Meet Marshall Jacklin

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Marshall Jacklin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Marshall, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I keep my creativity alive by constantly learning and growing. One quote that resonates with me is, ‘If you want to develop your art, develop yourself.’ I make it a point to put myself in new situations—whether it’s reading different books, discovering new music, or meeting new people. These experiences help me see my life from fresh perspectives, which in turn fuels my creativity and inspires me to share my work.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

What is it to remain sensitive in an increasingly callous world?

Toronto-based alternative artist Marshall Jacklin pries this question open with every note that leaves his mouth. The classically trained pianist has developed an individual sound that is equal parts past, present and future. Ravel, Monk, Simone, Shawn Everett, DangerMouse, Sparklehorse; they all reside in one sonic world.

A complete musician, Jacklin writes, produces, performs, and records all his material. Honouring his wide cultural upbringing, a gift from the neighbourhood of Rexdale where he grew up, this is singer-songwriter music with a textured, shifting backdrop. Elements of jazz, hip hop, country and indie rock glide together, building a layered musical bed for a lyrical storytelling of the mundane, often ignored moments where true and sustainable growth actually happens.

Following two live recordings in the summer of 2023, Jacklin released his first official single on November 23rd, 2023. A complete reworking of the emo classic Came Out Swinging by The Wonder Years, the song was featured on blogs Surviving The Golden Age and Tinnitist, and received airplay on numerous Canadian college radio stations. His second single Movement was released this past February, and received placements from Canadian Beats, Obscure Sound and Exclaim’s “The Eh List”.

During his formative years Jacklin performed alongside rising Canadian acts Aysanabee, Ten Kills The Pack and Jeremie Albino. He has opened for Ontario indie legends Dizzy and Chastity as a member of the band Native Other.

If you feel a wish to remember the immense beauty of everyday living, this music is for you.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Great question! I believe that faith, communication, and having a broad worldview have all played a significant role in my journey. Each of these has taught me the importance of humility—I don’t have all the answers, nor do I fully understand the forces shaping my life. My focus is on the work I feel called to do, rather than worrying about the outcomes. By staying true to who I am, I trust that I can be of use to the world and feel encouraged to keep moving forward on my path.”

What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?

Over the past 12 months, I’ve made it a point to attend events where I don’t know a single person and challenge myself to strike up conversations with strangers. This is absolutely terrifying for me! But through this process, I’ve gained more confidence in who I am. I’m learning to accept that I won’t connect with everyone, but when I do meet someone like-minded, the personal growth feels completely worth it.

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