Love, the word, seems to feature heavily in the bittersweet folk-centred song titles of newcomer Tāmaki Makaurau artist Jack Robertson, admittedly weighted by the three different versions of his latest single Lovesick. The delicately produced moody pop lament is shared and embellished with the vocals of NZ/American/Spanish artist Anderson Rocio and featured on NZ On Air Music‘s December 2024 NewTracks compilation.

Trusting that Jack Robertson is your birth name, where are you from Jack and what instruments do you play?

Yes, it is Jack Robertson and I’m from Botany Downs, East Auckland. I sing, play the guitar and piano.

Any other music projects that we might know you from?

Just a smattering of cover bands that never took off…

What’s the background to how your solo career as Jack Robertson came to be?

I always wanted to be a musician, since a young age I was always noodling on new instruments. I released a home recorded album in high school which has since been taken down due to the quality not aligning with what I am releasing now; however, there was some absolute gold on there. I then left school and was working while I wrote songs, recorded music and jammed with my mates on weekends. By the time 2023 rolled around I realised music was the only thing that I actually wanted to do and I wanted to fully surround myself in it. I started my music degree and that has led me to where I am now.

How has your own music evolved from your beginnings in songwriting?

Writing and music has always been a lot like journaling for me, I’d do a little bit everyday. What I was finding is I was relying a lot on my honest feelings and waiting for inspiration. I have since been studying songwriting at Auckland University which has helped me develop ideas further (even if they aren’t necessarily great initial ideas) and how to workshop a song. Don’t get me wrong, I much prefer waiting for inspiration and the feeling of a song being a mysterious gift from the universe.… but it’s great to have methods for working out a song, especially when you want to make songwriting a sustainable career!

Aside from this release, what’s been the big highlight to date? 

I will always look back fondly on The Dim Lights Release Show which was a headline gig I did back in 2022 at Cassette Nine. Getting to release and perform music with some of my closest mates is super special to me and it was one of the most fun nights I’ve ever had on stage.

What is the story behind Lovesick?

Lovesick was just another sad love song I had written in my bedroom. Anderson Rocio came into the university I attend to share her experience in the music industry. Seeking advice I sent her a couple of demos, Lovesick being one of them. Before I knew it we were making the song together as a long distance collaboration!

What makes Lovesick stand out for you as a single?

For me it’s the fact this song was made across continents between the US and NZ! It was very surreal for me to be going about my norm while some strangers (now my team) in LA were listening to my vocals and working on a song of mine. Another stand out is that there are three different versions – the original, the InDecember, and the live. All versions feature slight lyrical tweaks and changes to the instrumentation creating a subtle evolving point of view as Anderson and I make our way closer together from opposite sides of the world.

What’s your favourite moment, musical or lyrical, of the song?

My favourite lyric is the opening line; “I’ll love you from here so I don’t get in your way.”

Who did you record and produce the single with and whereabouts? 

Lovesick was produced and recorded between LA and NZ. I wrote this during my first year at uni and made a demo with my mate Ariki Perana. Anderson Rocio and producer Nydge over in Los Angeles smashed out the majority of the production on their end, whilst Kiwi producer Joseph Corban-Banks and I recorded my vocals and the mix in NZ. Funnily enough, Anderson and I were never actually in the same room… or country during the whole process of making Lovesick.

What would you like listeners to take away from the song?

I always love finding songs that speak to exactly how I feel or what I’m going through, so hopefully this can be that for someone else.

Who else is in your team?

I am working closely with Anderson Rocio and her independent label Riverine Records which has so many amazingly talented people I can lean on. There’s Anderson, the co-founder of the label, Wayne Pottow and producers like Nydge and Joseph. Both versions of Lovesick were mastered by the 4x Grammy winning mastering engineer John Greenham!

Are there any upcoming musical endeavours you’re working on that we should keep an eye out for? 

I am working on my first EP, which is planned for release later this year! You’ll hear its first single out this March 😉 I am so excited to be working on this project especially as no-one will expect the direction I’ve gone with some of the songs.

Can you please name three other local tunes that would fit well on a playlist alongside your song. 

PARK RD: I Got You
Marianne Leigh: crazy gf
Clovis: Icouldbeyourlover

Have any of your previous single releases been included on NewTracks? 

No, this is my first time being accepted with NewTracks so I am very grateful and excited to be included! I’m yet to apply for funding as there are a lot of criteria I haven’t covered yet as an emerging artist, but getting included on NewTracks is one more I can now add to my list!

Are there any musical blogs, Youtube channels or podcasts you’re super into?

I mostly listen to podcasts and YT channels to do with movies like Dead Meat or Cody Leach, but if anyone has any music related pods or channels let me know, I’d love to check them out.

How can we find you on social media? 

linktr.ee/jackrobertsonmusic
instagram.com/jaaaaack.robertson/
facebook.com/people/Jack-Robertson-Music/100070658297675/
tiktok.com/@jackrobertsonmusic
youtube.com/@JackRobertsonMusic
jackrobertsonmusic.com/

Who did you make the video with? 

The video is a live performance of Anderson and I performing Lovesick. It was made with Christian Tjandrawinata in a gorgeous location out west in Oratia. I love this video because it is the rare moment of Anderson and I finally singing together in the same place!

Any last words?

Shout out to NZ On Air for my first ever NewTracks selection! Thank you NZMusician for having me as a feature and giving myself and many other artists a platform to introduce ourselves and be seen. Thank you to everyone who’s listening to Lovesick and supporting me as an artist, it means the world to me. I can’t wait for you all to hear what’s coming…