Jack Bratt
On 'Heaven', Letting Go & Finding His Voice
Brisbane songwriter and solo artist Jack Bratt returns with 'Heaven', a deeply personal song born from a period of frustration, uncertainty and ultimately, acceptance. Written and recorded from his apartment studio, the track captures an artist learning to stop fighting against the current and instead embrace the things he can control. From the friction of mixing to the freedom of working without time constraints, 'Heaven' reflects a more assured chapter in Bratt’s songwriting. Following his emergence as a solo artist after winning the Grant McLennan Fellowship, Bratt has continued to develop a distinct musical identity, touring alongside major international acts and steadily refining his sound. Here, he talks about surrender, creative experimentation, learning to trust his instincts and the music still to come, with his second album nearing completion and enough material already written for a third.
There’s an interesting idea in 'Heaven' around surrender and accepting where you are rather than constantly trying to control the outcome. Where did that idea come from, and how did it shape the song?
I was just in a bit of a hopeless place personally at the time it was written. I felt like a lot of things were just not working out for me in many different parts of my life and I was so frustrated. Writing ‘Heaven’ really helped me just let go in a way, to stop trying to swim against the tide, and to just accept responsibility for my own failings.
You were writing and recording three or four songs at a time in your apartment studio. What did that environment allow you to do creatively that you might not have been able to do in a more traditional studio setting?
Being on my own in my home studio allowed me to just be able to create and experiment with no time constraints. I had everything set up the way I wanted it so things could be done very quickly to try and capture the excitement and energy of the music being written in real time.
You’ve said that songs which create 'friction' can sometimes have the best overall outcome. What did that friction look like with 'Heaven'?
I think the biggest friction came in the mixing stage and trying to juggle the balance between how the sound sounded but still maintain the energy that is really important to the song. And just really pushing for it to be the best version it could be and not settling.
Since emerging as a solo artist after winning the Grant McLennan Fellowship, you’ve had a career that has taken you from your own records to performing alongside some major international acts. How has that experience changed the way you see yourself as an artist?
I think I’ve learned to trust my instincts more and stay true to myself. It’s been amazing to tour with some incredible artists and see how they conducted themselves and treated their craft with passion and integrity.
You’ve spoken about feeling more secure in your musical identity. What has changed within you that has allowed that confidence to come through more clearly in your recent songwriting?
It just comes with time. Even though I’ve been in many bands over the years, becoming a solo artist really felt like I was starting from scratch. I felt like I had to build an audience from the ground up and get them to trust me and go along on the journey with me. Although I had an idea of where I wanted to go musically, that vision has been more refined and put in focus.
Looking at where you are now compared with when you first began releasing music as a solo artist, what are you most interested in exploring next, both creatively and personally?
I’m really excited to put out the music that’s already been written. The second album is almost finished and enough material has already been written for a third record. And then obviously I’m excited to see where my writing evolves from there.