In a recent interview with Maria Graham, 23-year-old singer-songwriter and former US National Youth Poet Laureate Kara Jackson opened up about her debut album, “Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love?”
The album, released on April 14, 2023, showcases Jackson’s unique approach to songwriting and her ability to weave complex emotions into her music.
Jackson describes her album as a reflection of thoughts that can’t be neatly contained in a four-line pop chorus. The folk-laced body of work is characterised by its choppy, bold, and playfully sarcastic nature. Jackson approaches her songwriting process with the same structure as an academic form, constructing a thesis statement, a middle section, and a bold ending.
Inspired by the likes of Joni Mitchell and Beyonce, Jackson draws on their strong presence as album makers and the timeless quality of their music. Each song on the album is designed to address tough questions and themes from different chapters of her life, creating a summation of her experiences, memories, and stories.
The album features tracks like “recognised,” where Jackson’s voice rests on a simple piano chord, and “no fun/party,” which recalls distinct eras in her life. The song “dickhead blues” is brilliantly triumphant, with uplifting affirmations that bring comfort to an album filled with uncertainty. Other tracks like “brain” and “rat” delve into deeper themes and storytelling.
Jackson’s album has received critical acclaim, with Pitchfork describing it as a striking display of painful vulnerability and recognition that agony and adoration go hand in hand. The album has also been featured as the Album of the Week by The Current, highlighting Jackson’s raw vocals and her ability to thread stories of love and its disappointing fallout.
“Why Does The Earth Give Us People To Love?” is available now on various platforms, including Bandcamp and Spotify.
Jackson’s debut album showcases her talent as a singer-songwriter and her ability to explore complex emotions through her music, solidifying her place as an artiste on the rise.
