With his unmistakable voice – accentuated by The Lone Star State Songster’s sultry, yet smooth flair – Jack Freeman is bringing all the feels with his latest tour-de-force, NINA. Our Jack Freeman interview dives into the music, his journey, and much more.
Whether you’re new to his music, or you’re been on the journey with him for that last decade plus of his musical journey, there’s so much to the crooner. And with every project, the Houston, TX native grows more and more into his own.
On NINA he collaborates with Bryan-Michael Cox on several tracks, delivering another quality album.
Parlé Magazine was recently afforded the opportunity to chop it up with the 35 year-old Scorpio, and here’s how it all went down…
If you take D’Angelo, John Legend, Bobby Womack, Jodeci and a little bit of Tank, mix them all together, put it in the oven on 400 for about 40 mins, top it off with a whole lot of H-Town swag, you’d have Jack Freeman.
Parlé Magazine: Talk to me about NINA. Tell me the concept behind the title and the project.
Jack Freeman: I thought about the concept of NINA during the first year I started working on the album. I realized sometimes it helps to acknowledge who you’re speaking to and to give it a name. I’m not going to say that I’m the first to do this, but I don’t see how we’re making R&B music and not naming the album for the black women who love it so much. It puts a name to the muse, and I wanted to insert a constant reminder throughout the album. When you hear a song and say, “wow, who was he talking about in this song?”, you have your answer in the title. The next few albums I do will have the same concept, just different feelings, and energy.
Parlé Magazine: Of course, for NINA you teamed up with songwriter-producer extraordinaire Bryan-Michael Cox — What particular string of events actually led to this musical union?
Jack Freeman: In 2018, a mutual friend of ours threw a showcase in Houston, Bryan’s and my hometown; Bryan was a guest host. After my set ended, I walked by him and he said, “you were dope!.” We exchanged contacts and hung out that weekend.
…At that time, I was finalizing my last album Define Love. Once completed, I sent Bryan the album and he called me to talk about how much he liked the record. I told him I had a show the week after the album debuted and he flew to Houston to host the show! From there, we just hung out when we saw each other, built our friendship, and just learned how the other moved. During that three-year period, we experienced COVID. As we know, that slowed down everything!
…By 2023, I’d been plugging away at the album and had run out of both answers and resources. I was very close to moving to England to take on a different venture to help me get this album done. Before doing so, I ran my thoughts by Bryan and he goes, “let me see if we can put a plan together.” Four months later, we were in L.A. signing contracts for our joint venture. The rest is about to be a legitimate, Black ass history. Just watch.
Parlé Magazine: How would you say NINA compares to previous Jack Freeman efforts?
Jack Freeman: NINA is the most sonically diverse album I’ve ever done. Thanks to Lab ox, Bryan, Chris Rockaway, and Kristine Kruta, I had an opportunity to incorporate styles of music that are inspiring to me – Soul, Traditional, ‘80’s and ‘90’s R&B, Afrobeats, Bounce, Screw, Funk. Whatever felt good in that studio, we did it. And it worked.
…I can see the growth in my own pen, and it’s beautiful to watch. Prior to this album, I never co-wrote with anyone, but Felly and Adonis made the experience very simple. Because of Chris, NINA contains elevated versions of what I’ve done on previous albums, Define Love and Juke Joint, in particular. So now I’m able to give my early fans the things they’ve always loved about me, while introducing them to something new.
Parlé Magazine: Let’s hop into this single, “U N D R E S S” — Tell me about the song.
Jack Freeman: Bryan-Michael Cox brought me to ATL to record because he wanted to help round out the sound on the album I already had. We booked a few sessions at Einnor Studios and he invited Adonis in to co-write with me. After we recorded the song “MVP,” Bryan played the track for “U N D R E S S.” At that point, we had so much creative energy, it was impossible to screw it up with a bad song. I truly believe that. Adonis had the first verse and hook locked and loaded; Bryan, Adonis, and I finished the second verse just as quickly. After that session, we knew we had something special. Adonis and Bryan also sang background vocals on “U N D R E S S.”
Parlé Magazine: When did you first become interested in music?
Jack Freeman: I grew up in a musical home. My dad and sister sing, and everyone in the family just loved music. On Sundays, we went to church, and I enjoyed hearing the amazing choir that both my parents sang in. It wasn’t until I was around the age six or so when I realized I could sing. I grabbed a football and played ball throughout my entire childhood, into high school, and two years of college. I also ran track. I won a few Junior Olympic championships, went to state championships in track and football, was All-State in both sports, received and accepted a scholarship to the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), decided I was burned out over the entire process two years in, left UTEP, landed at Prairie View A&M, and had this harebrained idea that because I could sing so well that I HAD to be pretty good at writing songs, right? RIGHT?! So, I knew a rap group in Houston called The Niceguys and they asked me to come sing on their first EP in 2009. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, but it worked. I then became a go-to guy for rappers in the city during the blog era and played numerous rap shows. It was during that time when I started figuring out how to make my own music. In 2010, I dropped my first EP and in 2012, I debuted my first album.
Parlé Magazine: Who do you consider to be your strongest musical influences?
