Jack Panther

Tāmaki Makaurau-based queer artist Jack Panther has unveiled his latest single, with Weekend At Bernies arriving as an equally quirky and anthemic piece of summery pop. The first taste of new music from Jack since the release of his why don't you come over? EP back in June, Weekend At Bernies sees him leaning heavily into refreshingly honest territory, while harnessing influences from energetic pop names such as Remi Wolf, Dora Jar, and Omar Apollo.

Beginning life during a visit to friends in Wellington, Jack met up with producer Tarn PK for an impromptu writing session. Before long, the pair gelled creatively, with the demo of the track being crafted in just a matter of hours. The result is a track that looks at some of the harsh realities that occur during relationships, but ruminates upon the topic in a way that the enigmatic pop stylings of Jack Panther can.

"Weekend At Bernies is a fun, playful track about the panic moment when a relationship is fizzling out," he explains. "It all sort of just poured out of me, something I never set out to write about. As Tarn and I were writing it I began to realise that in order to grow with people sometimes you've got to have the conversations you don't want to have. The chorus bursts out with a dilemma begging, 'How are we going to address this? Are we going to address this?' with the lyrics 'How you gonna break it down for me?'. However, the tangy, sweet vocals lie perfectly with the quirky, bright production suggesting that if we're as bad as each perhaps in some twisted way we belong together."

Mixed by Nathan Phillips (Remi Wolf, Omar Apollo, spill tab, Jean Dawson) and mastered by Hector Vega (Doja Cat, Justin Bieber), Weekend At Bernies sits alongside Jack Panther's already-strong discography as a powerful example of his slick songwriting skills, and his inimitable pop sensibilities. "Having Nathan Phillips on to mix is huge, he works with some of the biggest alt-pop artists around, making some of the strongest new-wave alt-pop coming through," he explains. "Honestly I'm really really excited to have Weekend At Bernies out. It's a song still so fresh to me and probably my strongest track to date. It's a relief but more importantly I feel so ready to have this track out. Writing this felt like a breakthrough, the chorus just poured out of me so organically, I think we ended up using parts of my very first vocal take."

With a three-date New Zealand tour scheduled to take place with his full band throughout November and December, Jack Panther is looking to close out 2022 at the top of his game, before launching into dazzling new heights next year. Having just wrapped up a writing trip to Melbourne, Sydney and London, he's eagerly looking forward to what next year holds in terms of both new experiences, new surroundings, and most importantly, new music.

Weekend At Bernies is out today, October 28.

Listen: Weekend At Bernies

JACK PANTHER INTERVIEW

JACK PANTHER

How would you describe your music?

Jack Panther: In all honesty I think it's quite project dependent and that's something I'm really stoked about with the work I make - I try to make a world around the music I make. I find myself leaning more and more towards alternative/indie pop sound and I think that's a lane I will always loosely fit myself in. I would say I'm writing brighter more fun and quirky music.

Can you tell us about your new single WEEKEND AT BERNIES?

Jack Panther: WEEKEND AT BERNIES is about the panic moment when a relationship is fizzling out. It's also sort of playful in the sense of like "well if we both lie to each other and cover it up, then it's fine"

Is there a particular message you hope listeners take from your music?

Jack Panther: I want them to just feel what they need to feel, I hope it can open up and make them think sometimes too.

Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Jack Panther: I LOVE performing Dead Weight with my band. Writing it all myself was super important to me and playing it with my band, I think opens it up to a new grungier sound which it really works with. It's usually our final song of the set as I think it just hits so hard and is a fun way to finish.

If you could have anyone, in the world, attend a show, who would it be?

Jack Panther: Honestly… at this point bloody good manager. For me I'm pretty career driven at the moment and always on the look out to strength my team!

What motivates you most when writing music?

Jack Panther: I think about being honest and talking about personal experiences. A lot of my writing surrounds itself around things that are left unsaid, things I've often wanted to communicate but never had the chance to. I do find it with healing writing about these sorts of things, it makes me find a way to move on.

Which music/artists are you currently listening to?

Jack Panther: Remi Wolf, Clairo, CRYSTAL, Joji, Chappell Roan, Tarn PK

What advice do you have for aspiring songwriters or artists?

Jack Panther: Be honest with your music and keep going, it is more often than not a long game so have fun on the way. Work hard but don't let it consume you!

What's next, for you?

Jack Panther: After my tour finishes this weekend I'm locking myself in the studio most of the summer! 2023 is going to be a big year!

Can you share your socials? (links please)

https://www.instagram.com/jackpanthermusic/

https://www.facebook.com/jackpanthermusic

https://jackpanthermusic.com/

https://linktr.ee/jackpanthermusic