NE HOT SEAT: JAK LVR

This week we’re continuing our brand new feature on Tipping Point – ‘NE Hot Seat’ – where we sit down with some of the region’s brightest talent on a monthly basis, shine a spotlight on their latest work and find out what they have planned next.

Next up we have Teesside indie riser jak lvr, who earlier this month released ‘Call It Love (If You Want To)’, the title-track from his forthcoming EP arriving September 10th. Having burst onto the scene with  lead singles ‘Still’ and ‘Take a Ride’ in the spring, the talented songwriter has already made quite the impression, with praise circulating from key indie press tastemakers (Clash, Gigwise, Earmilk) in addition to early BBC Introducing support. With new music and tour dates lined up this autumn, we sat down with jak to discuss his development so far.

Tell us a little about yourself and your career in music so far?

I’m from the North-East of England. I started this project off the back of my old band Llovers splitting up. I write sarcastic sad happy songs, mostly to pop music.

What can you tell us about your latest release?

My latest release is ‘Call It Love (If You Want To)’. It’s the title track from my debut EP. As often is the case with me it tackles the notion of not being exactly sure what you want & feeling this weight of expectation that I’m sure anyone who has a difficult time knowing what they want will understand.

What inspires you most when it comes to creating music?

To be honest, I normally write a lot when I’m not in a very good place. If I’m writing a lot it generally means I’m struggling with something and need to sort myself out.

How did you find the recording process and how did it shape your sound?

I record from my bedroom so it generally just happens in a very freeform way, some nights I’ll just sit at my desk and record for a bit, add layers to a track until it’s all done. I do wish I had a more authentic way of doing things though, it’s great that artists have a way of recording by themselves on a shoe-string budget but the very nature of it lends itself to overproduction & manipulated perfection. But I’m skint so it is what it is.

What else can we expect from you this year?

I have an EP coming out in September. It’s probably time I do some shows as well but I’ve been sidetracked in writing a lot folk/rock/indie tracks which is something that’s completely new to many and I’m finding it exciting so I might just finish those instead.

Where can we find you on socials and keep up to date on developments?

Anything @jaklvr – Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

Check out jak lvr’s favourite acts from the region in her personally curated playlist below.

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6iapy3kHP0yGP7RGLSgtzr?si=05f125e97ea5435c