Americana songwriter, Jerry Castle was raised in rural Virginia, with his music taking him to living in Los Angeles and working as a songwriter in the heart of Nashville.
Among his career highlights so far are a five-week run at the top of the Roots Music Folk Rock Charts with his single She Kills, plus praise from Rolling Stone, who described his 2018 track Lil Bit as “one of the most instantly catchy – and danceable – songs about being p****d off this year.”
Jerry’s third album, Midnight Testimony includes his latest single, Stars Align. Jerry explains, “I wrote all of the lyrics to this song before I ever picked up a guitar and put music to it,” says Jerry. “The song is about the fact that sometimes you can do everything right and things still don’t work out the way you want. Nonetheless, the ride of life is a beautiful one. It takes the downs to make the ups feel good and it takes the ugly to make you recognise the beautiful.”
Jerry reveals to Andy Howells the music that has inspired his life and career to date.
What was the first song that made an impact on you?
My mom was a huge Elvis fan so his music goes back as far back as I can remember. I definitely tried to imitate An American Trilogy ad nauseam as a toddler.
What was the first download you bought?
I think Ryan Adams Come Pick Me Up was the first song I downloaded. If it wasn’t first, it was one of the first.
What was the first album you owned?
Oh man, this is really going to show where the “cheese” in my songs comes from. Kiss Alive was the first album I ever owned. I was a sucker for the makeup, fire and blood. I was also a sucker for those tight catchy songs and monster hooks!
What’s your constant go to track?
Tom Petty’s Wild Flowers is just as easy to listen to today, as it was the first time I heard it.
What’s your constant go to album?
Tom Petty Damn The Torpedoes
Who’s your latest music discovery?
I have two: Arlo McKinley and Hailey Whitters. Both of them have a unique quality to their voices makes me believe every single word they say.
What’s your own track that best defines you as an artist?
I’d say She Kills from the 2016 album Not So Soft Landing. The arrangement, the lyrics, the instrumentation and the soaring chorus all melt together to be distinctly me.