{{Short description|American poet & musician (born 1999)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Kara Jackson | occupation = {{hlist|Singer|songwriter|musician|poet}} | years_active = 2019–present | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1999}} | genre = {{hlist|Folk rock|indie folk|spoken word}} | instrument = {{hlist|Vocals|guitar|banjo|piano}} }} '''Kara Jackson''' is an American singer, songwriter, musician, essayist and poet. She was the third U.S. National Youth Poet Laureate from 2019 and 2020.
In 2019, Jackson released her debut EP, ''A Song for Every Chamber of the Heart'', which was followed by her debut studio album, ''Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?'', in 2023. The album was released to widespread critical acclaim and appeared on several 'albums of the year' lists from ''Pitchfork'', ''Rolling Stone'' and ''The Guardian'', amongst others.
== Career == Kara Jackson is from Oak Park, Illinois and attended Oak Park River Forest High School, where she participated in spoken word.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Daston |first=Char |date=2019-04-15 |title=Meet National Youth Poet Laureate Kara Jackson Of Oak Park |url=https://www.wbez.org/stories/oak-parks-kara-jackson-named-national-youth-poet-laureate/9c5eed03-0cba-46d2-b8aa-c5db0094b1cd |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=WBEZ Chicago |language=en |archive-date=2022-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220426181850/https://www.wbez.org/stories/oak-parks-kara-jackson-named-national-youth-poet-laureate/9c5eed03-0cba-46d2-b8aa-c5db0094b1cd |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mullen |first=Caitlin |date=2022-02-14 |title=Shout Out: Kara Jackson, 19, National Youth Poet Laureate - Chicago Tribune |website=Chicago Tribune |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/ct-oak-shoutout-jackson-poet-tl-0808-20190803-o35zeeh7ybh2fj24nmkjyr3udq-story.html |access-date=2023-12-05 |archive-date=2022-02-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214051758/https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/oak-park/ct-oak-shoutout-jackson-poet-tl-0808-20190803-o35zeeh7ybh2fj24nmkjyr3udq-story.html |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Treacy |first=Christopher |date=2023-04-17 |title=Kara Jackson Uses Rage, Channels Brandy, Ponders the Human Predicament on Astonishing New LP • Country Queer |url=https://countryqueer.com/stories/interview/kara-jackson-utilizes-rage-channels-brandy-and-ponders-the-human-predicament-on-her-astonishing-new-album/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Country Queer |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626050619/https://countryqueer.com/stories/interview/kara-jackson-utilizes-rage-channels-brandy-and-ponders-the-human-predicament-on-her-astonishing-new-album/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson also participated in a jazz ensemble at Merit School of Music, and was the Youth Poet Laureate of Chicago in 2018.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Dybal |first=Michelle |date=2019-05-14 |title=OPRF grad is the new U.S. Youth Poet Laureate |url=https://www.oakpark.com/2019/05/14/oprf-grad-is-the-new-u-s-youth-poet-laureate/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Oak Park |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=January 22, 2020 |title=2019 National Youth Poet Laureate Kara Jackson to Present at Eureka College |url=https://www.eureka.edu/blog/article/2020/01/2019-national-youth-poet-laureate-kara-jackson-to-present-at-eureka-college |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Eureka College |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324165306/https://www.eureka.edu/blog/article/2020/01/2019-national-youth-poet-laureate-kara-jackson-to-present-at-eureka-college |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Holmes |first=Anne |date=2019-06-27 |title="The Youth Laureate Letters": Meet Kara Jackson, 2019 National Youth Poet Laureate {{!}} From the Catbird Seat |url=https://blogs.loc.gov/catbird/2019/06/the-youth-laureate-letters-meet-kara-jackson-2019-national-youth-poet-laureate/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=The Library of Congress |archive-date=2023-06-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610084727/https://blogs.loc.gov/catbird/2019/06/the-youth-laureate-letters-meet-kara-jackson-2019-national-youth-poet-laureate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She performed at the Louder Than a Bomb 2018 finals and was selected by Patricia Smith for the Literary Award.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kara Jackson |url=https://poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poets/kara-jackson/ |archive-date=2021-12-01 |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=The Poetry Society |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211201071426/https://poems.poetrysociety.org.uk/poets/kara-jackson/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2019, she was named the United States National Youth Poet Laureate after submitting an essay on poetry and democracy.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/kara-jackson|title=Kara Jackson|date=23 March 2022|access-date=12 March 2022|archive-date=12 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220312033841/https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/kara-jackson|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>https://www.pbs.org [https://www.pbs.org/] › newshour › brief › 405615 › kara-jackson</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Weinfield |first=Madeline |date=November 21, 2019 |title=Kara Jackson Is The Multi-hyphenate College Student Changing How We Look At Poetry |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/kara-jackson-is-the-multi-hyphenate-college-student-changing-how-we-look-at-poetry-19366823 |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Bustle |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426093029/https://www.bustle.com/p/kara-jackson-is-the-multi-hyphenate-college-student-changing-how-we-look-at-poetry-19366823 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the same year, she published a chapbook of poetry, ''Bloodstone Cowboy''.<ref name=":3">{{Cite magazine |last=Abdurraqib |first=Hanif |date=2023-04-18 |title=Kara Jackson's Plaintive, Playful Folk Songs |language=en-US |magazine=The New Yorker |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/listening-booth/kara-jacksons-plaintive-playful-folk-songs |access-date=2023-12-05 |issn=0028-792X |archive-date=2023-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014145104/https://www.newyorker.com/culture/listening-booth/kara-jacksons-plaintive-playful-folk-songs |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Apantaku |first=Erisa |date=2019-04-02 |title=Weapons Out of Words |url=https://southsideweekly.com/weapons-out-of-words-kara-jackson-youth-poet-laureate/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=South Side Weekly |language=en-US |archive-date=2021-12-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211202011800/https://southsideweekly.com/weapons-out-of-words-kara-jackson-youth-poet-laureate/ |url-status=live }}</ref> She studied English at Smith College, graduating in 2023.