The Story Behind Amy Jack’s Latest, “Wake Up Happy”
Oklahoma native, raised by a family of music teachers. Your mother, sister and grandmother started teaching you at age 5. How can parents best incorporate music into their young child’s daily life?
Families can incorporate music into their lives by spending time teaching music and making it loving and fun. Music is an inborn human expression. Just turn on the music for a child and watch them start to dance and sing, it will happen almost instantly.
Graduated from The University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Arts in TV/Radio/Film. You worked as an account executive for iHeart Media and Cumulus Media. How does your background help you navigate the business side of the music industry?
I learned a lot from working on the business side of the industry; one thing that stood out to me is that the business of music is media and exposure. I’ve learned that corporate radio companies use music to advertise their own business and monetize their own business using the power of music.
John Wayne quote, “Courage is when you’re scared to death but still saddle up anyway.” What has been the biggest challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your career?
Just like the Southwest Airlines CEO said, “Flying planes is easy. It’s the human element that presents a challenge.” I just have to have to laugh.
“It was always a dream of mine to pursue music, although it didn’t feel like a feasible goal until I met Merle Haggard.” He produced your debut album, “Introducing Amy Jack.” Haggard taught you the value in being honest. As a true fan of classic country, how did this help shape your authentic country sound?
Merle said we need to have music that contributes to the well-being of the spirit music that cradles people’s lives and makes things a little easier. Honesty is essential for the spirit. You must have honesty from the music to feed your spirit well.
“For the Love of the Game,” “My father once shared an inspirational moment with me, saying that racehorses and athletes and all people who love something do it for the love of the game. This really resonated with me, and ever since, my mindset for my music has shifted. I feel moved to write something and I do it purely for the love of the game.” Sports themes are prevalent in your catalog. Both sports and music have elements of competition and collaboration. How can being an athlete improve a musician’s skills and performances?
Like my golf teacher in Nashville taught me, music and golf are just the same. It’s all about getting in your rhythm and your timing and your swing. The same with a song; it’s all about getting in a groove and getting the rhythm and the spirit in there.
“Who The Real Ones Are,” co-written with Dennis Morgan, pays homage to the people in our lives who always have our backs. How do you make sure to find balance in your life and take time to connect with friends with your busy schedule?
My favorite hero, former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said, “Clock management is everything.” I think everybody wrestles with this everyday, whether you are a mother with children or a boss at work. When you make the time, friends balance you naturally. And they don’t even charge you for it.
“My favorite part about making music is creating a tool to bring joy or laughter or comfort in some way to a person. … I think one of the most important things anyone has ever told me is that the best you can do is spread your truth. I feel like I’ve done that and love that others can resonate with it.” Can you share a fan story of how your music has impacted their life?
The loss of a loved one is the most hurtful experience that we have in this life on this earth, and Dennis Morgan, in my song “Red Bird Little Red Bird,” addresses this. During Christmas, I saw people’s reactions to my album and wanted to share stories of their own little red bird, both in their own life and their own yard. The red bird comes and people feel like it’s their loved one trying to say hello, love lives on, and I’m here for you. I cannot express how much this touches me to see how much people love their loved ones that have gone on their way. As Noel Haggard said about his daddy, Merle Haggard, “He went on his way.” I cannot say how much this touched me on how important it is to people to feel like they have not really lost their loved one and they will never really lose their loved one. The song is the medium and medicine.
What is the backstory to your new song, “Wake Up Happy?”
I was in Houston to visit my college roommate, Charlotte, she works for a global energy company. We were talking about life and I was sharing about going through some difficult times with her, and she said to me, “Amy, life is too short, you need to wake up happy.” And I couldn’t have agreed with her more; I think that everyone deserves to wake up happy.