Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Parkinson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve been surrounded by music for as long as I can remember — choir, classical performances, musical theater, and lots of church hymns growing up. But the moment that really lit a fire in me was when I was 17, driving home from soccer practice and heard Ed Sheeran’s “The A Team” on the radio. I remember thinking, How do you even write a song like that? It was the first time I realized songwriting might be something I wanted to do.
It took almost a decade before I actually acted on that feeling. For years, I was trying to build a life that checked all the right boxes, but deep down, I was pretty disconnected from myself. After a big life shift in 2024, I hit a low point emotionally. That’s when I turned to songwriting — not because I was trying to become an artist, but because I needed a way to make sense of what I was feeling. Writing helped me process everything, and before long, I started sharing those songs with the people closest to me.
Eventually, I worked up the nerve to start playing in public. I’d find quiet spots on park benches where only a few people might overhear, just to get comfortable with performing. Then I took a leap and started booking gigs, which led to a regular spot at The Advenire Hotel and Wood.Ash.Rye restaurant in St. George, Utah. I played there as often as I could, and that’s where I really started finding my footing as a performer.
One of the wildest moments of my career happened during one of those gigs. I was playing “My Girl” by The Temptations when, out of nowhere, Otis Williams and the band walked into the hotel after their local show. Meeting Otis and having a real conversation with him was surreal, and when I shared that moment online, the video took off. It’s been amazing to see how that one unexpected moment introduced so many new people to my music.
These days, I’m all in. I’m recording my first full-length album, playing as often as I can, and staying focused on writing. I’ve written over 100 songs, and there are 15 to 20 that I’m really proud of. I’m excited to see where this path takes me next.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Definitely not a smooth road. I spent a lot of years trying to fit into a life that just didn’t feel right for me. I grew up in a culture that had a pretty clear roadmap for how life was supposed to look, and I did my best to follow it. But the more I tried to make it work, the more disconnected I felt from who I really was.
For a long time, I struggled with my mental health but didn’t fully understand what was going on. I was diagnosed with ADHD in my mid-20s, and that was a game-changer. So much of what I had been struggling with — relationships, focus, emotional ups and downs — suddenly made sense. Once I had that clarity, I was able to start making changes that actually helped. Songwriting was a huge part of that. It gave me a way to process emotions I had been holding onto for years and helped me connect with people in a way that felt real and meaningful.
I’ve also worked all kinds of jobs over the years, always searching for where I belonged. But it wasn’t until I fully committed to music that I finally felt like I was doing something that aligned with who I am. I still deal with challenges — balancing life and creativity, figuring out the business side of things — but I’m no longer carrying around that feeling of being out of place, and that’s made all the difference.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At my core, I’m a songwriter. I’m also a singer and performer, but everything I do starts with the songs. My style is pretty raw and honest — I wear my heart on my sleeve when I write, and I try to capture that same energy in my performances. I’ve developed my own style of playing acoustic guitar, blending fingerpicking with a percussive rhythm that gives my music a unique feel. I don’t read music in the traditional sense, but I’ve found my own way of understanding and communicating through it.
What I’m most proud of is how much I genuinely love the songs I’ve written and the conversations they spark after a show. I’ve had people tell me that my music helps them process their own emotions, and that means everything to me because that’s exactly what songwriting has done for me.
What sets me apart, I think, is my willingness to be fully open and vulnerable — in my lyrics, my melodies, my voice, and even in the way I interact with my audience. I spent so much of my life trying to hide parts of myself, so now, being able to stand on a stage and be fully seen feels like a full-circle moment. I also put a lot of care into making sure the emotional space where a song was born translates as closely as possible when I perform it. I think that’s what creates such a strong connection between me and the people who listen.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My voice memo app is hands down the most important tool I use. It’s where I capture every little idea — whether it’s a melody, a lyric, or just a feeling I want to explore later. My notes app is a close second, where I start piecing those fragments together into something more cohesive.
I used to go through a phase where I was constantly consuming self-help books, podcasts, and anything I thought might help me “figure things out.” But over time, I realized I was always looking outside of myself for answers instead of learning to trust my own instincts. These days, I lean more toward fiction. Books like The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley, and Flatland by Edwin A. Abbott have inspired me to think bigger and dream in ways that self-help books never did. I also love reading books by famous songwriters. Their stories often feel like works of fiction themselves, and I appreciate how they share their experiences without trying to tell the reader what to think or feel.
When I need to get out of my own head or break a negative thought pattern, I’ll pop onto YouTube and listen to something deeply philosophical — usually Alan Watts or something in that realm — or I’ll hop on Spotify and let my favorite music do the heavy lifting.
That said, if I could figure out how to live without a phone, I totally would. As someone with ADHD, the constant potential for distraction can be overwhelming, and I have to stay mindful about not getting pulled away from what really matters.
Pricing:
- Weddings – Variable Range ($500-2000)
- House Parties – Variable Range ($1000-$5000)
- Corporate Event – Variable Range ($500-5000)
- General Live Performance – Variable Range $300-400/hr
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jacobparkinson.music/overview
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jakeparkinsonmusic?igsh=MWhxanhkdWJ0bXp2cg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5nLDI0qxQnma0coFoozuQO?si=twXbpLpeTL638j_8bTS9mQ
