Singer/songwriter Jak captivates audience

by: maureen schulte
Staff Writer

Christopher Jak is a long way from home, but for someone whose first tour was in the fourth grade, he probably doesn’t find it all that unusual. As a former member of the American Boy Choir based in his hometown of Princeton, New Jersey, Chris began training his voice and musicianship while most kids were still more concerned with when recess began.

"You just sorta get comfortable engaging in your life while you’re on the road, not ignoring the fact that you’re having an actual life while you’re out there running around," Jak said.

With guitar work reminiscent of Jack Johnson, Jak’s clean choir-trained voice blended seamlessly with unique melodies and chord progressions. Jak’s voice and acoustic sound was enthralling when he performed at St. Ambrose University on Oct. 29.

"I hope that the writing has weight, musically and lyrically," Jak said. "I also hope it’s pretty easy to get along with."

With his musical influences ranging from the Allman Brothers to Cat Stevens, the guitar was a likely candidate as Jak’s instrument of choice for his own song writing.

"I always looked at it as a writing tool and a performing tool," said Jak. "It’s not like I wanted to be a guitar player. I wanted to write and perform."

While some artists choose to write their music in one sitting, Jak tends to be more sporadic.

"I’m a bits and pieces writer," said Jak. "Stuff comes to me normally when I’m driving in the car, or when I’m trying to fall asleep."

His well-trained voice, endearing stage presence, and catchy guitar riffs kept the attention of the thirty-five students present during his performance at St. Ambrose.

"He just seemed really comfortable and had a good sense of humor on stage," said SAU senior, Krista Thanos. "He had really introspective lyrics, and I enjoyed his overall sound."

In his third album release, The New Nostalgia, Jak examines relationships in a way that may make you take a good hard look at your own. Jak is careful to keep his lyrics meaningful to both himself and the listener.

"If I’m playing a song that uses the word she, it’s a very generic she in my mind," said Jak. "I hope that it translates sounding like its one person, because when somebody listens to it they can think of their one person."

Currently living in Colorado, Jak continues to tour the country regularly refining his performance and building his reputation. It may sound simplistic, but Jak’s most important goal is to simply continue playing.

With four albums and an on-going national tour, England feels she’s been successful on a small scale.

In hopes of landing a record label and taking her career to the next level, England recently moved to Los Angeles in search of her big break.

"At the heart of it, I’m already doing everything I want to do, but I really need more of a team," England said. "I need some kinds of label to help promote my music and I just want it to grow."