Big Wild Child Tour comes to Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater

Big Wild Child can’t wait to perform Sept. 26 at Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater; vocalist Jackson Stell said he has an entirely new set to unveil, with “lots of special moments.”

“The way the set flows and keeps people on their toes makes this my favorite show to date,” he said.

It all goes along with the main inspiration for Big Wild Child, and that is: creating music from an intuitive place. In other words: not overthinking and analyzing the songs too early in the creation process, he said.

“Not only is making music more fun this way, but I find it leads to more interesting results. I also believe that creating from a more intuitive place allows my inner child to play a bigger role, which made these songs more playful,” he said.

Musically, Big Wild’s rich sound and compelling melodies up the ante when it comes to electronic music. Previously a hip-hop beat producer who went by the name J Beatz predominately in his home state of Massachusetts, Stell found new inspiration during a trip to Big Sur, California and began to incorporate indie, pop and more into his electronic music.

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“I was inspired by the originality and experimentation of ’60’s pop music,” he said. “There was a fearlessness that many artists subscribed to during that time, so I wanted to inhabit that mindset myself. I believe it’s part of my job as an artist to try new things in hopes of introducing something unique and original to the world.”

A connection to nature also comes through, making him perfect for an outdoor Vail show.

“My connection to nature is a constant throughout all of my music and inspires me to build environments for each of my songs,” he said. “I love mirroring the complexity yet holism of an ecosystem in my music by bringing a lot of elements together into something cohesive.”

Throughout the years, just about everything within his sound has evolved, from the influences and process to the lyrics and singing.

“I find I’m my most original and authentic self when I’m pushing my own boundaries. Having that euphoric aha moment in the songwriting process is crucial for me to actually pursue finishing the song. I believe that reverberates throughout everything in the project, especially the shows,” he said, adding that the “excited energy from which every song originates” is what sets his music and shows apart.

“A lot of people like the energy of my music or all the little sounds or the people I collaborate with or just dancing their hearts out at a show,” he said, adding that it takes plenty of practice, a deep love for what he does and a willingness to share it with the world.