m super fortunate that I have a solid base of fans that I love engaging with and they have been been my rock so I’m very fortunate about that. Obviously the internet has both pros and cons, the fact that the internet exists for me is great because it’s gotten my music out globally, however the music business model has changed and people are no longer walking into music shops and buying a hard CD or vinyl- but I believe its more of a pro than a con for independent artists.
How do you plan on cracking the international market?
I think I already have!! My records have done really well in the US, Canada, south America and Europe. They get quite a lot of recognition around the world, so i’m very fortunate!
Do you collaborate with others? Who is on your wish-list?
I’ve done a collaboration with Snoop Dogg, and my new single has this great Afro-Caribbean rapper on it called Papa Levi, I collaborate with some incredible producers & writers when working on projects. There are a couple collabs in the pipeline that i’m keeping top secret for the moment, but next time we speak I’ll have more info about that!!
What advice do you give for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
That it’s never too late to live your dreams, never give up & always give it your best shot. You only regret the things you don’t do, never the things you do.
A message for your fans. How do you best interact and respond with your fans?
Thank you so much for your support and for listening to my music, I hope I inspire you to get up and move. I’m always engaging and interacting on my social media! All my handles are @stearox !!
Website: staceyjackson.com
Facebook: facebook.com/staerox
Twitter: @staerox
Instagram: @staerox
Apple Music: Stacey Jackson
Spotify: Stacey Jackson
SMART LINK ALBUM: http://hyperurl.co/Staepumped-Vol2-SJ
SMART LINK THE REMIXES: http://hyperurl.co/SJIJustWannaDisco