Music is a powerful means of self-expression that transcends the limits and boundaries of the human condition. Talented artists have used this medium as a means to channel their creativity in telling stories to the people of the world as it deeply resonates with people from all walks of life. Musician James Hackett sees music as the gateway to his future, and he is on a mission to put his creative soul out there for all the world to see.
Born and raised in Philadelphia, James Hackett is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who adeptly combines genres such as indie pop and rock to create a distinct sound complimented by his masterful lyricism and beautiful songwriting. The talented artist began developing his passion for music when he was five years old, officially beginning his musical journey at such a young age.
It all started when his father introduced him to the guitar. After taking a long train ride in the middle of winter because a family car wasn’t a luxury at the time, James’ father visited a small music store in downtown Philly to buy him his first acoustic guitar. Upon receiving his guitar, James would often sit in front of his cassette deck to try and learn complex guitar riffs from the likes of Jimmy Page or the loud anti-solos of Kurt Cobain.
James Hackett fondly recalls a memory with his father that officially got him into songwriting. They had been driving around when “Strawberry Fields Forever” started playing. The chord change over the line “Nothing is real” had James hooked on the idea that these sorts of musical ideas were possible.
Ever since that fateful drive, James Hackett had artists like Elliott Smith, Jeff Buckley, John Mayer, and Radiohead on repeat. He also shifted his focus to other instruments like piano, bass, and drums. It wasn’t until the end of high school that he started utilizing his instrumental skills to write and record his own songs.
Throughout his early 20s, James learned how to craft catchy pop tunes before playing at local coffee shops and music venues. The thriving music artist continued to hone his craft in songwriting since the inception of his career, learning the fundamentals of recording, mixing, and mastering at the same time.
In line with his goals of further pursuing his musical career, James put together a home studio where he could write his own material while also writing for others. He has offered his writing talents to many other artists as he collaborated with friends and crafted jingles.
In 2021, James Hackett released his debut EP entitled Dark Chords. The EP consisted of five tracks which he spent nearly a year working on. He used his own time and money to fund the project independently and would sometimes trade studio time for painting the local studio where the album was recorded.
Dark Chords features a plethora of talented performances by Alex Kopp, producer and former keyboardist of Third Eye Blind, Grammy-winning drummer Lee Levin, Maxwell Stern, singer and guitarist for indie band Signals Midwest, and Alex Owens, producer and bassist for several Ohio bands.
James Hackett also released a music video for the track “If I Were Yours” on April 1, 2022. The music video garnered a lot of buzz online, raking up over 150,000 views during its first week on YouTube. Through the years, James has shown his musical prowess to the world and proven to the music industry that he is more than capable of breaking out onto the mainstream music scene.
The rising star currently resides in Akron, Ohio, where he plays at local venues. He will be featured on the local radio station, The Summit FM, after his live show at The Workz on the Riverfront, downtown Cuyahoga Falls. James Hackett’s music has seen relative success over the years, and it’s exciting to see such a promising talent on the rise.
Listen to James Hackett and his entire discography on Spotify or follow him on Instagram.
