Big Wild, aka Jackson Stell has just finished his mega run of shows across North America, taking in over 20 shows in six weeks on his Superdream tour as well as releasing his ?Superdream: Analogue Sessions? EP. We sat down with the passionate environmentalist to chat about the tour, his travel essential items and what we can expect from a Big Wild show.
Your Superdream Tour has just wrapped up. How long were you on the road for?
We were on the road for a solid 6 weeks plus, playing over 26 shows during that time. It?s been a long, but really rewarding run. Can?t thank everyone enough who came out to a show this fall.
What cities were your favourites to visit and why?
We played in a lot of great cities this tour. I really enjoyed Austin because it?s such a fun place and Barton Springs was a great reset.
Raleigh was one of my favourite crowds of tour because people were just so into it. I also really love playing Seattle and coming back to the PNW. Living in Portland, Seattle feels like a home away from home, and the shows are always great.
Did you get the opportunity to explore certain areas in these cities?
We usually only get a few hours, if that, to explore a city. We did hit some memorable restaurants along the way- Eventide Oyster Co. in Portland, Maine was amazing.
We also had a few days off near New York City, where we got the chance to visit the High Line and museums around the city, which was really fun and refreshing.
What are the 5 items that you can’t live without on the road?
- Reusable water bottle – I use a camelback water bottle for everyday use and on the stage.
- Reusable utensils – Environmentalism is a huge passion of mine, and especially when we?re on the road I try to minimize my impact, avoiding single use plastic wherever I can. I use a pair of metal utensils from home and just keep them in my backpack so I can use them wherever I am.
- Tea – Gotta have tea on the road when you?re singing every night! I?m a big Jasmine Green tea or Earl Grey fan.
- Headphones – I currently use Nura Headphones, which are customized/adapted to your hearing which is super cool.
- Kombucha – I love Lemon/Ginger. Such a classic.
What can fans expect when they come to a Big Wild show?
The live show is something me and my team work really hard on- bringing the music to life in a really dynamic way, from the sound itself, to the live visuals, to interacting with the other players on stage- it?s all a labor of love and the product of a lot of time spent rehearsing and refining the show.
It?s got so many elements to it, so you can expect to see a really high-energy set that?s somewhat of a hybrid. It?s got electronic pieces to it, but is also infused with elements of pop, disco, indie and so much more.
What?s the thing you like least about touring?
It?s exhausting and really is a grind; you?re on the move constantly and never really have any true down time, or time alone. In the same breathe, I do feel like I get so much energy from what the crowd brings each and every night, so it?s all 100% worth it.
When you’re home from tour, how do you spend your downtime?
When I?m home, I like to spend as much time outside as possible when I?m not in the studio, be that on a hike or in the garden with my partner, I find it really grounding to reconnect with nature.
You can keep up to date with Big Wild on his socials below.
