Jackson Guthy, at the young age of 17, has already built up quite the resume. He did his first performance on THE ELLEN DEGENERES SHOW in 2011 and then went on to tour with Big Time Rush and One Direction on the Better With U Tour. After wrapping up that tour, Big Time Rush invited him back on the road for the Summer Break Tour this past summer. Ellen DeGeneres also invited him back to her show to perform his new song, “Roll.” The awesomeness doesn’t stop there! Jackson is currently on tour with Zara Larsson, Fifth Harmony and Cher Lloyd as part of the I Wish Tour, which is hitting major US and Canadian cities. All the while, Jackson has been releasing hit singles such as “One of These Days” and “Bad Boy.” Jackson is on a roll and his success doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon!
THE MAGAZINE recently caught up with Jackson to get all of the inside scoop on touring with Cher Lloyd and One Direction, getting a phone call from Ellen DeGeneres and where his favourite surf spot is.
On being on the road with Zara Larsson, Fifth Harmony and Cher Lloyd during the I Wish tour:
It’s awesome. This tour is super cool. It’s different from the Summer Break Tour with Big Time Rush but we’re all lucky to be out here doing this tour. I’ve been on the road for about three months so I don’t really get nervous anymore! I was a little nervous at the beginning of the summer; now it’s just more fun for me.
On touring with Big Time Rush:
They’re awesome dudes. I was able to tour with them about a year and a half ago with One Direction, so that was fun. I had gone into the Summer Break Tour knowing them already and it was great. It was a great opportunity and I’m glad I got to do it.
On touring with the world’s biggest boy band right now, One Direction:
I got to talk to them a little bit here and there but they were really cool when I met them.
On the best advice he’s received:
It’s my career and it’s not going to just fall in my lap. It’s my job to go out there and make it happen for myself and keep believing no matter what the haters say. You have to just press on and do your best to make the best music possible.
On being invited by Ellen DeGeneres herself to perform on her show in 2011:
That was awesome! Getting the phone call was really cool. It was my first live performance and it was in front of 6 million people.
On his sound:
It’s pop, but I write my own music, so it’s a singer-songwriter pop which is a weird mix but it’s not as weird as you think. It has a lot of cool hip-hop beats too. My music’s cool. It’s a bit different from what people would expect. I write songs about everyday relatable topics.
On his celebrity crush:
Kendall Jenner.
On his amazing group of fans – the JackPack:
They mean a lot to me. I always say without fans, there really is no career because they’re the ones who are buying the music, listening to it and supporting you. So without them, it’s truly impossible to do our jobs. It’s awesome to have people believing in you.
On his secret love for surfing:
I’ve been surfing almost as long as I’ve been playing music. I haven’t gone in a little bit but I like going to the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii and surfing up there. I do that once or twice a year.
On his favourite songs that he has released to date:
I love “Roll” and “Brothers & Sisters” because they have a really cool vibe. “Roll” is a very mellow track but there’s something about it that’s really sassy. Also, “Brothers & Sisters” because I wrote it on the piano before I went into the studio. I really like that one.
On the most played music on his iPod:
I like a broad range of music. I love The Weeknd’s new album. John Legend’s new record is awesome and I’m really excited about Justin Timberlake’s new album. My song of the summer was “Take Back the Night” by Justin Timberlake. Also, “Best Song Ever” by One Direction. It’s so catchy! I hate that I like it, but it’s really good.
On the upcoming release of his first EP, ‘Launch’:
It will be coming out either late this year or next year. People are going to need to hear it. It’s going to be really cool and I’m really excited about it.
Thank you, Jackson!