Jackie Darlene - Now or Never
JACKIE DARLENE PREPARES FOR THE RELEASE OF HER DEBUT FULL LENGTH, DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH
You can always tell. An artist either has it or they don’t. Some can build themselves over years to have it, but some are just born with it. Singer-Songwriter Jackie Darlene has it. We sat down with her at Chief Records to discuss her new album, Diamond in the Rough.
“A whole lot has happened over the last year. I’ve gone full time [playing music]. I have a song called Diamond in the Rough, which is the title track. It’s about life on the road and how hard it is. That’s just how I feel right now because I haven’t reached my goal. You should never stop reaching for your goal. I don’t want to ever be satisfied where I’m at. I always want to work toward a bigger goal, but not many people know my name or my music. It’s about knowing you have the potential to be great but you’re not there yet. It’s about mistakes I’ve made.”
Jackie recorded Diamond in the Rough at Ben Hussey and Josh Serrato’s new studio at Melody Mountain in Stephenville, a partnership with Larry Joe Taylor that builds on the success the duo had at Boyd Street with acts like Dolly Shine and Jon Young. “I did my acoustic demos with Ben and Josh when I first went on my own. I was with another band and working two jobs. I hadn’t gone at it full throttle. We recorded three songs last year and became real good friends over these months. When I first went in there, we were hanging out tracking songs, and it was easy. They believe in me when a lot of people don’t. Not yet. You have to earn people’s respect. Paying your dues. People think ‘Who is this girl? Where did she come from?’, and treat you accordingly. That’s starting to change as they get to know me and hear my music. They’re warming up to me. I’m glad Ben and Josh already believed in me. It was a big risk being their first project. Eyes are on them, wondering what will come out of that studio. This project will show what they are capable of doing. They’re nervous. I’m nervous, but it sounds great.”
“It’s crazy hearing the songs finished after hearing them in my head for so long. Its cool to hear them brought to life. It’s bluesy, Southern Rock. Still country, because it’s in my genes. I guess it’s just Americana.” It may seem like a passing phrase, but it truly is in her genes. Jackie is the granddaughter of Whitey Shafer, writer of numerous country music hits like George Strait’s All My Exes Live in Texas and Does Fort Worth Cross Your Mind.
Having a famous granddad may help with songwriter cred, it doesn’t overcome the challenges of an artist just getting her foot in the door. “I was waiting on tables at two different restaurants in Waco. I just realized, if I would spend the time I was waiting tables working on my social media and booking shows, staying busy, I could afford to do this full time. I could pay my bills. It was a slow process. I just made the decision, if I’m going to do it I should do it now or never. It was rough, it still is.”
“When I first started coming around, people stereotyped me because I am young. 22 years old, and I am female. I’m not saying guys don’t have challenges, either. We all do, but women aren’t taken seriously in this scene. They’re not. I’m trying to change the dynamic. I also think women need to be more honest in their music. They feel like they have to be that person. You don’t have to do anything because someone thinks you should be this person you’re not. Maybe that’s why women aren’t taken serious, because they aren’t being honest. They aren’t writing about what is really going on their lives. What is really going on in their heart. That’s what I’m trying to change. This record is my first record, but it is honest and so raw. I’m nervous because it puts me in a vulnerable position. I’m opening my heart to anyone and everyone who will listen to this record. Women should do that more often. Maybe we’ll be taken serious if we did that more often.”