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Petty |first=Olivia |date=May 15, 2023 |title=Kara Jackson's Debut Album: A Stirring Reflection on Love and Loss |url=https://thesophian.com/kara-jacksons-debut-album-a-stirring-reflection-on-love-and-loss/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=The Sophian |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528043852/https://thesophian.com/kara-jacksons-debut-album-a-stirring-reflection-on-love-and-loss/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2023 |title=Smith College One Hundred & Forty-Fifth Commencement |url=https://www.smith.edu/sites/default/files/media/Documents/College-Relations/Comm_Program_2023_Final_Access.pdf |access-date=December 5, 2023 |website=Smith College |archive-date=June 10, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610213126/https://www.smith.edu/sites/default/files/media/Documents/College-Relations/Comm_Program_2023_Final_Access.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Her work has appeared in ''Poetry'', ''Frontier Poetry'', ''Rookie Mag'', ''Nimrod Literary Journal'', ''The Lily'', and ''Saint Heron''.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web|url=https://spokenword.oprfhs.org/kara-jackson|title=Kara Jackson|website=Oak Park and River Forest High School|access-date=2022-03-12|archive-date=2023-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230406170820/https://spokenword.oprfhs.org/kara-jackson|url-status=live}}</ref>
Jackson also made her musical debut in 2019 with the release of her EP, ''A Song for Every Chamber of the Heart''. Her first full-length album, ''Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?'' was released in 2023 to much acclaim, being named Best New Music by ''Pitchfork''.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Retta |first=Mary |date=April 17, 2023 |title=Kara Jackson: Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love? |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kara-jackson-why-does-the-earth-give-us-people-to-love/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-10-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014142435/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/kara-jackson-why-does-the-earth-give-us-people-to-love/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodi |first=Robert |date=2023-06-09 |title=Harrowing Intimacy: A Review of Kara Jackson's "Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?" |url=https://music.newcity.com/2023/06/09/harrowing-intimacy-a-review-of-kara-jacksons-why-does-the-earth-give-us-people-to-love/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=New City Music |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-06-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230609171623/https://music.newcity.com/2023/06/09/harrowing-intimacy-a-review-of-kara-jacksons-why-does-the-earth-give-us-people-to-love/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Jackson provided vocals, guitar, banjo, and piano on the album, and collaborated with musicians Kaina, Nnamdi Ogbonnaya, and Sen Morimoto on lyrics and production.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=Sophie Leigh |date=December 4, 2023 |title=Kara Jackson: "Folk music is the music of the regular person. That's who I want to represent." |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/interviews/kara-jackson-love-is-as-love-does |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=The Line of Best Fit |language=en-US}}</ref> The album was dedicated to, and inspired by, Jackson's friend Maya-Gabrielle Gary, who died from cancer in 2016.<ref name=":6" /> Jackson has listed Joanna Newsom, Joni Mitchell, Megan Thee Stallion, Joan Baez, Jim Croce, and Ella Fitzgerald as musical inspirations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lamitschka |first=Christian |date=2023-01-20 |title=Kara Jackson Interview |url=https://countrymusicnewsinternational.com/kara-jackson-interview/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=Country Music News International |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-02-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201183844/https://countrymusicnewsinternational.com/kara-jackson-interview/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":5" /><ref name=":0" /> In 2023, she also opened for Corinne Bailey Rae's ''Black Rainbows'' tour, and appeared on Kevin Abstract's ''Blanket''.<ref name=":6" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ismail |first=Zahra |date=2023-10-27 |title=Corinne Bailey Rae Floats Atop Black Rainbows |url=https://radioutd.com/blog/2023/10/corinne-bailey-rae-floats-atop-black-rainbows/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=RadioUTD |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-10-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231027230942/https://radioutd.com/blog/2023/10/corinne-bailey-rae-floats-atop-black-rainbows/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
On January 15, 2026, she was featured on "Orange County", a track on virtual rock band Gorillaz' ninth studio album, ''The Mountain''.
==Publications== * ''Bloodstone Cowboy'' (Haymarket Books, 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://poets.org/poet/kara-jackson|title=About Kara Jackson | Academy of American Poets|access-date=2022-03-12|archive-date=2023-02-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208014931/https://poets.org/poet/kara-jackson|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Discography == '''Studio albums''' *''Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?'' (2023)
'''EPs''' *''A Song for Every Chamber of the Heart'' (2019)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.karakarakara.com/general-1|title=General 1}}{{Dead link|date=December 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.karajacksonmusic.com/ Official website]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jackson, Kara}} Category:Living people Category:National Youth Poet Laureate Category:Poets from Illinois Category:Singer-songwriters from Illinois Category:Writers from Oak Park, Illinois Category:Musicians from Oak Park, Illinois Category:21st-century American poets Category:21st-century American singer-songwriters Category:21st-century American women singers Category:Date of birth missing (living people) Category:Smith College alumni Category:American folk singers Category:American spoken word poets Category:American women folk singers Category:American queer singers Category:Queer poets Category:1999 births Category:21st-century American women poets