Show Notes
About the Guest(s)
Noah Jack is a talented singer-songwriter hailing from Park Ridge, Illinois. Diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Noah’s unique journey in music began when he could hum at age four before he could speak. Currently studying music at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, Noah has recently released his heartfelt single, “Neighborhood,” which is a tribute to his supportive hometown community. His upcoming EP, “All in the Family,” is set to release in January, with each track dedicated to a member of his family.
Episode Summary
In this episode of The Think Inclusive Podcast, host Tim Villegas interviews Noah Jack, an inspiring musician on the autism spectrum. Noah shares the journey behind his new single “Neighborhood” and his passion for music that began at a very young age. He provides listeners with a glimpse into his life in Park Ridge, Illinois, and his current endeavors at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. The interview explores the deep support from Noah’s community and family, which has been crucial in his development and success as a musician.
Noah discusses the process of creating “Neighborhood,” a reflective piece that serves as his thank you letter to his supportive community. He highlights the technical aspects of recording the song and the emotional journey tied to its production. Noah also shares his experiences of growing up with autism spectrum disorder, the acceptance he found in his community, and his hopes for using music as a medium to foster understanding and inclusion. The conversation concludes with Noah’s aspirations for his career and his desire to give back through charitable initiatives centered around music therapy.
Read the transcript (auto-generated and edited with help from AI for readability)
Noah Jack:
Hey guys, this is Noah Jack and you’re listening to the Think Inclusive Podcast.
Tim Villegas:
Recording from my office in beautiful Marietta, Georgia, you are listening to the Think Inclusive Podcast, Episode 19. Today we have Noah Jack, a musician on the autism spectrum. We talked about the release of his new single “Neighborhood” from his upcoming EP The Family. After the podcast, please visit patreon.com/inclusivepodcast where you can support our goal to bring you in-depth interviews with inclusive education and advocacy thought leaders. Also, you can help other people find us by giving us a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to the Think Inclusive Podcast. So without further ado, here is the interview.
Tim Villegas:
All right. I’d like to welcome Noah Jack to the Think Inclusive Podcast. Noah is a singer-songwriter from Park Ridge, Illinois, who is studying music at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. His new single “Neighborhood” tells the story of Noah’s hometown, calling it “a letter to my friends and family who were there for me from start to finish.” Being diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, Noah wasn’t able to talk until he was five years old but recalls being able to hum at age four, stating, “I always tell people that I learned how to sing before I was able to talk.” He plans to release his new EP titled All in the Family in January, just in time for his birthday. Each track will be dedicated to a member of his family. So thanks for being on the podcast, Noah.
Noah Jack:
Hey, it’s very nice to be here. Thank you so much for having me.
Tim Villegas:
Of course. I’ve listened to your single and we’re going to go ahead and play it in a little bit here. But I wanted to give you an opportunity—since this is why you’re on—to tell us what the message is behind the single “Neighborhood.” Then we can talk a little more about how you became a musician and your life in general. So what’s the message behind “Neighborhood”?
Noah Jack:
The message? Basically, it’s a letter to my family and my friends back home in Park Ridge, Illinois. I really had a lot of people who I was very thankful for in my life, especially my friends. So when I was leaving to go to college, I was very homesick, and one thing I wanted to do was write. So I wrote a lot for my family and my friends, and then “Neighborhood” became a thing. I was so happy to record it and release it to my friends and family. So overall, when it finished, I was really happy.
Tim Villegas:
Tell me something about the recording. I’m also a musician, so I’m very interested in production and how that all came about. Was “Neighborhood” something you were sitting on as a song and then decided to record, or did you go out and record it specifically with people you were already working with?
Noah Jack:
I actually thought of recording this quite a while back. I’ve had this song for maybe two and a half years, and I really didn’t think it was anything that good. But my friend wanted to do a demo of a song—it was in a different key, everything was different about it—and overall I was like, “Oh, this can actually be a really good song.” So about three days after my 21st birthday, my family was in town and I decided, “Hey, why not just go out and record this?” So I had my producer friend track it for me, and it wasn’t really good at first. But we thought, “Let’s see if it can get a lot better.” Over the course of a couple of months, we tracked it. It took about four months to record and master everything. I started in July and then we were doing the campaigning.
And overall, I just love the song. It feels much more different than everything I’ve written before. It has that nostalgic kind of feel. Usually, I write more about the future, but with this one, I wrote more about the past. I recorded a lot of it in Nashville—some of it at Belmont, some at RCA Studios on Music Row. I had a lot of people on that track, especially my best friends here in Nashville who really helped me along with it. So I’m very thankful for the single and the success of it right now. It’s been really amazing.
Tim Villegas:
Yeah, I noticed you were talking recently on your Facebook page about how many listens you were getting on Spotify. That’s quite something. About how many listens are you at right now?
Noah Jack:
Overall, I think I’m at 23,000. I’m hoping to get to the 25,000 mark. I literally did not think I’d even get 15,000, which is incredible. I told my mom I’d be shocked if I got like a thousand. So when I got back and saw that there were 23,000, I was so shocked and just beyond thankful for the people who are listening and everything with the song.
