First solo for Jack White, the voice of the White Stripes

by Hélène Deconinck

He is probably the most talented and admired guitarist of his generation. He is the punk-blues voice of the White Stripes. He is the genius brain behind new alternative collaborations such as a pop composition of the Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, the Cold Mountain soundtrack or Loretta Lynn’s comeback. Jack White released on April 23^rd is very anticipated debut solo album Blunderbuss titled after a precursor of shotgun name. The brilliant musician shares his unique vision of love through 13 tracks.

Born John Anthony Gillis in 1975 in Detroit, he began drumming early, inspired by ‘world-weary blues of Son House and Blind Willie McTell’[1]. Later in his teenage years, he was fascinated by guitar. He debuted in the Detroit music scene as a drummer for Gobber and the Peas, a local company. Then, he met Meg White with who he formed the White Stripes, with a ‘raw, punkie sound’¹ that was meant to become a revelation for garage rock scene.

At 36 year-old, the hyper-productive indie rocker waited until the conditions were perfect for him to make a solo record. Always with this same obsession, ‘creating something new, producing songs that weren’t in the world before yesterday’[2], White arrived with his wild type crazy rock. Tired of singing ‘unrequited love’¹, this album is bitter. The creative singer psychoanalyses the idea of love itself. Beyond the cliché of ‘I love you’, White sings love deceptions and the consecutive violent feelings in Love interruption. With Sixteen Saltines, he mentioned how hurtful a unilateral love can be. White even settles some scores with women in Hypocritical kiss song. With I’m shaking, he celebrated love’s euphoria.

In term of creative process, this genius likes spontaneity. He claimed that to record that opus he only required ‘a pedal steel player, a fiddle player, a drummer…start playing and making up a song just grabbing the microphone and starting singing’¹. According to the star, it is the best way to ‘record fresh sound without ending up mimicking the past’². Trying not to plan too far ahead, White is therefore an honest artist, loyal to his music and his fans, more interesting by musical development than mercantile songs. After winning 3 consecutives Grammy Awards and issuing several platinum-certified albums’¹ with the White Stripes, White first solo outing is more bluesy and intimate.

Touring with his male and female bands, Jack White date May 15^th at Nashville is already sold out. Next date available, May 21^st at Roseland ballroom, New York. Hurry up to buy your ticket, because that’s the kind of show you better enjoy live!

Official webpage http://jackwhiteiii.com/

Official Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/jackwhite

Official YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/jackwhite