Jill McCracken Album Release Show

Jill McCracken (they/them) is a force. The queer retro soul artist returns with their second studio album “big dog”, out on August 7.

An explosion of joy, rage and transcendence, the album roars into being with a powerful thesis of self-reliance: “All for love, never for clout. I depend on me now.” The theme of self-determination at all costs is woven throughout the fourteen tracks.

Whether playing an intimate solo set or bringing the thunder with their full band, McCracken always sings their heart out. With vocal power rarely seen and lyrics that cut straight to the heart of the matter, their performances are visceral, full-throated, and most importantly, rooted in a lust for life.

“I’m here to build community and real connection,” they said. “I want people to take good care of themselves and each other, now more than ever.”

At home, McCracken has established a strong presence in the Boston music scene and has been acknowledged with several Boston Music Awards nominations and a New England Music Awards win for Soul/R&B Act of the Year. On the road, McCracken tours extensively across the US and has shared the stage with Emily King and Durand Jones, among others.

McCracken’s unique musical world is a fully-realized universe drenched in warm, earthy colors and vintage typography. It’s an immersive environment that makes audiences feel like they’ve arrived somewhere they’d like to stay for a long while, whether it’s dancing to a Stevie Wonder-inspired jam, vibing to a retro soul song that flows like poetry, or screaming along to “i love you”, the queer and trans anthem that has become a staple of McCracken’s live show. “big dog” shares that anthem with a wider audience now.

When asked about the album’s title, McCracken paints a vivid picture. “Sometimes I feel like a rescue dog,” they say, laughing. “My past wounds are such a big part of my present.” But in the writing of the album, something shifted. They transformed from a wounded underdog looking for a safe place to land into someone who is deeply self-assured, grounded in their queerness, and powerful in their ability to build community.

“I became the person I wanted to see reflected all along,” they shared. “Now I’m the big dog.”

There’s an element of ‘becoming’ inherent in the concept of the “big dog”: an implication of a less-empowered past, and a quiet nod to the struggles between then and now. In many ways, becoming the big dog is the process of arriving to one’s truest, most empowered form.

The fourteen tracks that make up “big dog” were recorded live at Ghost Hit Recording in West Springfield, MA, and produced by McCracken. The band is made up of Jill McCracken, Justin Martinez, Jason Oberstein, and Jordan Rabinowitz, with guest appearances by Jondren Hwang, Nina Woods, Chris Chos, and EMAEL.

The album ends in an intimate moment, alone in a room with the title track. Featuring only Jill on guitar and vocals, it sounds like they’re completely alone. But they’re not. Seated all around them in the room are their bandmates, bearing silent witness while Jill’s voice rings out, true as an arrow. A guiding light to a world where we are all a little more free.