Jackson Sadinsky On the Making Of “Wonder”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Wonder" and the story it tells?
“Wonder” is a kind-of coming of age story. I moved to New York in 2021 with almost no connections in the city. I stayed in a (now-illegal) 27-person air-bnb in Jefferson Heights, lived off a few $2 tacos a day, and was chasing a dream many were calling crazy. In spite of all of this, I had to keep my head up to the clouds and dream for something. “Wonder” is that story - where you don’t know where the future will lead, but you have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going. I think it’s a place everyone finds themselves in at some point. Months into living here, I still hadn’t made the connections I have now. That’s the low point - wandering under dark bridges, getting lost and having to find a way to keep going. Finding the way to keep dreaming despite it all and push forward, the strength to wonder.
Can you talk about the recording and production process for this song?
I make all of my songs at my home studio! I’m fortunate enough to have been building my home studio out since 2015, but I literally started with a Focusrite 2i2 second generation and an AT-2020; to the young artist reading this, you have what you need. Especially nowadays with apps like BandLab - send a producer your acapella!
But, this specific song was tracked at my house in a songwriting session for O’brien (Linktr.ee)where he invited over his friend, Mace Coronel (that 90’s show.) Mace laid down a guitar part, and I cooked up a little drum beat and bassline to it, and Luke/O’brien passed on it! I knew it was something unlike what I had made prior, and I really liked the direction it took - it felt like a continuation of my song “A Walk…” sonically; so I got the blessing from both of them and began writing to it. Overlaid some guitar leads atop Mace’s, and recorded vocals, taking a poem I had written when I first moved up to the city and adapting it slightly. I tend to sit on my songs for a while and see how they resonate with me over time. Probably nine months after its creation, and on mix version 11, I showed it to my friend Ben/Stare Away, a newer post-punk act. He helped me out by bringing the drums to life, and with a little editing, his help made the final version of wonder materialize. I’m really grateful for all the support and help I’ve had on this track - it’s something I would’ve dreamed of as a kid years ago working on music alone at my Dad’s house.
How do you feel "Wonder" represents your artistic identity?
I think “Wonder” speaks to my artistic identity well. The lyrics are rooted in a very real, tangible place. There’s a mention to not only Gwen Stefani, but thouxanbanfauni as well - a dichotomy that I think speaks a lot to the musicality of the newer generation. The instrumental was produced by myself, with some help from Mace & Stare Away, and I think it ultimately captures the genre-flowing sound I try to carry across my projects. It’s rooted in alternative rock and hip-hop, but there are electronic elements to find in there as well.
Can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in music?
I was always drawn to music. I was 3 years old asking my sisters to replay Linkin Park’s Meteora, the strings on Breaking the Habit really spoke to me. By 2013, I was tinkering in FL Studio, trying to become the next Monstercat signee. Around that time, I started doing spoken word poetry to help alleviate some stress and make sense of the world around me. A few years later, I found a bass guitar in a closet at my school, and began incorporating that - trying to make something that was truer to my rock upbringing. Around this time, I quit producing EDM under aliases, and began using Jackson Sadinsky as my artist name. My second release was a Lil Peep cover, Star Shopping. I had just graduated high school, and was feeling really lost. The song really helped me, and I had been listening to Peep for some time, so I figured I’d record a cover of it with the cool bassline I had found. 6 years later that cover sits at 2.7 million on Spotify, and I’m very grateful for the doors it’s opened and opportunities it’s given me - namely, the confidence to continue singing, something I’d struggled with for years prior. After moving from North Carolina to New York in 2021 following the success of Star Shopping, I’ve released more than 3 albums, 40 singles, and toured the United States playing more than 75 shows.
What do you find most rewarding about co-writing with others?
When I started, I really didn’t have anyone to work with. It can be really tough trying to get a grasp on what ideas are working (and which ones aren’t) when you don’t have anyone to bounce ideas off of! Most of my music is self-produced, so having the opportunity to have someone else help, or provide an idea to cook off of is really inspiring. In the case of “Wonder,” I was fortunate enough to have Mace Coronel provide the main rhythm guitar that runs throughout the song. I also had Stare Away’s assistance with bringing the drum groove to life. It really helps having someone to springboard ideas off of and bring new ideas to the table that otherwise wouldn’t be present.
