This fall, Nashville-based songwriter Jake McMullen will release a new EP that follows his critically acclaimed Always EP. Today, Ones To Watch premiered McMullen’s cover of Robyn’s “Dancing On My Own,” the first single to be released from the EP, and said “Jake McMullen has succeeded beyond our highest expectations. The young singer/songwriter has managed to re-invent the 2010 hit with a brand new, very personal flair.”
“I worked on the song with producer, Micah Tawlks and producer/drummer, Dabney Morris. I have never done a cover song before so it was a fun experience to re-imagine things,” said Jake about the song. “I originally proposed a more ballad-eque down-tempo version of the song when talking with Micah about it. But after a few hours in the studio things just weren’t presenting themselves in the way I imagined. Then Dabney found that pad sound you hear at the beginning and laid down the drum beat and from there things took off and ideas started to come very naturally. The whole process was a lot of fun.”
Jake McMullen is originally from Orange County, CA and relocated to Nashville to pursue his passion for songwriting as a solo artist. In the past, he fronted the rock act York and released a split EP with Ellex Bree. Drawing on influences from James Vincent McMorrow, The National, Johnny Cash and Broken Social Scene, McMullen strives to create honest, relatable songs, unafraid to show vulnerability. Combining elements of folk and indie rock, McMullen’s writing style is mature beyond his years. At only 23 years old, he’s already established himself as an accomplished songwriter.
His debut Always EP has received more than 2,000,000 plays on Spotify and was released to great acclaim. Paste Magazine said his song “If I Go” “…lets you reflect on your own past misfortunes, and McMullen’s soft tones and emotional melodies give that extra tug on the heartstrings.” Consequence of Sound premiered his single “Always” and said “It’s a tenderly sung and played introspective song, brightened by the background harmonies makes for a near perfect indie folk track.”
Musically Amusing 