FROM THE INTERNET TO THE WORLD
HELENA YEUNG takes a look at JACK & JACK’s rise from Omaha, Nebraska to global superstardom
GONE ARE THE days of having to move to New York or
Los Angeles to be discovered. As long as you have an internet connection, you’re just one upload away from reaching hundreds, thousands and even millions of fans. That’s exactly how Jack Gilinsky and Jack Johnson, two kids from Omaha, Nebraska, were propelled into superstardom.
Wearing the same T-shirt and having the same name, the two immediately bonded on the first day of kindergarten. Best friends ever since, the two remained inseparable throughout school and as Gilinsky says,
“We literally are on the same wavelength with everything. We learn and grow together. Each step of the way, we’ve been there for one another.”
In 2007, they started a YouTube channel featuring comedy clips, but in 2013 they hopped onto Vine, the now-defunct social media platform that featured six-second videos. They uploaded short comedy clips and music covers, and the rest is history.
By 2014, they were pursuing music full-time, with both Jacks serendipitously comprising two perfect halves of a circle. Johnson provides dextrous rap verses while Gilinsky offers melodic hooks, coming together for the perfect modern-day R&B pop sound.
Since their humble beginnings on Vine, the two Jacks have moved more than 1.5 million singles, sold out shows around the world and continued to amass millions of fans – we’re talking about more than 28 million across all social media platforms. Last year, they took a break from superstardom to really buckle down and redefine their sound. Working with hit producers such as Poo Bear, Halatrax and Timbaland (who dubbed Jack & Jack “the future”), the duo were able to finesse a more mature sound and a brand-new five-song EP, Gone.
“The new music is everything we love,” explains Gilinsky. “It’s got R&B elements. It’s soulful. It’s pop. It’s hip-hop. We wanted to bring those together in a conceptual project that speaks to where we are as 21-year-old guys living in Los Angeles.” Inspired by failing relationships, Gone is an honest and candid look at young love. “The project follows a relationship that went downhill – which is 99 per cent of most relationships,” explains Gilinsky. “The lyrics and the videos convey the story. If you’re in love or you’re dealing with heartbreak, there’s a song for you. We’ve been through all of that. It came from a real place.”
Thanks to this honesty, fans have really resonated. Jack & Jack’s latest single “Beg” is probably the duo’s most successful yet. It quickly surpassed 12 million streams on Spotify, making it their fastest-rising single to date, and it entered the Top 40 on the service’s pop radio charts.
“This music is what we’ve been waiting to show the world,” says both Jacks. “We hope everybody can enjoy it on a deeper level and develop a genuine connection.
We’re serious about doing this forever. It’s only the beginning.” Not too bad for two boys from Omaha.