Jack Freeman: I grew up in the same section of town where so many of the Swisha House legends hail from. Houston has a heavy Hip-Hop influence, so I was a huge Geto Boys, Scarface and Devin the Dude fan. The Screwed Up clique was also heavy in the streets. Then we had H-Town right before Ideal stunted on us. Little did I know at that time, Ideal’s ‘Get Gone” would be one of a young B. Cox’s first hits. Then there’s Destiny’s Child, obviously. But there was also Yolanda Adams on the Gospel side as well. All these sounds flow through my veins. Anytime I ever got a chance, I was sure to let these people know how they molded me. I’m honored to be from this city. I wear it proudly.
Parlé Magazine: Switching gears here, what exactly do you want people to get from your music?
Jack Freeman: I want people to understand that in the midst of everyone trying to decide whether R&B is dead or not, there’s still some people out here who not only talk it, but also walk it. I want listeners to receive love from my music. To get over heartbreaks. To make love. To have children. Then teach those children about quality music like mine, so that they can feel the way I feel about the artists I was put onto during my youth. That’s what this is about.
Parlé Magazine: If you could collaborate with any one artist, living or dead, who would it be and why?
Jack Freeman: How much time y’all got? (Laughs)
Outkast (Both of them), Jay-Z, Donny Hathaway, Tupac, Prince, Dr. Dre, Chaka Khan, Pharrell, Dallas Austin, Quincy Jones, Robert Glasper, Jazmine Sullivan, George Clinton, Bootsy Collins.
Parlé Magazine: What do you feel has and will continue to be the key to your longevity?
Jack Freeman: Love. As long as we still love the things we do, we’ll continue to do them with heart and passion. As long as I can keep that same energy throughout the success that I’ll be experiencing, everything else will fall into place. I’ll keep showing up. I’ll keep getting better. I’ll keep stretching and learning new things. I’ll take care of my body.
Parlé Magazine: Do you have any additional aspirations, maybe even completely away from music?
Jack Freeman: I think I’ll dive into movies and TV, either in front of or behind the camera. I’d love to try my hand in real estate investments. I’d also love to have some ownership in a sports team – soccer, American football, basketball (women’s or men’s), racing, boxing, you name it. I really would love to have a role in sports.
Parlé Magazine: To date, what has been your biggest career moment(s), at least thus far anyway?
Jack Freeman: Meeting and performing on the same bill as John Legend, he specifically chose me be there – is a big highlight of mine. Another one is working with Bun B on the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. Anytime you’re seen by 75K people doing what you love is a blessing. I’m excited to do that again. I also had the opportunity to tour Eastern Europe (Russia, and Kazakhstan). Seeing every seat filled in a place I didn’t know even knew my name was amazing.
Parlé Magazine: Please discuss how you interact with and respond to fans…
Jack Freeman: Hmmm… the fan thing is interesting. I love the people who support me, and at the same time, I try to keep my boundaries intact. I love human interaction, so shows and in-person events are a great way to engage with the audience. I love when people share stories surrounding my music. I love meeting fans in unexpected places where I never imagined they knew about me. In all of these moments, I try to be as respectful as possible, and I’d love for them to do the same with me. I hope to meet all of you very soon!
Parlé Magazine: What is your favorite part about this line of work? Your least favorite? And, why?
Jack Freeman: My favorite part is performing and creating. I’m my strongest when on I’m stage! It’s my comfort zone. I’m confident because I know what I created is impeccable. So, I move that way. I strongly dislike conversations about social media followers and viral appeal. The music industry was once a place where the talent mattered. Now it’s mostly run by people who are okay with signing anything that has high engagement, even if it’s to the detriment of the music.
Parlé Magazine: What advice would you have for someone wanting to follow in your footsteps?
Jack Freeman: Decide what type of artist you want to be. Decide what it is you want to say to the people, and then say it. Study the greats. Do your homework. Don’t quit because it’s hard. It’s going to be hard until further notice. Stand up and fight back. And put your music out. Stop sitting on it. Otherwise, why are you making it?
Parlé Magazine: Looking ahead, say five or maybe even ten years from now, where do you see yourself?
Jack Freeman: I see myself in a land far away from the madness, thanking God that I’m able to do what I enjoy and make a living that will feed my grandchildren. All while I plot the next body of work.
Parlé Magazine: As for the immediate, what’s next for you, Jack?
Jack Freeman: We are going on tour, baby! Don’t ask for details. I ain’t got em’ yet. BUT WE GOIN’. And this time next year, I’ll be accepting more awards than I can hold. Print that.
Parlé Magazine: Is there anything I left out or just plain forgot to mention?
Jack Freeman: NINA is everywhere, RIGHT NOW! It’s possibly the best R&B album this year and its only March. Don’t believe me? Hit play and tell me I’m lying. Then play it all year and you’ll agree.
Parlé Magazine: Lastly, any “parting” words for our readers?
Jack Freeman: Love and take care of yourselves, and each other. Share the music that makes you happy. Do that thing you said yesterday that you would do tomorrow. Hydrate and lick your lips (you did it didn’t you? Laughs!).
Stay connected with Jack Freeman
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Image Credits: Cory Dixon
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