Jackson Breit shares new covers album

Hailing from Virginia Beach, Jackson Breit has always stood out for doing things his own way. The soul pop artist has made his name on his own terms by genre-blending with flair, producing all his music himself and developing a style that sits at the crossroads of wide pop appeal and musical sophistication. Despite being deaf in his right ear from a young age, Jackson immersed himself in music early on, first through jazz trumpet and blues guitar, before finding his groove in hip hop production. The result is a sonic identity that’s part crooner, part producer and wholly original.

Sharing his studio sound with the world for the last decade, he made his entrance in 2015 with the debut single “Sunny Side” and has since delivered an incredible catalogue of releases across multiple singles, EPs, records and collaborative tracks. In 2016, he dropped his Covers EP, a release that instantly struck a chord with listeners around the world, racking up over 50 million streams and becoming an unexpected benchmark of how inventive reinterpretations can go beyond novelty.

Now he brings us the long awaited follow up with his new record titled Covers 2, a brand new eight-track outing that redefines the concept entirely. Covers 2 is more of a reinvention, a shape-shifting fusion of source material and original vision that’s every bit as unpredictable as it is cohesive. His coined term “sonic jambalaya” might sound playful, but it’s an accurate reflection of what this new release delivers; an engaging, surprising stew of sounds that shouldn’t make sense on paper, but does, spectacularly, in execution.

Across the EP, Jackson tackles a wide spectrum of styles and artists, from Gracie Abrams and Jack Harlow to System of a Down and LiAngelo Ball. Importantly, you can hear the growth since his first Covers EP. The new project feels more confident, more expressive and more ambitious, capturing an artist who’s spent the last several years developing his sonic output, not rushing the process and trusting that audiences will appreciate the nuance.

Jumping in with a mash up of Jack Harlow’s “Lovin On Me” and “The Joker” by Steve Miller Band, Jackson’s soulful vocal layers set up a breezy jam that puts his creative flair and performance panache on full display. With delicate acoustic guitar backing and intricate shuffling drums, it’s a superb showcase of his ability to bring together two songs and reimagine them in a charming indie pop sound which speaks volumes about his willingness to blur lines, not just between genres, but between eras, energies and emotional tones.

There’s an inspired pairing of “Blinded By The Light” and “Mrs. Officer,” that delivers a dazzling pop experience that glides with elegant ebb and flow, threading smooth R&B vibes through a stunning soul pop scene tinged with warm sax tones, slick lead guitar licks and stellar vocal leads. Perhaps the best showcase of his wild creativity comes with his take on System of a Down’s “Chop Suey!” and Radiohead’s “Creep,” completely reframing the two songs in a silky soul groove. Distilling the blistering intensity and emotive angst of the songs into a graceful pop cocktail, the familiar lyrics find a new home in an indie R&B setting, brought to life by Jackson’s alluring voice.

Closing the record with a rendition of “Walk Away” by Paula DeAnda, Jackson links with the original artist herself to present an exquisite acoustic pop take on the track. With the two artists delivering a blissful duet, their voices engage in a balletic dance above the absorbing arrangement to offer a sensational finale to Jackson Breit’s incredible new release.

Listen to Covers 2 below