FROM EUROVISION STAGE STARDOM TO WORKING NIGHTS AT JCB
Jake Shakeshaft explains why he is happy to ditch the glitz and glamour of a music career
A SINGER who represented the UK at Eurovision says he is now focusing on his career instead of pursuing musical stardom.
Jake Shakeshaft played a 45-minute set on Saturday at the Royal Music Hall, in Pall Mall, Hanley.
The gig also featured Killers tribute band Killers Kollective and indie/rock covers band Magnetic Jellyfish.
But the 26-year-old says music is now more of a hobby as he’s focusing on his career with digger giant JCB, where he has worked for almost five years.
Jake, who lives in Newcastle, said: “I work nights at the moment which suits me because I get long weekends to do my own thing.
“I’ve done a few gigs since the lockdowns ended but I’m not looking to fill up my diary at the moment. I’m focusing on my work career now and music is something I am just enjoying on my own terms.
“Being in the music industry can be quite difficult to deal with and quite unpredictable – and I don’t like the unpredictability.
“I’m definitely going to keep playing music but I’m happy doing a gig a month rather than two or three a week.”
Jake played his first gig in 2012 in Biddulph Moor, and appeared on the fourth series of BBC One’s The Voice three years later after winning over the judges with his rendition of Thinking Out Loud by Ed Sheeran.
He formed the duo – Jake and Joe – with fellow contestant Joe Woolford, and they represented the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 in Stockholm with the song You’re Not Alone. They finished 24th with 62 points.
Jake then stepped away from music for a few years before picking up his guitar to return for a live gig in Newcastle in 2019, and is now enjoying performing live again.
The former Clayton Hall Academy pupil, who plans to buy a house next year, joined JCB through an agency in 2017 and was taken on permanently seven months ago.
He said: “I basically work on the logistics side of things.
“I never saw myself doing something like this – it’s probably the furthest thing away from what I expected – but I enjoy it.
“Music is my passion first and foremost. I’m still writing songs – in fact, I’m writing more than ever – and I’m doing it for myself rather than for anyone else.
“The most important thing is not to see it as work.
“It sucks the fun and enjoyment out of it when it becomes a chore.”