JC Stewart – This Is Your FAULT
JC Stewart is quickly becoming one of the world’s brightest young music stars. His latest single Break My Heart is the perfect example of how great pop music can still be steeped with soul and make use of creative storytelling techniques.
We caught up with JC for this cover story to find out more about his songwriting, musical journey and as always, his FAULTs.
Was there any one experience that inspired Break My Heart?
It was more of a collection of experiences that I’d had whilst touring over the last few years. You meet a lot of people in a lot of different places and in a lot of cases, can get very close with people over a very short amount of time. It’s about that feeling where you have to rip the bandaid off and just leave.
You worked with some great writers on Break My Heart, describe the writing room environment when you guys got together?
It was all virtual! We never really did it all in the same room together. It was a lot of people sending ideas back and forth over email and WhatsApp and just piecing it together slowly over a few months!
Has there been any change in your writing process during the pandemic?
Definitely, I’ve been writing a lot more by myself and really focusing on the lyrics. I wrote an EP that I think sounds a little different than anything I’ve done before and encompasses the sound that has really been born out of lockdown for me.
What’s the scariest part about releasing new music?
The thought that nobody will care. People hating it never really comes into my mind; it’s more the thought of it just falling into the abyss.
What’s been the most challenging part of your musical journey?
Staying positive. It’s been a long journey, and every time I hit a milestone, it can feel like another wall is put up in front of me and you’ve got to pick yourself back up and go again. I am so unbelievably grateful to be where I am though and am enjoying it more and more every day.
Looking back on ‘When The Light Hits The Room’, what would you say was the hardest song emotionally for you to write and why?
Weirdly, it is Hard To Believe. It could well be the first “happy” song that I have ever written, and it was hard to be that honest with myself about how I was feeling. It’s potentially my favourite song I’ve ever written.
Because the music industry can move so fast, do you ever fear getting caught up in the accelerated release agendas to the detriment of your artistry?
For sure. But I’ve got to trust that everything is happening for a reason. If I’ve learned anything, it’s that it’s never ever going to go as you plan it and definitely hasn’t for me so far. But it’s all part of it, and you have to trust the people around you and your ability to create.
What do you want to talk about?
Where the best chicken wings in London are! The answer is wingman’s, and yes, I would love free wings if that is ever on the table. I live and breathe buffalo wings at this point, just like one giant, Irish buffalo wing.
What do you want your music to say about you the human?
That I’m flawed. That I’ve messed up. That I’ve been happy. That I’ve been sad. That it’s good to talk. That I’ve lived.
What is your FAULT?
I put a lot of pressure on myself and am sometimes way too hard on myself. But I’m working on it!