Episode 042 welcomes JACKSON WHALAN, emcee/producer based in the Berkshire mountains of Mass. We met in NorCal about 5 years ago, and he released his latest full-length LP From the Woods in Jan 2021; Whalan's got a huge collab on the way with the legendary Blastmaster himself, KRS-ONE. Jackson also helped inspire me to start this podcast when we did a live onstage Q&A in Nevada City, CA back in 2017.
Our 90-min conversation touches on JW's colorful journey, from humble rural environs to the NYC underground, ashram across the world to a pot farm in Grass Valley, Cali. Other rabbit holes: being white in hip-hop, surviving as an independent artist, using social media to your promotional advantage, and a discussion that unpacks our respective brushes with the law. We finish up with an exciting career development involving the great KRS-ONE.
About Jackson Whalan:
On the western edge of Massachusetts, there were very few examples of hip-hop artists from his rural hometown, but the music made its way into his life when he found CDs that belonged his older brother. When Jackson discovered the power of hip-hop, he was waking up to issues of race, class, politics, human rights and climate change. His music soon became the vehicle for addressing injustices and inspiring people.
In 2012, college studies took Jackson to India and an eco-village, Auroville. In the U.S., he studied turntablism at The New School with DJ Rob Swift; he graduated in 2013 with a B.A. in music. Jackson began releasing and performing under his own name in 2014, with the release of “S.N.A.G. (Sensitive New Age Guy)”. Other releases followed: Raptivism (2015), “Cradle” (feat. Qwill), 2016, and Souled Out EP (2016). Jackson opened for Moon Hooch for over 50 dates during 2016-17. Jackson is an accomplished hip-hop/electronic producer as well, an Ableton educator, and makes himself available to other independent artists in a variety of professional, marketing, collaborative and artistic capacities.
In 2019-2020, Jackson released singles and instrumentals every month for a full year, working closely with his co-producer and keyboardist Ian Evans. Tracks include “G.T.F.O.H.” (feat. Myka 9), “BIG FVCTS”, “The Long Game”, and a cover of John Lennon’s “Gimme Some Truth”. Latest LP From the Woods dropped Jan. 2021. KRS-ONE collaboration is on deck, as you hear at the end of our convo. STREAM From the Woods HERE
Vibe Junkie JAMZRoy Hargrove feat. D'Angelo "Bullshit" (2006)
The Violinaires "The Upper Way" (1972)
music played: Jay-Z "Open Letter" -- Jackson Whalan "From the Woods" BIG FVCTS" "Cuz I'm Dope" "Music is the Drug" "SNAG" -- & Soulquarians + Femi Kuti + Macy Gray "Water No Get Enemy"
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Theme Song: Mazel Tov by CALVIN VALENTINE
017: BILLY IUSO (BIRN, GPJ, Anders) / ERIC BENNY BLOOM (Lettuce, ex-Pretty Lights A.F.B.)
016: ROBERT WALTER (Greyboy Allstars / RW20 / Mike Gordon) & JESSE PAIGE (Owner: Blue Nile NOLA)
015: EDDIE ROBERTS (New Mastersounds/Matador! Soul Sounds), SPUT & NATE (Ghost-Note), NOLA JAZZFEST AFTER DARK (Preview)
014: ADAM "SHMEEANS" SMIRNOFF (Lettuce) / J.A. on The Dirt
013: SHIRA ELIAS (Turkuaz vocalist) / IRMZIE takes the Bay
012: NAUGHTY PRINCESS/ DAILY BREAD/ SHEPHERD MEADOW FARMS/ RIP KOFI
011: JEFF FRANCA (Thievery Corporation, Congo Sanchez)/ BECAUSE Of The LOTUS
010: JEFFREY DUPUIS (Addiction Counselor / Concert Photographer)
009: MAYTEANA MORALES (Pimps of Joytime, Walk Talk), MARIA HERRERA (Journalist/Activist/Consultant)
008: RYAN RISING (Permaculture Action Network)
007: DERRICK SMOKER (SOUL Brass Band's Derrick Freeman)
006: RANDOM RAB / Personal reflections from B.Getz / .Paak's Oxnard & more
005: KATRINA BREES/ J.A. Talks Halloween in Vegas
004: WEEDIE BRAIMAH / HULA 2018 Highlights, Jamiroquai feat. Shady Horns
003: SCOTTY ZWANG (Ghost Light)
002 : CHRIS PERELLA (Ardmore Music Hall, The Blockley, Philadelphia)
001: MICHELANGELO CARUBBA - (Turkuaz), J.A. talks Phish Summer Tour
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