Tim Villegas:
Yeah, it’s fantastic. I know our listeners haven’t heard the song yet—we will hear it in a little bit—but I really liked the laid-back feel. I know musicians hate to be compared to others, so if you don’t like this comparison, I apologize, but it had a very Jack Johnson-y, Jason Mraz type of feel. It’s very nice. I really liked that kind of ethereal guitar—the little lead notes. They were really nice. So just as far as appreciating the music, I really enjoyed the track. Were the people you played with students from Belmont, or musicians you connected with in Nashville apart from Belmont?
Noah Jack:
I met all of them through Belmont. They’re all my best friends in the world. I’m very thankful to have them. I asked them to be a part of the track and they said, “Of course.” We were doing a bunch of shows—my friends and I—we were doing the small band thing, shows in Memphis and a little bit in Nashville. We were recording a bunch of songs at the time, and that’s when I said, “Hey, we should record ‘Neighborhood.’” They wanted to be part of it, and it just turned into a really amazing project.
Tim Villegas:
So when you decided to record “Neighborhood,” was that when you decided to go forward with the album, or did you already have the idea of the album before the single?
Noah Jack:
I’ve had the concept of the EP for quite a while now. “Neighborhood” was like a thank-you letter to my parents and friends, but I have a lot of other songs that are generally toward specific people—especially my brothers. I have one for my mom and my dad. I’m trying to write one for my dogs—just anything really—because I want it to be more of a concept EP than just a collection of songs. Having it be a story would be much more interesting to the audience than just, “Here’s a song, here’s another song.” I want them to be engaged throughout the whole 15 to 20 minutes.
Tim Villegas:
Are you currently playing these songs when you perform at venues, or are you waiting until the EP comes out?
Noah Jack:
Yes, I’ve been doing a lot of writers’ rounds in Nashville so far, and I have one coming up in a couple of weeks on Music Row. I’ve been sampling them out. A lot of them have been getting good responses and messages. I’m testing to see if it’s a good single or if I should just put it on the EP. Overall, people have been very happy with the songs. They’re always like, “Oh, what does this mean? What does that mean?” They want to hear it again. That’s the best part.
Tim Villegas:
Yeah, absolutely. Okay, well let’s get to it. I’m going to go ahead and play “Neighborhood” by Noah Jack. It’s available now on SoundCloud and Spotify. Is there another place where people can get the single?
Noah Jack:
You can also get it on Apple Music, Spotify, SoundCloud. I think you can get it on Google Play right now, maybe YouTube, Tidal—every streaming service. It’s there.
Tim Villegas:
Okay. So here is “Neighborhood.”
[Noah Jack’s Song Plays]
Tim Villegas:
All right. That was “Neighborhood” by Noah Jack. Fantastic track. I’m really excited—this is my first interview with a musician on the podcast, so this is kind of a special treat for me because I get to ask different kinds of questions. As a person diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, I wanted to know about your unique experience growing up in Park Ridge. You say the single is really a thank-you letter to your friends and family. How did they support you growing up as someone on the spectrum?
Noah Jack:
Of course. I’m from Park Ridge, Illinois, which is a very small town in Chicago. It’s more of a suburb. The thing about my hometown is everyone is a community. I’m home with my four older brothers, and they were very well known in Park Ridge, so everyone knew about my spectrum disorder. I had a lot of support from people outside of the community and in Park Ridge. When I got the chance to share my song with people, I was so happy to just say, “Thank you so much for being a part of my life.” That’s pretty much what I wanted to do.
Oh, and being in high school, everyone knew about my diagnosis. They were like, “You’re a musician,” which was perfectly fine with me. I told them all the time about my diagnosis, and when I would be doing things in the community, they were very understanding. So I was just in a great community in Park Ridge. Overall, I didn’t have many problems telling people that I had a diagnosis.
Tim Villegas:
Right. So it sounds like you were able to talk about being on the spectrum with your friends, neighbors, and community. That wasn’t something out of the ordinary. It was just something that happened and was perfectly fine and acceptable. You were accepted in your school and with the people around you. Is that correct? You felt that acceptance and inclusion where you lived and went to school?
Noah Jack:
Yeah, of course. I felt at home. If I were to tell someone that I had a diagnosis, they’d be like, “Oh, that’s very strange.” I did get that a lot, especially in high school. They’d say, “Oh, that’s really strange that you have a diagnosis,” and I’d say, “Of course, this is who I am.” And they were very understanding of it.
Tim Villegas:
Do you feel like there are any misconceptions or attitudes people have toward autism spectrum disorder?
Noah Jack:
I think a lot of people aren’t aware, and I think there should be more acceptance. We hear about kids being bullied for having autism spectrum disorder, which is absurd. That’s one thing I’ve been trying to do with my music—tell people that it’s okay to have autism spectrum disorder. I want people to be part of this message: I’m who I am, and nothing’s going to change. I just have a disability.
