Jackson August and Laura Elliott: “Famous” With the Help of Some Friends
Fresh off the release of their song “Famous,” Jackson August and Laura Elliott discuss friendship, collaboration and inspiration ahead of their pop-up show at Rogue Vintage
PHOTOS BY EMMA EHRHARD
Jackson August's boy-next-door attitude shakes up an alt-pop sound from a vulnerable yet carefree perspective. Laura Elliott’s tender songwriting shines in indie-pop tracks best savored while drowning in nostalgia under a starry nighttime sky. Despite flourishing in their respective lanes, the two get a kick out of a crossover.
They both lead the next generation of New York-based artists disrupting the constraints of mainstream music. They’ve both written a song called “T-Shirt,” August joined Elliott on tour earlier this year. And, oh yeah, they’re also best friends.
This year, the pair has relished in independent successes. August released his second EP, Twenty3, that speaks straight from the headspace of a sporadic 20-something. The title track opens with, “I turned 23 today / It’s been a real long year.” Refusing to shy away from the truth in lyrics seamlessly switching from crisp electric to acoustic guitar riffs, August delivers dance-worthy anthems that toast to the uncertainties of youthful relationships and unpredictable situations.
Elliott spent the year touring her latest EP, Carsick, that grieves the end of a relationship in real time. Twangy guitar and atmospheric sounds create a dreamscape on songs like “Need,” which encapsulate the existential debate of holding onto a subsiding connection. This year, Elliott devoted herself to cementing her own style, rather than aiming to embody the artists she admires. Her casual rawness is accompanied with glimmering, yet powerful vocals on songs that are as screamable as they are tear-jerking.
As a testament to their newfound triumphs, the pair of friends released the collaborative track, “Famous.” The song that wishes, “I hope you find your way” is infectiously catchy and begs for heads to bop along. Making light of the celebrity lifestyle, it’s a pop-rock pleaser that anyone can get behind. Most importantly, it reminds us that music is supposed to be fun.
Ahead of their double-headliner pop-up show at Rogue Vintage, August and Elliott invited Pleaser into their friendship during a conversation about fame, collaboration and artistic instinct.
PLEASER: What’s the origin story of this friendship?
Jackson August: Do you [Laura] want to take this one? It was funny because she said it on tour at the last show.
Laura Elliott: As a joke, but it’s true. I’m like, “This is Jackson August on guitar, my boyfriends’ best friend.”
JA: Me and her boyfriend grew up together. But at this point me and Laura have developed our own relationship which I’m very, very proud of.
LE: We were friends, and then you were my boyfriends’ best friend, and then we found our way back to being our own friends.
And your friendship shines through beautifully with your new song together, “Famous.” For you guys, what would be the tell that you’ve made it as famous?
JA: Bro, if Timothee Chalamet saw me on the street and was like, “Yo, Jackson August,” I’d be like, “Ok I’m famous, I did that.”
LE: I don’t even want to say this because it’s so cringe, but if I were to blow up on social media — which is sad that’s where we’re at nowadays — and people start doing a dance to my song.
JA: Wait, if I got an Erewhon smoothie, I’d be like, “Mom I made it.”
LE: That’s a good one. Oh, maybe a clothing collaboration.
Speaking of collaborations, this is the first song you’ve put out together. Why was now the right time?
JA: Well, I haven’t been doing my solo project for that long, it’s been a little over a year. Me and Laura have been friends for longer than that. I had this song, I knew it was going to be on the project. I think the lyrics shine on this one and I’m sometimes so precious with my music, but I let this just feel fun and I said, “Laura hop on this.” It was a mad fun session. We did it in a couple of hours.
Do you have plans for future collaborations?
LE: Hm, you know my dad would love it though.
JA: Shout out Jeff.
LE: He’s like, “You guys both just give such goofy energy together I feel like it works.” Laura Elliott’s father would love that.
JA: I think for now we’re going to continue being around each other, it drips into the music also.
When you collaborate with each other or even with other artists, what’s the secret to finding harmony within different sounds and perspectives?
LE: I honestly have a really hard time with collaboration, because I get really nervous and start to not trust my own ideas. But Jackson was one of the first people I was able to write like that with. He was like, “Laura, talk your shit.” And that’s all I needed to hear. I just felt comfortable and I was excited to do something different. I don’t know how it worked or why it worked but I’m glad that it did.
JA: It was crazy, she wrote the verse in maybe 10 minutes.
On the topic of doing something different, this certainly is a wonderful surprise of a venue. How did this show come about?
LE: One of our really good friends manages Rogue, and Jackson does all of his sick pop up New York shows in crazy locations, so he thought what if we did a show at Rogue? They were really amazing about it.
JA: They had never done a show, so I kind of went in like I don’t know…they were like yeah sure! It was actually the chillest thing ever. Can’t be happy enough.
After you’ve conquered all the exciting venues you can think of here, what would your dream venue look like?
JA: I have this vision… My grandparents have this crib in the poconos. The patio’s on this hill, and I just [look at it and] think, “This is a stage.” The way an amphitheater would be. I want to get really famous and have a festival with all my friends in our own backyard.
LE: That’s pretty sick. I would want people to come to my hometown area and just have it outside.
Who would your opener be?
LE: Definitely a few friends.
JA: I would just open for Laura. All I want to do is open for Laura.
For right now, you guys reflect this venue really well, considering you both have a strong sense of style, especially when it comes to your visuals alongside your music. Where do you draw your influence for that?
LE: My inspiration is my friends, truly. I never thought about visuals that way untilI I started becoming friends with y’all. [Pointing to Jackson and friends behind her.] You guys definitely inspire me.
JA: I really grew up on that world building stuff, like the [Tyler the Creators] of the world. The whole “brat” thing was well done. The music needs to be first and fire, but I love doing — not that I’m comparing myself to those people who killed it, the Tylers of the world, the Charli XCX, the Lady Gaga — the whole world-building concept.
LE: You’re also a big movie person I feel. You get a lot of your inspo from movies.
What advice would you give to newer artists who are trying to cement their concept of style, whether it’s visual, musical or even personal?
JA: It sounds so corny and everyone says it…
LE: It’s so true through.
JA: It’s so easy to not be true. Like Laura says, trying to be the artist you like. They exist for a reason,[but] the minute you try to do that you’ve kind of lost. There’s only one you, and you’re the only one who can do that. It might be scary to put that out for a second, I have to consider myself in that. Do you and trust your instincts. It can be so hard but it’s really what you have.
LE: I would add to work through the stuff that you don’t feel that great about. Everything you write, make or create happens for a reason. Trust your ideas. Trust your instinct.
Any closing remarks before we head into the show?
JA: I think Laura Elliott is one of the greatest songwriters of our generation, that’s what I would like to add. She’s also a cool person. Mic drop there.
