Jack Tiernan: "Insecure"
“I would have always been sports, sports, sports.” Jack Tiernan never expected to find himself opening up through the medium of music. And yet, spurred on by a growing desire to be honest with himself during the first lockdown of 2020, that’s exactly what began to happen to the singer-songwriter.
At 18 years old, and hailing from the small town of Bealnamulla, Athlone, Tiernan has been on a journey that has taken him from pretending to be more interested in sports than anything like music, in order to blend in at school – to releasing three successful singles on Spotify, achieving hundreds of thousands of streams on TikTok, and writing a song for Pieta House’s 2020 fundraising effort. “I was always ‘one of the lads’; But I knew really, I wasn’t being myself,” Tiernan says.
His newest song sees him achieve remarkable honesty. The young Irish Midlander has an ability to express himself compellingly. “Insecure” opens immediately and brightly, as Tiernan cuts straight to heart-breaking, pressing questions about the new object of his beloved’s affection. He sings in the chorus, with a note of growing acceptance, “He’s everything you’ve ever wanted, everything you’ve dreamed of, I’m a little insecure.”
‘Insecure’ is a blend of moving melodies, paired with searing delivery and sensitive and intelligent production. Tiernan’s vocals are confident and well-formed, and a classic take on contemporary pop - reminiscent of both Frank Ocean and Dermot Kennedy at once. Electric guitars are evocative of summer and emotions running high, and run alongside a tastefully restrained beat, which varies intelligently. This gives plenty of room for Tiernan to tell a story, using all the power his voice offers.
‘Insecure’ was recorded and mixed in Lakeland Studios, by Michael O’Dowd, with mastering by Michael Heffernan (Dermot Kennedy, The Script, Gavin James).
Jack Tiernan is an eighteen-year-old singer-songwriter from Bealnamulla, Co. Athlone, Ireland. His first single, ‘It’s Ok’ was written and released to raise awareness and funds for mental health for Pieta House, to great success. He followed this up with ‘Broke By Love’ and ‘Meant to Cross’, the latter of which was No. 1 on the iTunes Irish Singer/Songwriter chart the week of its release. He has covered such outlets as the Athlone Advertiser, and the Westmeath Independent, and is heavily supported by local radio (Athlone Community Radio). His cover of Alexander 23’s ‘IDK You Yet’ has also achieved over 250,000 streams on TikTok. Tiernan thanks his father for supporting him on his path so far. “The success, and his support honestly, helped me to take things more seriously. Whenever I’ve needed to go to something, no matter how far, my dad would say, ‘Alright. I’ll give you a lift.’” It’s fitting that the young artist, whose music all bears a mark of healthy humility, should be so disarming humble in thanking those who have helped him come as far as he has so far. “Insecure” marks his fourth single, ahead of his upcoming debut EP, which is slated for a late 2021 release.
Tiernan’s music draws influence from Dermot Kennedy and Clinton Kane, and has been lauded for creating “positive music” with “raw music singer/songwriting talent in abundance” (Athlone Advertiser).
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