London based singer/songwriter Fox Jackson has been enamoured by music from as young as he can remember. Inspired by the likes of artists such as Earth Wind and Fire, Kool and the Gang and George Benson, his music blends funk-fuelled melodies, sexy vocals and dance-worthy beats, creating a vibrant and distinct sound which is undeniably his own.
His career in the entertainment industry began at just 11 years old, when he landed the lead role as Billy Elliot, in the hit West End musical, “Billy Elliot the Musical”. His time there solidified his desire to be on stage, while also pushing him to dive deeper into the world of music. Following multiple roles on both stage and TV, Fox soon made an easy transition to his first love and true calling, music. Discovering his own sound and style, Fox has since been crafting music, with the intention to make listeners smile.
His debut single “Behind Closed Doors” is an intoxicating blend of funk, soul and pop, featuring wah-wah guitars, a seductive bass line, effortless vocals and Vulfpeck-esque lo-fi drums. The groove infused track is reminiscent of Jamiroquai, with a dash of Daft Punk and a hint of Nile Rodgers. Produced by musician and friend Nick Burns, Fox shares, “We both have a love for Nile Rodgers and Pharrell Williams and what they brought to pop music by using jazz chords and melodies in pop songs. It’s what I have always gravitated to and as I quickly found out, so has Nick.” The mesmerising track cleverly combines the modern sounds of Tom Misch, with the old school production of Quincy Jones.
“Behind Closed Doors” narrates the feeling of being shut out of a relationship. Fox confides, “I suppose that whenever you write music, it always reflects your internal mood and what you are going through at the time.” The song talks about pleading with your significant other to let you in and the desire to be more open with one another. Seeking influence from the soundtrack of the 1980’s movie ‘Soup For One’, which was entirely composed by Nile Rodgers, Fox wanted to create a similar hypnotic effect with his music.
Fox’s heartfelt songwriting is built upon honesty and sincerity, with the musician explaining, “I feel as though my songwriting is a translation exercise. Translating the emotion I’m feeling at the time into words and music.” Hoping that his music will transport listeners to the golden age of funk, soul and disco, Fox is producing music for escapism and delivering something that will make you question which decade we are in.
