NU’s Premiere of Jack Berry’s Latest Single “Mad Behavior”

“Mad Behavior”

https://soundcloud.com/jackiberry/mad-behavior/s-iIEhl

   You know, it’s pretty cool when you get to sit down and hear a new song. It happens so often in an era with Apple, Spotify, and Youtube. It sometimes feels as if you’re numb to the fact that you’re being introduced to something awesome because we get introduced to it every other day it seems like from playlists and algorithms. To not appreciate the amount of art. The amount of honest and soul artists give us on such a consistent basis is itself nuts to think about. That’s just your average listener.

In my line of work I’m sometimes being introduced to new artists on practically a daily basis. Sometimes multiple times a day. So for me too, I can forget how special it is. I woke up this morning and had that realization as I started listening to Jack Berry’s new single and thought to myself “This is fucking cool”. That statement was multi-faceted. On one hand it’s a really good song. On the other hand, I was being introduced to music that not a lot of people have heard yet, and it’s my job to convey that feeling over to you now. To introduce you, the reader, to this song. This art. To me, that’s pretty fucking cool!

Jack’s Back

Our Class 7 Alumni Jack Berry hit us with his last project “Mean Machine” back in 2016. A 9 song album that captivated listeners (or at least this one) from King of Diamonds to Heavy Hopes. After that project came out it’s not like he’s been “gone” per se, he’s been keeping us on the rope with his live performances. Keeping us around for this moment. The moment he gave us new tunes. Welcome to that time.

Today we give the world the first look into his new single “Mad Behavior“; an intoxicating and charging energy filtered with distorted groove that fulfills just what its title suggests, and the rising electric tension bellows celebration. This song was recorded at Sound Emporium here in Nashville being written & composed by Jack Berry. Who takes on vocals, guitar, and bass while Anders Fleming grabbed the sticks to lay down the drums. Luke Forehand came in with the Engineers touch, Big Bagheera Records 2019 distributed the song, with the final piece being Brian Wooden coming though with the artwork you see above. 

The Machine

We got a chance to catch up with Jack about the song and his inspiration and his perspective on the song and he told us:

“There’s this rousing final speech in The Great Dictator from 1940 with Charlie Chaplin where he preaches the worth of humanity. We think too much and feel too little, he says as he pleads with the congregated not to give themselves to machine men with “machine minds” and machine hearts. That’s always stuck to me, those words and that idea. I have no intention to preach politics and I don’t believe that notion is political. More than this “machinery” so to speak, we need humanity. It’s that fight for such that has and will garner critical reaction – a Mad Behavior, if you will. To break free from a mold is a gorgeous thing.”

Rice’s Thoughts

So I listened to the track last night to take it in as a fan. Let it marinate in my brain. Then this morning as a writer. Jack draws you in from the beginning highlighting the deep bass riff with just drums before jumping into the song. His unique voice can be heard from a mile away. In this track he leans into his range and vibrato in his voice to overlay the heavy guitar riffs from the acoustic & electric guitar. Throughout the song Jack switches up his tone to keep the listener on their toes. Going from a deep smooth voice, to a low mellow feel, before hitting you with energy, punching you strait in the ears as he dives into the hook.

I’m a sucker for a well placed and well produced instrumental breakdown. Of course we get one in here. As someone who started off as an artist I love it because it lets my mind wonder on what is being told through the music itself. What words are being said and not. For 30 seconds we’re left with our thoughts as layers of electric and acoustic guitars, mixed with the steady drum & bass, build you up into the final chorus. Not before they stop the music and make you think that was the closing number. Then the curtain opens back up for one last chorus that satisfy’s your ear holes.

We were given another gem from Mr. JB and we can’t wait to hear what else he has loaded in the chamber. Until then, we’ll keep jamming out to Mad Behavior trying to avoid those machines.