‘Nashville’ Star Jonathan Jackson [INTERVIEW]: Talks Enation, Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers

By Kyle Dowling (kyle.dowling@mstarsnews.com) | Sep 29, 2015 04:00 PM EDT

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Nashville star Jonathan Jackson recently made his way to New York City to perform at the Tunnel to Towers event, which honors 9/11 first responders and those lost in the attacks on Sept. 11. The actor, who is also the frontman for Jonathan Jackson + Enation, delighted audience members following the Tunnel to Towers run, a 5k marathon which follows the very same line that fallen firefighter Stephen Siller took on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

Siller was a member of the FDNY who was returning home in Staten Island from a shift when he heard of the attacks at the World Trade Center. Upon learning of what happened, Siller turned around and went back to the firehouse, grabbed his gear and made way to the World Trade Center. He then attempted to drive through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel. Finding it was closed off, he continued through the tunnel on foot with his 60-pounds of material on his back, to the WTC, where he ultimately died.

And while his body was never recovered, the Tunnel to Towers 5k honors Siller's bravery and heroism.

Jonathan Jackson + Enation were asked to perform at Sunday's event. After doing so, the actor-musician spoke with MStars News about the performance, his band's latest album Radio Cinematic, and of course, Nashville.

MStars News: Jonathan Jackson + Enation performed at the Tunnel to Towers event in NYC this past Sunday. How was the set?
Jonathan Jackson: It was great! It was such an amazing atmosphere, being surrounded by all the servicemen and women. Actually, right before we performed a whole group of policemen and firefighters came in holding flags. It was so moving.

MS: How does this show differ from a "regular" concert for your band?
JJ: It was really special. The atmosphere, the environment- everyone feels connected to each other. The song we ended with is called "Everything is Possible." That song, in particular, took on a whole different life, thinking about the heroism of people like Stephen [Siller]. It was overwhelming, but it was a really wonderful experience.

MS: How did you hook up with Tunnel to Towers?
JJ: They got in touch with us. As soon as we heard about it, [the band] was really excited. And with just being here, it's pretty impressive what the foundation is doing. And I had never heard of the foundation nor of Stephen's story [before], which is so compelling. As soon as you hear it it's like 'oh my gosh!' It was amazing to be a part of it.

MS: After working with the foundation and meeting first responders, do you find yourself having more of an emotional understanding of what they went through on 9/11?
JJ: Absolutely. I think it's like that with anything in life. 9/11 certainly affected all of us, but it's different when you get to actually be here in person and meet first responders and see the heroism and the sacrifices they made. It does something to you; it makes it that much more real and immediate. I think with any experience in life, it makes it deeper and makes you understand it better.

MS: I'm always curious about people who act and have successful bands on the side. Do you have a preference?
JJ: Yeah, I think music has always been my first love. I started writing songs when I was 11 years old. My dad's a musician and I started singing when I was really young. Music is so personal. As an actor you're given lines and are trying to put your heart and soul into this character. Music, you're writing the story. It's changed my life and means so much to me.

MS: There's also an immediate reaction from the audience that you cannot get with acting.
JJ: Oh, absolutely. I suppose live theater acting is much closer, but with film and television, you're doing 20-30 takes of the same scene and you don't even see it put together for months later. But when you're playing live there's a connection with the audience. They are a part of the experience; it's exciting.

MS: The great thing about Nashville, however, is that you're able to bring those talents there.
JJ: It's an amazing thing. It's funny- my dad said years ago, "You guys should think about developing a show about young musicians and you could do your music." I said yeah but it's so difficult to get a show like that on the air. Then two years later this script came from Callie Khouri and it happened to get picked up. It was incredible! I get to work with all these incredible musicians in Nashville. But yes, the experience of performing definitely helped.

MS: Have you written songs on Nashville?
JJ: I have! We performed one today called "The Morning of the Rain." I think it was towards the end of Season 1 and it's on our record, Radio Cinematic. I don't do a lot of writing for the show but it was fun to get that song on there.

 

MS: Speaking of the album, how are you able to manage a successful band, a tour, a hit television show and a family? It sounds incredibly overwhelming.
JJ: It gets a little crazy. I'm a family person; I have three kids. I was filming until 2 a.m. on Friday, then we had a concert yesterday and a concert on Sunday. It gets crazy sometimes, but I just take it one day at a time. But I love it and we're grateful to do it.

MS: Are there any new projects in development? Perhaps a new album?
JJ: We're not in the studio recording but I'm always writing. I have songs ready for the next album, if not the next couple of albums. It's just finding the time. We'll probably focus on touring again next summer but we do have a live DVD and a live album coming out in probably the next few months in 2016.

Great to share the stage w/ @charles_esten -- you rock brother! #NYC Tunnel2Towers A photo posted by Enation (@enation) on Sep 28, 2015 at 11:19am PDT

MS: Season 4 of Nashville premiered last week. Are you surprised with how much fans took to this show, and how much they are still with it?
JJ: Yes and no. It's always hard to gauge that. I think whenever you go into a project you hope – and have to, to some extent – believe that it'll be successful in order to put your heart and soul into it. For me, the foundation of the show was the characters Callie created in the pilot script and the music behind it from T. Bone Burnett and Buddy Miller. That really set the tone. I actually thought that it really had a chance and I'm not overly surprised.

Having said that, in a practical sense I am surprised because sometimes really great shows don't get picked up for a second season. It's a little bit of a paradox- I've always believed in the show but have also been surprised it's gone this long.

Nashville airs on ABC Wednesday nights at 10 p.m.

Radio Cinematic is available for purchase now.

Find more about Tunnel to Towers at their website.

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