He picks up his Martin Guitar and strums his fingers to get a good feel for the tune. He smiles as soulful words begin to pour out of his mouth. With his European-style haircut and always handy guitar, IU sophomore Jack Conway looks the part. He is going back to Los Angeles where he signed his new record deal and is ready to start recording songs.
Jack said his faith and strong family life motivate him to pursue his music.
“There is an opportunity that I have been blessed with that not a lot of other people have,” he said. “I am not about to waste it.”
He signed a record deal with Alkemy Brothers last year. He will be working with one of Gwen Stefani’s producers to make a five-song EP in hopes of pulling a hit single from it.
“Jack has always had a wonderful talent,” Lisa Conway, Jack’s mother, said. “His personality is always positive and energized whether in singing or school.”
Connections
Jack’s family friend, Bill Hyde, recognized his talent from the first couple times he heard Jack sing. Bill sent a video of him singing in a family restaurant to his brother, Matt Hyde, who produced albums by Gwen Stefani. Matt went to Berklee College of Music and has also produced for rock band Sum 41. Bill invited Jack to meet with Matt, and he immediately sparked Matt’s interest.
“We went to tour the facility where they record songs, and he allowed Jack to jump into the sound booth,” Lisa said. “He was very surprised with Jack’s talents.”
The next day, Jack received a call while he and his family were in Disneyland.
Matt said he wanted to sign Jack to his record label, and he would be the face of Alkemy brothers. He wanted to build Jack up, and he told him it could take one to three years.
“I was like, ‘This is not happening right now,’”Jack said. “I am just an 18-year-old kid. I also knew it’s a hit-or-miss industry, so I needed to actually do something about it.”
Instantly Jack picked up the guitar and taught himself how to play.
“I really started to push and develop myself,” he said.
In June 2014, Matt stopped in Indiana for his niece’s wedding. He brought a three-year contract that Jack signed without hesitation. Meanwhile, Matt was also very busy with other artists and told Jack to keep writing music and sending it to him. Eventually Matt and his partner, Neil Nessel, along with Jack’s now-manager, Sami Rusani, had a new idea for him.
“They told me they were going to dump the idea of what they originally had and form a whole new plan,” Jack said.
He said he does not know how everything will turn out in Los Angeles, but he is writing good music and trusts them to do the rest.
“They are building me from the ground up,” Jack said. “I’m excited for people to see who I really am.”
Balance and hard work
As a full-time informatics student, Jack always has to think of the next step in order to balance music, college and personal life. As he fidgets with his guitar, he says going to LA for over a week stressed him out.
“It’s almost impossible to balance everything,” he said. “Trying to pay for all this stuff and maintaining grades and my music is really hard. You have to have the work hard, play hard mentality.”
Lisa said Jack is always concerned about his grades.
“His contract states that he has to finish college and keep himself clean,” Lisa said. “They want him to be a good role model and have a more adult-like audience.”
Alex MacDonald, Jack’s new scholar educator, said he went to the library with Jack every Sunday through Thursday last year.
“His soul purpose was to come here for academics,” he said. “I think it’s awesome this is happening.”
He said Jack has a great voice and potential and people are always giving him positive reinforcements.
Jack said he is not trying to be the next Ed Sheeran or Justin Bieber.
“I don’t write songs for people,” he said. “It’s more, like, about people.”
He said his music is classified as pop. As he begins to sing his newly written song, “Second Place,” he explains writing a song is about telling a story and relating to people. A song can’t be too long or people will lose interest. It is supposed to take you somewhere.
“People want to hear about a story, but they also want that catchy chorus,” he said.
Staying positive
Conway places his rosary and sticky notes a certain way on his bulletin board. He said the most important items range from left to right.
One of the sticky notes says, “Put a dent in the universe.”
“The biggest enemy that we have is ourselves,” he said. “If you can overcome your fear and what you are afraid of, you can conquer anything.”
Lisa said Jack, a big people pleaser, takes failure personally.
Jack says he has many people in his life who try to put him down.
“People tell me to go screw myself, and go to hell,” he said. “If people can’t do something, they will tell you can’t do it. It’s the fear that they aren’t good enough.”
He started to chuckle as he placed his hands on his piano.
“Negativity hurts,” he said. “But hey, it’s good writing material.”
Jack said he is glad he can give something to people that’s a rarity because not everyone has the ability to sing.
“Your weaknesses will never be as good as your strengths,” Jack said. “Focus on what you’re good at and give it to other people.”
