Jack O’Neill has faced many hardships in life, but he’s never let them keep him down. Instead, he pushes forward, always doing his best. He channels these life experiences into crafting music that speaks to the soul and the heart.
Jack, the son of an army paratrooper and a classically trained pianist, grew up in military towns across the American South before finally settling in New York City. From co-founding the Texas-born band Jackopierce to performing alongside musical heavyweights, his journey has been anything but ordinary. Over the years, he’s taken the stage with icons like T-Bone Burnett, Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, and The Wallflowers and even crossed paths with talents as diverse as Conan O’Brien and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
His creative path has woven through both music and acting. Signed to A&M Records, he released major label projects with legendary producers like T-Bone Burnett, Stan Lynch, and Don Smith. Beyond music, he stepped into the world of performance as an original member of The Bats, the resident acting company at NYC’s celebrated Flea Theatre. On screen, he’s appeared in Law & Order, FBI, New Amsterdam, ESPN Films, and the internationally recognised short In the Night by Lebanese director Shireen Khaled, starring Nicole Ansari-Cox.
Jack’s latest single, Badlands, is a raw and heartfelt reflection on his path to sobriety. Sonically, it’s a powerful indie rock track, driven by bold guitars and drums. His vocals are raw and expressive, capturing deep passion and a touch of longing. The sound recalls elements of Sting’s style but with a stronger indie influence.
Lyrically, Jack takes a metaphorical approach to storytelling. Lines like “I settled on silence/Felt such a tenderness for her then/The black hills were silent in twilight/The desperate beauty of it” create an atmosphere of mystery and yearning.
Jack describes the song as a reflection on the early days of recovery: “When you first attempt to get sober, the experienced hands tell you to avoid romantic relationships, especially with someone you just met in recovery. Sobriety, addiction, love – all the attendant emotions, desires, needs, and dopamine hits that come with it – make additional emotional vulnerability a very bad idea. Among the many minefields you encounter in recovery, this may be among the most problematic to avoid. But desire always is anyway.”
Jack O’Neill’s Badlands is an emotionally charged track that many will relate to. It captures that vulnerable feeling we experience at our lowest moments—when someone enters our life and has the power to either help us heal or break us further.
Find Jack O’Neill on Instagram
