Jack & Jack
Cover Story
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Cover Story ✦
After more than 12 years of industry immersion, the names Jack & Jack are practically synonymous with a generation. Their meteoric rise to fame, fueled by the viral phenomenon of Vine, catapulted them into the spotlight, captivating millions through their comedic sketches—with this rapid ascent paving the way for a burgeoning music career marked by exhilarating triumphs and humbling setbacks.
Yet, through it all, one constant has remained: the unwavering bond between Jack Gilinsky and Jack Johnson, a brotherhood forged in adolescence that has proven to be both the foundation of their success and the driving force behind their artistic evolution.
Having previously collaborated with talents like Shawn Mendes, Steve Aoki, and Max Martin, Jack & Jack initially navigated the music industry by cultivating a string of timeless hits, both as independent artists and under a major label. This period allowed them an opportunity to hone their craft and solidify a unique, authentic sound. Their music, a blend of pop, rap, and R&B, often incorporates catchy melodies, infectious beats, and diaristic lyrics that resonate deeply with their audience.
By the time they dropped their sophomore album Home in 2024, this particular introspective collection of songs marked a triumphant return—but it also served as a reassertion of their artistic identity, setting the stage for an exciting new era. "It's kind of a natural progression," Gilinsky observes. Johnson then chimes in, "A sample platter of soft piano ballads, upbeat pop, and even hip-hop tracks.” He continues, "I really feel it’s our voices keeping it consistent, but it felt free-flowing. We caught a vibe that day, made it, and were like, 'Alright, we want the people to hear this.'"
Contextually, Home wasn't about a literal address or location, but the feeling of belonging—to themselves, their music, and their fans. “It was just a conglomeration of creative hours, really,” Gilinsky explains. “It was really just us getting back on our feet and putting out an album because that’s what we always wanted.” He continues, "In retrospect, it’s almost like our warm-up album. A warm-up for the second wind.”
However, this time, expectations were far more grounded. Johnson elaborates, "Our goal was just to make something we loved. Music that came from our hearts, our souls, our minds." Gilinsky acknowledges that it’s a shared sentiment, telling us, “We wanted to make an album 100% front to back, just us two, and that’s it.”
The title track, "Home," is a testament to this ethos. A collaboration with their friends from Prettymuch, it's a hypnotic blend of jazz and soul, featuring live horns and a poignant message about finding warmth in human connection. "We’ve always connected with those boys [from Prettymuch] on a personal level, and we’ve stayed close with them, and we were super excited to collaborate with them,” Gilinsky tells us.
Delving deeper into its mesmerizing production and nostalgic charm, Johnson adds, “We just pulled up at their house one day, and [Brandon Arreaga] had these piano chords laid. We had our buddies, the Potash twins, lay down some brass. One does trombone, one does trumpet, they came through and did the horns…First time ever tracking live horns.”
When making a key connection between the song’s theme and its production process, Johnson notes, “The whole gist of the song is about home, not being necessarily where you’re at, but it’s the people you’re with, the people who make you feel that warmth that home makes you feel. We kind of interpolated it in a more literal sense in our music video, which we shot around Omaha, walking the streets you grew up on. That one's just a cool fusion of sounds. I really enjoy that.” Gilinsky then asserts, “[‘Home’] just came from just getting creative with other creatives who were genuinely friends with, and, that’s where good music comes from.”
Embracing independence has been a defining move for the duo, making this particular moment in their discography something far more personal than anything we’ve seen before. Addressing this change, Johnson admits that the best aspect of the creative switch-up is the "timeline," he continues, “not having to wait on other people, I would say, and being able to move at a certain pace. Now that we have a more concrete and definite team, without all the overlapping roles, we know exactly who to talk to, and things don’t get lost in translation or miscommunicated. And, we have a very clear-cut vision with me and G, and our internal team of what we want to do and how quickly we want to do it.” Johnson then elaborates, “It’s nice spearheading these conversations and being a part of them, and feeling like we’re really in the loop on our own careers, which is how it always should have been.”
In 2024, the duo also returned to the road, allowing them to perform in a more personal setting with their fans. Balancing the excitement and anxiety of live performances, Jack & Jack relish the intimate connections they make with their audience. Which, in turn, livens their shows with high energy, engaging performances, and the sense of community they create among their fans.
On the thrill of touring, Gilinsky candidly admits, "I think there’s a bit of anxiety when getting back to your old craft after not doing it for five or six years. But once we get out there, at least speaking for myself, it’s like riding a bike. You know…those people out there are buying tickets, supporting you, coming to your shows, and singing your songs because they’re genuinely fans of the music. It’s all support, it’s all love. The anxiety quickly goes away.”
