Exclusive Interview: Jack Kane on Trusting His Instincts, Surrendering to the Process, and Embracing the Unknown on ‘Obvious’

Emerging as one of the most exciting new voices of his generation, Jack Kane has quickly distinguished himself as a songwriter with both emotional depth and cinematic scope. His music blurs the line between the intimate and the expansive, pairing sharp storytelling with melodies that twist and turn in unexpected ways. With each release, he continues to prove that his words can turn the deeply personal into something universally resonant.

There’s an unpredictability to Jack’s latest project, Obvious—a five-track EP that captures the ebb and flow of love, loss, and self-discovery through emotional precision and raw honesty. Built from moments of instinct and spontaneity, it finds him crafting songs that feel as alive and unpredictable as the experiences that inspired them. The result is a collection that’s both vulnerable and assured, a striking balance between introspection and cinematic scope.

Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to sit down with Jack to chat about the creative process behind Obvious. He opened up about learning to trust his instincts, embrace spontaneity in the studio, and the storytelling that continues to drive his songwriting. We also talked about the artists who inspire him and how Obvious captures a chapter defined by freedom, reflection, and the kind of honesty that connects on a universal level.

PC: It’s always fascinating when artists release new projects because they really serve as time capsules—capturing who you are and what you’re feeling in that moment. With Obvious, what does this chapter represent for you personally, and what do you hope to express through it as an artist?
Jack: I think this chapter feels a little more free-flowing and unfiltered. I’ve tried to quiet my inner editor on this project and trust my initial ideas instead of over-refining them. There’s nothing wrong with fine-tuning your work, of course, but I wanted this project to feel fresh and fun.

PC: Part of your creative process involves improvisation in the studio. Is there a song on the EP that really captures that sense of openness? And how does that freedom shape the way you create and connect to the music?
Jack: “Civil Unrest” was born entirely through that method. I actually have a voice note of me singing the bones of almost the entire song as an improvisation. I’ve fallen in love with this process—it feels like the song is telling you what it wants to be, and then you simply go in and refine it afterward, rather than starting with the first line.

PC: There’s been such a clear evolution in your artistry over the years. Who or what do you feel has had the biggest influence on the artist you’ve become today?
Jack: Thank you! So many names come to mind, but I don’t think I’ve ever written a song without thinking of Fleetwood Mac at least once.

PC: There’s such inventiveness in your lyrics and wordplay—they feel almost cinematic in how they unfold. What do you think has most shaped that side of your artistry, and to what extent do you think your experience as an actor has influenced it?
Jack: It’s definitely had an effect on my writing. I visualize everything I write, and when I was younger, I went to a school for filmmaking and writing—that experience really shaped how I think about storytelling.

PC: If you had to pick one song from Obvious that best encompasses who you are as an artist, which would it be and why?
Jack: That’s a tough one! At the minute, I’m loving “Breaking Up at the Department Store.” I really enjoy writing songs where the setting feels like a third character—I do something similar in an older track, “Swimming Pool.” It opens up so much room for those small, weird, human details.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2025 and into 2026, what can fans look forward to from you?
Jack: I have so many things I want to do musically—there’s lots more on the way! Hopefully, there’ll be more headline dates in 2026, along with a longer music project.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Jack: Gunna.

PC: First album you bought?
Jack: Doin’ It Again by Skepta.

PC: First concert you attended?
Jack: Stevie Wonder. I was six—and I don’t remember a thing!

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Jack: Caustic Love by Paolo Nutini. It was the first time I’d heard a brand-new album that felt like an instant classic.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Jack: Red Rocks.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Jack: A pack of Sports Mix.

To keep up with Jack, follow him on Instagram, Spotify, and Apple Music. Stream Obvious wherever you listen to music.