In this episode of First Spin, Hayden talks with Jack Sanders, a Springfield, Missouri–based singer-songwriter whose heartfelt country-Americana sound blends guitar-driven roots with lyrical storytelling. Jack shares how he didn’t even pick up a guitar until age 19, but quickly became obsessed—practicing for six hours a day and teaching himself via YouTube. Over time, he developed both his guitar chops and his singing voice, drawing early inspiration from Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” and John Mayer’s Where the Light Is album, before fusing those influences with the raw honesty of Tyler Childers.

Jack opens up about his complicated relationship with social media and record labels, recalling viral TikToks, offers that went nowhere, and why he’s wary of the pressure to be “a brand” instead of simply a musician. Instead, he’s redefining success for himself: writing songs like Icy Cold and Evelyn, playing locally, and prioritizing joy in making music over chasing streams. He also shares how storytelling through characters (like in his song Lydia) gives him creative freedom while keeping a healthy boundary between art and personal life.

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Thanks for listening—see you next week.