Actor, producer, singer-songwriter Jackson Dollinger (Sydney to the Max, Life by Ella) has released his next single entitled One and Only. TMI got to chat with the multi-hyphenate teen star about acting, music and more!
Welcome to TMI Jackson – we are thrilled to talk with you today. Congrats on the release of your new single, One and Only. But before you spill the tea on the new record, can you tell us a bit about yourself?
Thank you! I’m a 15 year old actor, producer, and artist born and raised in Los Angeles. I have been acting since I was 9 years old and played Young Max on the Disney Channel Original Series “Sydney to the Max.” Most recently, I portray Gavin on an Apple TV+ show called “Life By Ella,” and I’m currently working on a new Disney Original Series that is slated to air in Summer, 2023. I love to skateboard, surf, and play basketball and I’m passionate about ocean conservation.
You are a multi-hyphenate talent in the entertainment industry. Out of all the things you do, from acting to music, which is your most favored?
I think I favor acting the most because I love stepping into someone else’s shoes and bringing their story to life.
You’re in the new Apple+ TV Show, “Life by Ella”. Tell us about the show and your character?
I play Gavin, who is a cancer patient in the hospital which Ella is admitted to for her treatment. Ella and Gavin become fast friends and I ultimately teach Ella that you have to make the best out of every day, despite the circumstances. My character gained his wisdom from a fellow patient, Poppy, who passed away shortly before Ella arrived at the hospital. I show her that the hospital can be a “Prison or Palace” and that you are in control of how you experience it.
We LOVE your new single, One and Only and understand you penned this record a while back. What was your inspiration for the record?
Thank you so much! When I wrote “One and Only,” I wanted to make an upbeat pop song about being by yourself and missing a person you felt complete with.
What took you so long to release the record?
There were a few reasons why I sat on this song for so long. First, I was so busy with acting and school and not having time for a song release. I like to sit on my music for a while to make sure it still holds up quality wise in my catalog of unreleased music. I wrote, produced, and recorded “One and Only” in my home studio when I was 14, and it is finally coming out almost a year later.
Can you share some of your favorite lyrics in the song?
Some of my favorite lyrics in the song are “Miss the old me and I feel like you’re where I belong.” Another one of my favorites is, “So I put aside my fears, every goodbye starts with hello.” I really like that lyric because I feel like you can’t be afraid to put yourself out there.
What is your writing process when making new music?
I always start off with the beat, which could be produced by me or another producer. Next, I lay down one long take of “melodic mumbling” over the entire length of the beat and use that to choose the vocal melodies that I want to use for each part of the song. Then, I fill in these mumbles with lyrics, and am left with a song!
Do you have specific “go to” instruments you like to use in your songs?
This song is fairly different for me. Many of my “go to” sounds are not included in the track. Normally, I use trap inspired sounds like 808s etc., but I wanted to make a full-blown pop song without any trap influence.
What do you hope fans feel after hearing the new record?
This song is very lighthearted, and I hope the beat and pop vocal melodies can brighten my supporters’ day and make them feel something, whether that is happiness or the feeling of wanting to be with someone that you miss again.
Can you tell us 5 fun things most people don’t know about you?
- I’m a “straight A”
- I have 2 dogs.
- I love sushi.
- I used to play AAU basketball.
- I participated in the LA County Junior Lifeguards Program for many summers on Catalina Island.
How can people follow you?
People can follow me on my social media here:
Instagram – @jacksondollinger
TikTok – @officialjacksondollinger
YouTube – @jacksondollinger
