Making People Feel Something: An Interview With Dublin’s Jackie’s Parents
By Staff | May 16, 2026
All photos: @siofranibhroin and @eabhartabhart
Based in Dublin, the trio Jackie’s Parents - comprising Sarah, Jasper, and Lorcan - came together during their college years, eventually solidifying their lineup in 2024 after several members departed. Their signature blend merges Bruce Springsteen’s expansive, anthemic instrumentation with Phoebe Bridgers’ melancholic, confession-driven lyricism, a fusion they describe as less intentional and more naturally formed. The band’s debut single, “something,” employs a river near Sarah’s home as a haunting metaphor for emotional consumption and transformation, culminating in a sonic shift that evokes pressure, release, and a perspective from beyond. Hoping to leave listeners overwhelmed yet relieved, Jackie’s Parents craft a tense, dreamy build-up that ultimately offers what Lorcan describes as the sweet release of cathartic realization.
How did the three of you first connect in the Dublin scene to form this trio?
Jasper, bass: Well we met in college, we went for a Wow Burger one day and that was that, that was it we started playing music.
Sarah, guitar/vocals: Well actually I invited you to my birthday party.
Jasper: That is true.
Lorcan, drums: And then there were other members in the band and they left.
Sarah: Yeah so we met in college and we started playing together but it wasn’t until our second year so 2024 that the band as we know it came together. We had some other people in the band before this but they left, and then even after it was the three of us we tried out some other members but I guess in the end we realised we didn’t need anyone else and we found what worked for us.
What was the specific spark or moment that convinced you the Springsteen meets Bridgers sound was the right direction for the band?
Sarah: I don’t think it was ever an intentional decision that we made, just more something that was formed.
Lorcan: The two genres kind of compliment each other well and kind of blends well with a bit more of a shoegaze-ier or pop-ier aspect.
Jasper: If Bruce Springsteen did dream pop he’d get it.
Sarah: I think it’s also more Bruce Springsteen-y sound than like a Phoebe Bridgers sound, it’s more kind of Phoebe Bridgers lyrics inspired.
What drew you to the river as the central metaphor for the narrative in something?
Sarah: Well, I had to write a song but I didn’t know what to write about I just had to write about something. And y’know as a songwriter you’re always wondering if what you write is good enough, if people are going to like it and I just needed to find something that people liked, I needed to write a song that was worth something. The river in the song is inspired by this river near my house, it’s near the mountains and there’s a path down to it the song actually stays very true to what it’s actually like and in my head I just saw this person going down to the river and pictured what it would be like to go into the water, what it would take to get you to that place where you were literally looking for something, anything. I liked the idea and image of the water of the river swallowing this person and consuming them and then in the end they become the water, they were something.
How did you approach the sonic shift in the second half of the track to reflect a perspective from beyond the grave?
Sarah: I think that is something we developed over time, when we first started playing the song it didn’t really have the same effect that it does now.
Lorcan: I think the effects on the guitars really help with it.
Jasper: Yeah, I think it’s a very tense sound, there’s pressure like depth, the abyss. But also there’s like this dreamy element.
Sarah: The sound is meant to reflect what’s happening in the song, there’s the pressure building and then there’s just this release and outpouring like this explosion of realisation and I think we wanted to capture that as well as we could.
Which Dublin venue do you feel best captures the energy and atmosphere of your live performances?
Sarah: I really like Anseo, i think it’s very friendly.
Jasper: Yeah it’s very DIY, it’s a great setting for an indie gig.
Sarah: It’s a nice sense of community.
Lorcan: Yeah it’s very cozy, it feels like someone’s living room almost. Just good vibes.
What was the most challenging aspect of balancing such heavy lyrical themes with your debut single's instrumentation?
Jasper: I don’t there was a challenge to be honest with you, it just came naturally y’know.
Lorcan: The idea of the build up was always there.
Jasper: I think that was the only thing we actually thought about.
Sarah: Yeah the whole song was meant to be one big build up.
If you had to choose one Springsteen trait and one Bridgers trait that defines your songwriting, what would they be?
Lorcan: Melancholic lyrics (for Phoebe Bridgers).
Jasper: And then I guess the big sound of Springsteen. He also wrote a song about a river.
Sarah: He did indeed. I think they’re both very honest songwriters and I try to be honest in my songwriting.
Lorcan: Quite realistic lyrics.
Sarah: And drawing from real experiences. I myself did die in a river one time of course.
What is the primary emotion you hope a first-time listener walks away with after hearing the final notes of something?
Sarah: Honestly, I kind of want them to feel overwhelmed a bit.
Lorcan: Bit of anxiety.
Sarah: I don’t want people to feel anxious when they listen to our song. I kind of get what you mean though.
Jasper: Overwhelmed and relief then.
Sarah: Yeah with the satisfying ending of it all.
Jasper: Overwhelming relief.
Lorcan: The sweet release.
Sarah: Give everyone a bit of perspective.
Lorcan: Or if they could just be like woah that was great.
Sarah: Consumed by it all I think.
Lorcan: Well I guess that’s why you write the songs.
Sarah: Yeah, to make people feel something.
The band:
Sarah- Songwriter, vocalist and guitarist
Jasper- Bass
Lorcan- Drums
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/0HnxlOguXpnuCvoWbMBN4R?si=PA4CoSswQzK8sLCAfLqWLA
Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/jackiesparents