Their next live event is a European tour, which promises to be a celebration of this newfound freedom and connectivity. "I love the culture over there," Johnson enthuses. "Drive a few hours, you’re speaking a different language." Gilinsky adds, "It’s kind of nice… you have to really engage with someone who doesn’t speak your language to have a conversation with them. And you have to really connect past the cultural disconnect." Concerning music and its ability to overcome those obstacles, Gilinsky shares, “If we’re singing some lyrics on stage and you make eye contact with someone who’s really emotionally singing the lyrics with you—it’s like, there’s this unsaid bond that you now share.”
Given their success as self-made musicians with an undeniable stage presence, it's no surprise that the live experience deeply influences their love for music and performing. This personal arena, where artists and fans connect on a deeper level, holds a special place in their hearts. Regarding their thoughts on emphasizing music that thrives in a live setting, Gilinsky shares, "This has been kind of a progression over the last two years, but we are trying to create music with more real live instrumentation, so it’s easier to translate live and it sounds genuine, like the original record. And that’s fun too. That’s the music we grew up on, reggae and bands, bands with drummers and guitarists. We have our awesome drummer and guitarist that we use for our live shows, and for the first time, those guys are actually on the records of our new album."
Johnson then offers his stance, admitting, “It’s great because [live music and studio time] inspire each other. Sometimes you leave a stage and think, ‘Man, we need something with more energy. We need this, there’s too much of a dead period.’ It’s about finding that balance.” Because of their penchant for personalized hits and engaging live performances, Jack & Jack's music has been streamed over a billion times—a massive milestone for any artist. Reflecting on their career highlights, the duo takes pride in their iconic releases, collaborations, concerts, and streaming numbers that have helped define their path.
Still, when it comes to their biggest achievements, Gilinsky says, “I think just persevering.” He continues, “The fact that we’re doing an interview here in January 2025, and we started this in June of 2013. 12 years of persevering, and we’ve had so many moments of highs, and then super low [moments]…” Johnson candidly reveals, “Yeah [at times] it felt like, ‘We’re never going to touch a stage together again,’ so many of these unpleasant moments. And we found a way to get past everything. There was never anything between me and G, it was just all the ancillary things that come with the industry, trying to tear us apart.”
On the heels of Johnson’s admission, Gilinsky proudly continues, “And thinking about it, I have so much respect for people who’ve stuck with it. We were just talking about this a month ago, like Sabrina Carpenter. She was doing this in 2013, like us. It’s great to hear her name mentioned, you know? We’ve been grinding, doing this since we were 16 years old. No month went by without thinking about music, making music, or building our bond. What I’m most proud of is that we’ve been grinding, and when we win a Grammy or play Wembley Stadium, people will say, ‘Where’d these guys come from?’ And we can say, ‘We’ve been at it since we were 16.’ We never gave up. That’s what I respect most.”
Looking ahead, both Jacks have no shortage of goals, with their unwavering ambition and drive ensuring that their journey is far from over. Discussing their future aspirations, they share that a Grammy nod or a platinum-selling album would be exceptional, with Johnson lightheartedly noting, “We’ll take anything, honestly,” Gilinsky adds, “The goal we’ve already reached but have to continue hitting is inspiring people and reaching a new audience. It never ends.”
On what’s currently fueling the duo’s next chapter (spearheaded by their upcoming single “Losing You”, dropping February 28th), Johnson boasts that these deeply personal live shows have entirely revitalized their passion to create. “Seeing that our core fan base is still there, more so than ever, really inspired me to get back to doing these live shows.” He continues, “This [upcoming] project (Symbiosis) was so collaborative and very inspiring. We took a trip to Big Bear, and hunkered down in a cabin for four days, making music, and shooting content.”
Gilinsky observes, “We’re pushing towards something, and there’ll never be a moment where we’re satisfied.” Johnson echoes his partner's sentiment, adding that they’re, “Not at our pinnacle yet, you know?” He goes on to clarify, “We’ve had success, and we’ve made a living off music, but we know the star on the top of the Christmas tree is still out of sight. There’s still room to grow and room to improve. There always is in life—and that’s inspiring. We still have our nose to the grindstone so to speak…”
Jack & Jack’s upcoming single “Losing You” will be released on February 28th, and the duo’s European tour kicks off on March 21st in Dublin, Ireland.