For someone who is lower on the spectrum, it’s much harder. People need to be aware. I remember when I was younger, kids would get bullied for having autism, and it always made me upset. I’m higher on the spectrum, so I got less of that, but someone who’s lower and doesn’t understand the difference would just be bullied and harassed. That was very tough for me.
Tim Villegas:
You said you were able to sing before you were able to talk. Do you have memories of not being able to communicate through words? How was that experience?
Noah Jack:
I had a wristband with my name and a bunch of other information that I don’t remember now. My mom would take care of me and always hold my head to make sure I was okay. I gradually got better. I remember when I was four, I’d go on car rides to speech therapy, and my mom would always play the same song on the radio. I would hum. The biggest story I remember is the song “Picture” by Kid Rock and Sheryl Crow. My mom would be Sheryl Crow, and I’d be Kid Rock. In the beginning, I’d just hum the song. But as the years went by and I got better—especially when I was five—I learned a lot about talking and interacting with people. I started doing wrestling and football. We’d go to speech therapy, and I’d start singing the lyrics. My mom would sing the Sheryl Crow part, and I’d be Kid Rock. That’s where I learned to love singing.
Tim Villegas:
That’s a beautiful story. I love that. It’s amazing how music can be such a powerful tool for communication, especially when words aren’t available. It’s clear that music has been a huge part of your life from the very beginning.
Noah Jack:
Yeah, it really has. I always say that music saved my life. It gave me a voice when I didn’t have one. It helped me connect with people and express myself in ways I couldn’t before. It’s been everything to me.
Tim Villegas:
That’s incredibly powerful. So what’s next for you? You’ve got the EP coming out in January. Are you planning any shows or tours to promote it?
Noah Jack:
I’m hoping to do a small tour around Nashville and maybe some shows back home in Park Ridge. I want to share these songs with the people who inspired them. I’m also working on some new music, so hopefully there will be more releases in the future. I just want to keep writing and performing and connecting with people through my music.
Tim Villegas:
That sounds fantastic. I’m really looking forward to hearing the rest of the EP. Thank you so much for being on the podcast, Noah. It’s been a real pleasure talking with you and learning more about your journey.
Noah Jack:
Thank you so much for having me. It’s been great to share my story, and I really appreciate the opportunity.
Tim Villegas:
Absolutely. And to our listeners, make sure to check out Noah Jack’s single “Neighborhood” on all streaming platforms and keep an eye out for his upcoming EP All in the Family.
Tim Villegas:
So last question before I let you go. We’ve talked about “Neighborhood,” and I know that All in the Family is coming out on your birthday in January of 2018. What is your hope for your career as a musician? Because I see that you’re studying music at Belmont. Looking forward, is this something that you want to be doing full-time—as Noah Jack the musician, performing and recording songs—or is there something else you have in mind?
Noah Jack:
My main goal is to be a musician. I want to be touring wherever I can. But I also want to be a person of charity, and that’s a big part of my mission. I’m very thankful for everything I’ve gotten in my life, and it’s all because of amazing people like my family, doctors, and others.
I remember when I was a kid, I was in this afterschool program, and one thing that was very strange about it was that we never got to do anything music-related. So hopefully, when my career starts to take off, I can start a charity program where we focus on music therapy—working with kids on the spectrum or with Down syndrome, or anything related to mental awareness. I want them to be around music.
I know the Zac Brown Band does a summer camp for kids with special needs, and it’s incredible. But I want to take it a step further and do afterschool programs where kids who love music can connect. I know there are different theater programs that do that, but I want to create something music-specific.
So one of my big goals with being a musician is having people be aware that I’m a musician who is autistic—but I’m also Noah Jack. And I’m going to help the people who have helped me.
Tim Villegas:
Awesome. Noah Jack is promoting his new single “Neighborhood,” which is a thank-you letter to his community of Park Ridge, Illinois. Thank you for being on the Think Inclusive Podcast.
Noah Jack:
Thank you so much for having me.
Tim Villegas:
That is our show. We would like to thank musician Noah Jack. Make sure to check out his music and follow him on Facebook, SoundCloud, and Instagram. Follow Think Inclusive on the web and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram @think_inclusive.
Today’s show was produced by myself, talking into USB headphones, a Zoom H1 Handy Recorder, MacBook Pro, GarageBand, and a Skype account. You can also subscribe to the podcast via Apple Podcasts, Google Play, Stitcher, or Podomatic—the largest community of independent podcasters on the planet.
From Marietta, Georgia, please join us again on the podcast. Thanks for your time and attention.
Key Takeaways
- Musical Beginnings: Noah could hum tunes at age four before he could speak, demonstrating an early connection to music.
- Community Support: The community of Park Ridge played a significant role in Noah’s development, providing support and acceptance throughout his life.
- Recording “Neighborhood”: The song evolved over two and a half years and involved collaboration with friends and fellow students at Belmont University.
- Autism Awareness: Noah emphasizes the importance of acceptance and understanding towards individuals on the autism spectrum.
- Future Aspirations: Noah aspires to blend his musical career with charitable efforts, particularly focusing on music therapy for individuals with disabilities.
Resources
Stream Noah’s single “Neighborhood”