Today is a big day for Jackson Dollinger!
The Sydney to the Max actor and musician is turning 14-years-old and is celebrating the release of his first-ever EP Social Isolation.
“I am super excited to share it with everyone,” Jackson tells Celeb Secrets. “I hope listeners feel good vibes while listening and I hope by the end of the EP they wish it had 4 more songs on it.”
A combination of different genres and sonic aesthetics, Dollinger’s EP has Pop, Trap, and R&B influences with a modern feel. As the title of this release might suggest, the four original songs are inspired by the struggles we all had to face throughout 2020.
Celeb Secrets sits down (virtually) with Jackson to learn more about his debut EP and the creative process behind it, how he plans on celebrating the important milestone later today and some behind-the-scenes secrets from making the record that you wouldn’t know when listening to it.
You can keep up with Jackson by giving him a follow on Instagram at @jacksondollinger.
Celeb Secrets: Congratulations on the release of your first EP, “Social Isolation!” What do you hope listeners feel when they listen to it?
Jackson Dollinger: “Thank you so much. I am super excited to share it with everyone. I hope listeners feel good vibes while listening and I hope by the end of the EP they wish it had 4 more songs on it.”
CS: Can you tell us about your most memorable moments from creating it?
JD: “The most memorable moment when I was creating it was definitely when I got the feature on “Moonlight” back from Kish. It sounded so good and I was super excited because it was my first time ever getting a feature back from another artist and I came out perfect. His verse added a lot of value to the track I love how the whole song came together.”
CS: Of the 4 tracks, “Golden Hour,” “Moonlight,” “Wait or Run,” and “Walk Alone,” do you have a favorite or favorites?
JD: “My favorites are definitely ‘Moonlight’ and ‘Walk Alone.’ I really think these tracks stand out because they are extremely different from any of the other songs I have released.”
CS: “Moonlight” features one of The Netherlands’ finest new artists, Kish – can you tell us how the two of you connected for the song? Are you hoping to make more collaborations in the future?
JD: “Great question. I actually met Kish virtually during quarantine. From time to time, I will reach out to Artists and introduce myself. He is super talented and I felt our voices really complemented one another. I had an open on the ‘Moonlight’ track, so I sent it to him and asked if he wanted to hop on it. He loved it and recorded his verse and sent it back me and I added it to the track. It was a really great experience. He was awesome to work with.”
CS: What artist has inspired you the most and how have they impacted your music?
JD: “The artist that has inspired me the most is definitely Juice WRLD. From the depth of his lyrics, to the way he used to record and craft his melodies taught me so much and greatly impacted my music.”
CS: After years of acting, starring in the hit Disney Channel show “Sydney to the Max,” and building your music career, is it hard to balance the two? Acting, singing, songwriting, and producing– do you have a favorite—or do you love all four?
JD: “That is such a hard choice!! I would have to say I love all four equally, If I had to put them in order from what I most like to what I like the least, even though I love them all, the order would be… acting, producing, songwriting, singing.”
CS: What can we expect from your music in 2021? Will there be more singles? another EP? an album? And what will that music sound like?
JD: “I have already completed my next single which will be released in the early Spring. My voice is changing right now, so I am producing and writing and working on training to adjust to my new deeper voice. I hope to have maybe an album but if not, another EP to release by year end.”
CS: “Social Isolation” will be dropping on your 14th birthday! How are you planning to celebrate?
JD: “I live in Los Angeles and so we are in lockdown right now. COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed in our county. I am looking forward to a very low-key day. I am a total foodie and so my parents have some special meals planned for me that day and we will take a trip later when the pandemic calms down.”
CS: Since we’re Celeb Secrets, do you have any behind-the-scenes secrets from making the EP that we wouldn’t know when listening to it?
JD: “One secret that you would never know from listening to the EP is that I remade the beat to ‘Wait or Run’ three times before the completion of the song. Another secret is that I wrote and recorded ‘Walk Alone’ in only one night.”
LISTEN TO SOCIAL ISOLATION EP BELOW:
