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Makin Waves Song of the Week: “My Disappearing Act” by Jack Skuller

By Bob Makin

originally published: 09/24/2021


Young veteran North Jersey rocker Jack Skuller premieres the video for the title track of his new five-song EP, “My Disappearing Act,” with New Jersey Stage. PHOTO BY ERIN O’COHN 

“My Disappearing Act” is the latest single from young scene veteran Jack Skuller, who’s been rockin’ his brand of award-winning lyrical bluesy pop-rock for more than a decade, yet is only 25. 

The vocally rich and raw title track of Jack's new EP is available on all streaming platforms, but the entire five-song collection is exclusively available on Bandcamp at https://jackskuller.bandcamp.com. The video for “My Disappearing Act,” the Makin Waves Song of the Week, is the fourth for the EP, and makes its video premiere right here:

As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “My Disappearing Act” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Sept. 24 on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com

Recorded during the pandemic at acclaimed artist-producer Don DiLego's Velvet Elk Studio in the Pocono Mountains, the melancholy Beatlesque"My Disappearing Act" was co-written by Jack with journeyman art-pop singer-songwriter George Usher (House of Usher, The Bongos, Beat Rodeo). The tasty tune twists and turns like a blooming flower rooted in an orchestral production. 




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“There's always an element of magic in George's lyrics, and I aim to let the music follow suit,” Jack said. “When I read 'My Disappearing Act' for the first time, I felt the combative forces of immediacy and reluctance, courage and a fear of the unknown, love and a failed relationship -- all of which George can weave through effortlessly while keeping you on the edge of your seat."

George added, “Jack delivers a vocal so full of passionate presence that he can describe a 'disappearing act', while he’s standing dead set in front of you." 

In a video that he produced and edited, Jack captures the contrasting themes on the beautiful beach of Greenport in Long Island, as well as Lavender by the Bay, a family-owned lavender farm in East Marion, NY. 

A previous EP clip for “Anyhow” also was shot on the beach, as well as on the boardwalk of Jersey’s mythic music Mecca Asbury Park.

Inspired largely by Tom Waits and Willie Nelson, according to Jack, the EP also includes the only clip-less track, “Antibodies (Buy You Time),” written months before the pandemic began. 

"I wasn’t sure about releasing 'Antibodies,'" Jack said, "but I decided not to let COVID have exclusive ownership over the word." 

For more info about Jack, visit www.jackskuller.com




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Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected]

About the author:

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.


EVENT PREVIEWS

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FEATURED EVENTS


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Friday, September 04, 2026 @ 7:30pm
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Saturday, September 05, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ


Melissa Etheridge: RISE

Wednesday, September 09, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
Morristown, NJ


Dion

Thursday, September 10, 2026 @ 8:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
Morristown, NJ


Moondance - Van Morrison Tribute

Friday, September 11, 2026 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
Tuckerton, NJ