Holly Rankin opens up about her Jack River identity

Rankin, 24, hails from Forster – Jack River is her musical alias.

Rankin is a nature-obsessed, coastal kid. “Jack River” is a rock star who wears sparkles and films music videos in chandelier stores.

What both identities love is writing.

“I started as soon as I could pick up a pen,” Rankin says. “I just had an attraction to writing and also recording things. I’ve always been fascinated by people and stories and nature. I actually get this feeling within me that I’m not living if I’m not writing.”

In the process of song writing Rankin says most songs come naturally.

“I used to try a lot harder, but now I’ve learnt that if a song is meant to be written, it will stay in your head. I’ll hear it first as a melody and then think of the words.”

On top of writing the melody and lyrics, Rankin seeks landscape sounds to add to her music. In Jack River’s EP Highway Songs No.2 the opening track Highway (Intro) draws together carnival sounds with a western, cowboy twist.

“Each song for me has an inner landscape,” Rankin explains.

“My imagination just lights up into another world and that guides me into what to do with the song and the instruments to put in. I love the cinematic extent you can take music to.”

Through Jack River, Rankin says she aims to create a full world for her music to exist in.

In the single Palo Alto, she sings:

Carnivals and honey bees

It’s just what I liked

Hangin’ by the glassy ties

When the dreamer was quiet

Set in the desert of California – the music captures a feeling of recklessness and the freedom of the wild west.

Rankin’s lyrics approach love from a place of strength and determination.

“I try and take the feeling to somewhere where I would rather be - so if it’s hurt, I’ll try and build in some resilience and positivity,” she says. “I want to build people up – especially women.  I hope they find strength in the songs.”

Rankin spends a lot of time travelling between her base in Sydney and her family home in Forster. On the road shes processes her large amount of writing and takes time “to reflect on everything and take note of things”.

“It’s like meditation almost - just having time away from everything,” she says.

“Everything is so hectic these days - you don’t get much of a break and people almost think it’s weird if you’re having a break. Even just going away for a day or a hour or two just on your own, I’ve just always valued that time. I guess from a young age after losing [my sister] Shannon, I just love time alone to process.”

When Holly lost her sister Shannon, 11, in a spa accident – writing became the one constant in her life.

“It was just a continuation, something that has never changed for me, because everything else changed around me, my family and friends, you know it’s like being surrounded by a war scene. But I’ve always had that place and it’s something that can’t be taken away - it’s the same as the ocean really, it’s something that’s always there, it’s always changing, but you can always go there. I tell everyone to write.”

Rankin’s songs (Talk Like That, Palo Alto) have experienced high rotation on triple j and she has just wrapped up her first solo tour, along with supporting Angus Stone’s sold-out Dope Lemon tour.

It’s been busy a year, but Rankin, a natural organiser, is looking to finish it with her biggest project yet – a music festival, Grow Your Own, in Forster on December 23.

Jack River will be performing, as well as Dope Lemon, James Bennett, The Ruiins and others.