Meet Drake Jackson

Today we’d like to introduce you to Drake Jackson.

Drake, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m originally from Cleveland Ohio, I went to college in Daytona Beach Florida where I studied music and then moved to California shortly after graduating. I initially came here to visit. I was staying with my aunt and uncle at the time and my Aunt knew that I wanted to live here, but employment was an issue. I could not make the move to a place like California without any means of income. She walked me to her next door neighbor’s home who worked for a temp agency and got me a job two days after being here. My uncle at the time had been battling cancer, so I lived at my aunt and uncle’s home and helped take care of him until he passed. Thats a little bit of back story on how I ended up in California. Now as far as music is concerned, I’ve been involved with music heavily since I was a kid. My grandfather was a gospel composer and pastor so it probably really began with him. My mother raised me on all kinds of music growing up.

The older I got, the more my taste had begun to diversify. My grandfather pulled some strings at a community college when I was about 14 and had me enrolled in a music production program. I began writing songs at a very early age, but the music production program is where I really learned to construct songs, how to record, and how to navigate my way around a recording studio. I took these skills with me throughout high school recording songs and passing them out to classmates. Producing songs for people who lived in my neighborhood, etc. College was a real eye opener for me. It forced me to step outside of the technical realm and really dive into learning to read and compose music. I recorded and distributed my 1st album while in college accompanied by a few music videos. I did some touring around the central Florida area as well.

The most important piece to this story is that I began writing songs for my classmates in the music department. This is where I was really molded into a songwriter. I could literally hear people in my head singing before I’d even present a song to them. I really understood then what my calling was. I’m a fairly spiritual person so I feel that music is God’s way of speaking to me. I brought that think with me to California and have been producing and songwriting for artists since I arrived. For me songwriting is like painting a picture, except silence is a blank canvas in which sound is painted on the ear to please the spirit.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road has had smooth points, but it has been a rollercoaster for sure. lol Pleeeenty of bumbs, bruises, and scars. Thats just a part of the process. I’ve been presented with opportunities that were in the end pointless. Told no many many many times. Performed in places and neighborhoods that I probably shouldn’t have been in. I’ve been boo’d, had music stolen from me, dealt with people who envied me. “not to toot my own horn” The list goes on and on. Some situations had even become physically threatening. I think the biggest struggle of all though had to be the struggle within myself. I really had an issue with fear and negative thinking for a long time. The hardest thing to do is to look in the mirror and say “Hey, theses are your flaws, now what are you going to do about it?” and then proceed to make changes to become the You that you are meant to be. Old habits die slow, but with hard work, dedication, and a change of the mind, they can most definitely die. I always say, ‘Old ways don’t open new doors, change your mind & change your world”.

We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
This is actually a two part question for me. Aside of being an artist myself “1/3 member of The Group” I’m first and foremost a songwriter/music producer/DJ. I generally work with clients who are looking to record music they’ve written, or they come to me to actually help create music to lyrics they’ve written. I pretty much just do whatever is requested by the artist. At times I’m contacted to travel to recording studios to write, arrange, and produce for artists as well. Other than that, I have clients that reach out to me to DJ corporate events, private parties, etc.

The second part answer to this question is that I’ve also taken writing to the next step. I have a company called “Weighted Words” in which I write professional vows and speeches for clients who are getting married, or members of the wedding party who are required to provide speeches during toasts, etc. I also provide creative writing for clients who just need a little bit of help expressing themselves to their loved ones, whether it be for a holiday or anniversary.

As far as the music is concerned, I’m most proud of my approach to songwriting. I believe that the more clever I am with words/melodies, the more people tend to enjoy the music. The objective for me is to create something pleasing to the ear for my clients to present to the world in hopes that it takes them to the next level in their career. “If they aren’t already established”.

As far as my creative writing company is concerned, It’s along the same lines as the music. I enjoy writing things they evoke strong emotions in the person it is intended for. What I usually do with my clients is have them answer a questionnaire so that I can build something that caters specifically to their presentation. I use what they provide me with to create something heartfelt and special for that occasion.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
Wow! lol This is a tough one. Ok, so when I was a kid, maybe between the age of 7 and 10, my grandfather used to be the chairman over this national church convention. I was of course apart of the youth choir and this particular year, I was selected to be the conductor. There was a big concert that we put on the Friday night of this big weekend for the entire convention. My mom knew that this was a BIG situation because I was practically following in my grandfather’s footsteps. She took me out and bought me an all white suit with all white shoes, and a derby to match. “that’s a hat by the way lol” So, when it was time for the choir to sing, I walked to the front of this massive group of kid, raised my hands and the entire choir stood up. Then I nodded my head at the organ player once and he began to play, the rest of the band soon followed. Right as the choir began to sing, my grandfather shot out of his seat screaming and hollering as that’s probably the proudest I’d ever seen him. My grandmother also shot out of her seat, and so did my mother. To be able to present a piece of me creatively even at that early of an age was euphoric to me. For my family to witness to that was just the icing on the cake. I think that was when I really made the decision that music is what I’d end up doing for the rest of my life.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.weightedwordsllc.com
• Phone: 2162550042
• Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/7even0clock/

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