JACK WATKINS
WONDERLAND

The debut album

From his ultimate happy place at the piano, singer-songwriter-producer Jack Watkins whisks you away on a colourful musical journey through love, loss and euphoria.

Person in a pink suit floating into a surreal pastel sky, lifted by a giant cluster of colourful balloons — Wonderland album artwork by Jack Watkins

The album

Out now

About The Album

The album tells a life story, capturing key scenes through Jack’s dialogue with his piano. Across 16 powerful tracks, Jack builds an immersive world, using music to make sense of joyful, painful, messy and colourful experiences.

Wonderland, the euphoric technicolour playground of the title track, is the setting for songs that unpick the complexities of life; the frustration of infinite possibilities, the dopamine-punch of attraction, the fragility of loneliness and loss, and transformation through imagination and artistry. By the end of the album, the message is clear: music is Jack’s language of life, and while the music is still playing, life can always be wonderful.

Rich with beautiful melodies and poignant lyrics, Jack’s fusion of acoustic instruments, electronic synths and soulful vocals has produced an album of sophisticated, catchy pop music with piano at its heart. The songs feel expressive and evocative; harmony stacks soothe, groove-led beats thrill, a crying acoustic guitar swells with emotion, and rousing string arrangements produce back-of-the-neck tingles.

Wonderland features eight songs written in collaboration with lyricist Clare Yarwood-White, and guitar contributions on six tracks from Martin Abbott. Lost & Found, a heart-felt and vulnerable duet, was written and performed with singer-songwriter Lilian.

Following a celebrated and sold-out EP launch at The Grand in Clitheroe last year, Jack returned to perform Wonderland: Live in Concert on 21 September 2024.

Wonderland is out now on all major streaming services, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.

Credits

Musicians

Jack Watkins — lead vocals (all tracks), piano (all tracks), synths (all tracks), acoustic guitar (2, 4, 6, 7, 12), whistles (2), electric guitar (4, 8, 12), string arrangement (3, 11, 12, 15–16)

Lilian — lead vocals (track 12)

Martin Abbott — acoustic guitar (tracks 3, 5, 7, 13, 15), electric guitar (3, 5, 7–8, 13, 15)

Clare Yarwood-White — additional vocals (track 3)

The Wonderbirds — additional ambience (track 1, 2)

Technical

Jack Watkins — recording (all tracks), programming (all tracks), engineering (all tracks), mixing (all tracks), mastering (tracks 1–4, 6, 8–9, 12–16)

Mark Stagg — engineering assistance (all tracks)

Stuart Hawkes — mastering (tracks 5, 7, 10–11)

Judith Abbott — studio assistance (tracks 3, 5, 7–8, 13, 15)

Production

Jack Watkins — production (all tracks)

Studios

Stargazer Studios
Stonecliffe Studios
Metropolis Studios

Creative

Jack Watkins — creative direction, design, styling, photography, retouching

Clare Yarwood-White — creative partner, biographer, wordsmith, styling assistant

Copyright

Copyright © 2024 · Stargazer Music · All rights reserved

℗ 2024 Stargazer Music

Acknowledgements

“Releasing a debut album is a huge milestone for me as a musician, and as an artist. I couldn’t have done it without an abundance of magical people who have guided, supported, mentored and inspired me along the way.”

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