Words by Sophie Revell
Image courtesy of Blatantly Blunt

The first thing I noticed about Jack Suddaby, or Sudders as heÔÇÖs known in the music world, is that heÔÇÖs clearly a strongly creative person. HeÔÇÖs filmed music videos for some UK hip hop greats like Rag N Bone Man and Fliptrix, produces his own music videos and has a podcast series called ÔÇ£Beautiful StrangersÔÇØon Apple Podcasts. SuddersÔÇÖ debut EP ÔÇ£A Little Bit of MeÔÇØ is entirely self-produced and follows acclaimed single ÔÇ£BreatheÔÇØ, which received support from BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing. Recently, I was lucky enough to chat to Sudders about his album, and gained insight to what lies behind what feels like a deeply personal album.┬á┬á

ÔÇ£I canÔÇÖt talk about selling drugs or anything like that. IÔÇÖm not that, I donÔÇÖt do thatÔÇØ Jack says when I ask what it was like putting out such vulnerable lyrics, ÔÇ£So I just thought IÔÇÖd have to do something vulnerable. My favourite part of music is when theyÔÇÖre vulnerable.ÔÇØ He references the 5th track in the album, Father in the Mist, which talks about his parents divorcing and coming back together. ÔÇ£That was one I actually wasnÔÇÖt going to release. I sent it to my friends, that was the only one I had to send to my family, actually, before I released it and asked them if it was okay. So I got their blessing.ÔÇØ Many of the tracks on the album are anecdotal and feature snippets of his life and past experiences that culminate in an atmosphere that feels more like listening to a friend talk about their life more than a produced music album. We agreed on how many albums are plagued with what I called ÔÇ£filler songsÔÇØ which only exist in the tracklist to make it longer. This concept doesnÔÇÖt apply to ÔÇ£A Little Bit of MeÔÇØ – there isnÔÇÖt a song where I thought ÔÇ£thatÔÇÖs there just to make up numbersÔÇØ, there is passion in every song. Jack credits some of this to being completely self-produced. ÔÇ£I think itÔÇÖs definitely allowed me to be more creative. I only made it with myself. No one else was in the studio, I tweaked all the songs and all the beats. I heard in an interview with Slack when he makes a song, heÔÇÖll just get everyone out of the studio for about six hours. HeÔÇÖll just crack on and then by the end of it heÔÇÖll have a song, and thatÔÇÖs basically how I like to work. And I think, because IÔÇÖve been able to just make the beat or IÔÇÖve not been worried, not had a bunch of mates in the background being like ÔÇÿthatÔÇÖs not coolÔÇÖ, or feeling that pressure not to talk about stuff because itÔÇÖs vulnerable. It was just me in my room so no oneÔÇÖs hearing it at the time.ÔÇØ

I read in Worldplay magazine that without lockdown, the EP might not have been made. Jack said, ÔÇ£I think thereÔÇÖs two types of writers. I think thereÔÇÖs a lot of people that write from experiences that they have, and a lot of those experiences come from normal world stuff. And so when youÔÇÖre being trapped in your bedroom, or in your home, people wonÔÇÖt get inspiration.ÔÇØ The other type of musicians draws inspiration from introspection – like Sudders. ÔÇ£I talk about things that happened in my past, things that are happening, how I feel about something. I guess itÔÇÖs similar, but I can look back there more. And so IÔÇÖve had that chance [in lockdown] to be able to get all that out. There must be so many artists that are just waiting. You donÔÇÖt want to release an album in the middle of lockdown, and then eight months later, you go to play the album and itÔÇÖs old.ÔÇØ He then announced, I mean, IÔÇÖve got another album ready!ÔÇØ SuddersÔÇÖ creative flame has not been snuffed by lockdown, so I wanted to know what his advice for creatives during covid times. ÔÇ£Creatives are so different. Just try and find time to do something that you really enjoy, find a place for doing it. The truth is, if you just keep doing it, you will get better. ItÔÇÖs proven. No- one starts amazingÔÇØ

After exhausting the obligatory ÔÇ£covid chatÔÇØ we looked forward to what is next for Sudders, following the success of ÔÇ£A Little Bit of MeÔÇØ. After the hint earlier on that another album was well on its way, I was also glad to hear that Sudders will be gigging very soon – on April 22nd as support for Funeral Dreams. This will be the first time that Jack performs live as Sudders. ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm thinking about [performing live] all the time. Every single time I make a song, I will just practice doing the song in my bedroom and turn it up and just see how it feels. I have a rug on the floor, thatÔÇÖs the stage that I stand on. I properly go inÔÇØ  In terms of new music, Sudders will collaborate with CW Jones, has his first single of the year called ÔÇ£LonesomeÔÇØ and, excitingly, a War of the Worlds -esque audiobook featuring original songs which is being co-written with Kate Ramsey. If that doesnÔÇÖt scream creativity, I donÔÇÖt know what does.

If lockdown has sucked you dry of emotion, go and stream ÔÇ£A Little Bit of MeÔÇØ and bathe in the vulnerability, honesty and hard hitting instrumentals throughout.