Jake Davey is one of those multi-talented artists who must have an incredibly well-organised diary because he moves so regularly between making videos and producing music for other artists as well as writing and recording his own songs, and playing live. Two years ago, however, it seemed there was little prospect of any of that when Davey was given a diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome, which meant he was told he may not walk again or have children.
‘I think everyone gets knocked down in life,’ he says in our new interview, ‘but it’s how you get back up and how many times you get back up. That’s definitely what I felt when it happened to me and [I thought], Okay – this isn’t going to define who I am. I can let it, but I’m not going to.’
Davey also says that he would have been recording music and writing and doing other things in a wheelchair – but his determination and the work he’s done and continues to do has meant he doesn’t need to.
‘You can try and hold me down,’ he says, laughing, ‘but it’s not going to work out too well.’
This is context for the song that Davey has just released, ‘Got It All’, which is a feel-good anthem that is about embracing and celebrating what you have. And context does matter: this song is anchored in his lived experience. The video clip, filmed by his good friend Jackson James, backs up the message in the song (and I did have a question about why Davey didn’t make his own video!) and was made when James was visiting from his new home in Nashville for Davey’s wedding.
Davey may have to put his activities on pause or, at least, slow for a little while as he’s due to become a father soon. No doubt his song will take on new meaning, and he will likely take on fatherhood the way he’s taken on every other endeavour – and he’ll keep making music while he’s doing it.
Watch the video on YouTube
Listen to ‘Got It All’ on Apple Music
Listen to ‘Got It All’ on Spotify
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