Jack Van Cleaf

California-reared singer-songwriter Jack Van Cleaf writes determined and delicate songs with poetic slant and confessional warmth. In 2022, Van Cleaf released his premiere full-length record ‘Fruit from the Trees,’ co-produced by Jamie Mefford (Nathaniel Rateliff, Gregory Alan Isakov) and Alberto Sewald (Katy Kirby). ‘Fruit from the Trees’ opens like a lost suitcase. Written across the last seven years, the ten tracks are stashed with fables and fictions, letters to high school lovers, loose change in foreign currency, and a white bandana chalked in red Texas dust. The record soars with sonic width that melds the folk-song precision of Dawes with a rumbled raucousness suggestive of The Killers. Atwood Magazine calls it “a radiantly raw alt-folk reckoning in the depths of connection, emotion, and the human experience.”

He recently finished a tour run supporting Noah Kahan on Kahan’s Stick Season Tour, as well as played Nashville’s own Paradise Festival at Brooklyn Bowl. Van Cleaf has also supported artists such as Field Guide, Briston Maroney, Annika Bennett, Taylor Ashton and The Lagoons.

In his songs, folk imagination dresses in cinematic production, evoking the spacious and sparse verses of Nathaniel Rateliff and Gregory Alan Isakov. His music echoes lessons learned from his heroes: a directness borrowed from Kris Kristofferson and lucid spirituality reminiscent of Cohen. With lyrics that connect to many, Van Cleaf’s breakthrough song “Rattlesnake” has amassed over 8 million streams and his music has been included in over 20k playlists by listeners across the globe. He was named in Spotify’s best of 2022 roundups including ‘Fresh Finds Class of 2022’ and ‘Fresh Finds Folk: Best of 2022.’  His latest releases include single “Terrestrial Man” and a Murder Ballad EP: ‘Music City Murder Ballad.’ Van Cleaf is currently writing and recording new music.