Standing out in an environment that is brimming with extremely talented individuals is a tough feat to accomplish. In fact, those who have successfully established themselves at the forefront of their respective trades know that getting ahead requires more than being skilled and competent. At the end of the day, it all boils down to how committed and passionate one is about their chosen field or craft. In the case of emerging artist James Hackett, it is shown how far people can go as long as they choose to believe in themselves. Today, the rising star serves as a source of inspiration to dreamers and aspirants across the globe.
Widely acknowledged for his distinctive artistry, James Hackett is a Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. With his incredible music style and revolutionary flair, he enjoys combining different kinds of vibes like that of indie-pop and rock. Standing at the helm of a flourishing career, the artist still remembers how his journey began to unfold. According to him, he was only five years old when his father introduced him to the guitar and bought him his very own string instrument.
In the early phases of mastering his craft, James Hackett would just sit in front of his cassette deck and learn complex guitar riffs from the likes of Jimmy Page or the loud anti-solos of Kurt Cobain. However, the visionary can trace his passion for songwriting back to one memory in particular—driving around with his father and listening to the radio when Strawberry Fields came on. Upon hearing the chord change over the words “nothing is real,” James was immediately hooked on the idea that this sort of musical idea was possible. From then on, artists ranging from the likes of Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, John Mayer, and even bands like Radiohead, were playing non-stop in his head.
After getting the hang of his acoustic guitar, James Hackett was able to shift his talent to both piano and bass. His knack for playing the said instruments led him to be extremely gifted with the drums. Although the multi-talented go-getter was already exposing himself to several fields of interest, it was not until the end of high school that he would implement these tools and start writing and recording songs of his own.
James Hackett spent most of his early 20s crafting catchy pop tunes and playing in local coffee shops. Throughout the 2010s, he would continue to hone his craft in songwriting while simultaneously learning the fundamentals of recording, mixing, and mastering. It did not take him long to finally put together a home studio where he would not only write his own material but would also do the same for others.
In 2021, James Hackett’s musical career officially took off, and he began working on what would soon become his debut release, “Dark Chords,” which is a five-song EP that features a wide array of talents, including performances by Alex Kopp, Lee Levin, Maxwell Stern, and Alex Owen.
Aside from the said EP, James Hackett also released a video for his single, “If I Were Yours,” which was released last April 1, 2022. Currently, this must-watch artist is residing in Akron, Ohio, where he continues to play local venues. You can catch his next live show at The Workz on the Riverfront, downtown Cuyahoga Falls on May 19. He will also be featured on the local radio station, The Summit FM.
Listen to James Hackett and his entire discography on Spotify or follow him on Instagram.
