Title: “Sleeping Rough”
Artist: Jack Dunn
From: TBA (2025)
Release Date: December 28, 2024
Format: CD Single, 7” Single, Digital Download, Weekly Airplay, Worldwide Streaming, Cassette
Recorded: Head South Recording Studios, Brighton, UK
Genre(s): Alternative Rock
Length: 4:57
Label: Head South Records
Written: November 2024
Writer(s): Jack Dunn
Producer(s): Jack Dunn, Quentin McEwen
“Sleeping Rough” is the third single by English singer-songwriter ‘Jack Dunn’, capping off a productive debut year for the North East England born native which saw his debut single “Lowlife” and follow-up “Silence So Loud” both top the charts as he worked on his material for his now highly anticipated debut album, expected to arrive at some point in 2025. The artist signed to ‘Head South Records’ and despite the unexpected success of his first two single releases has managed to keep a relatively low-profile throughout the year, opting to shy away from the spotlight and continue crafting the music that will shape his debut album. He did make a couple of sporadic public appearances with a performance on Brighton Pier as part of the one year anniversary celebrations for the record label ‘Head South Records’ where he was accompanied by fellow singer-songwriter ‘Cerys Nyland’, showcasing the sensitive balladeer side to his talents as the two performed an original before ripping into a cover of “That’s Entertainment” by The Jam.
However, it was another public appearance that brought about the inspiration for his latest single, “Sleeping Rough” as he offered a helping hand to industry friend ‘Riley Hamilton’ on a project in his hometown of Leeds, with the opening of a community hub designed to help those most in need within his local community. Highlighting the homelessness issue in the area, but also one that is prevalent throughout the UK as a whole.
Offering his time to his friend in helping out for the cause, Jack spent a few days prior and following the launch rolling up his sleeves and helping out as well as performing a brief set for those in attendance alongside other names including Dustyn Blue-Conners and Mercedes Payne. During the set, Jack debuted the original track with its slower sombre and introspective ballad feel captivating the audience before confirming that the song will be getting its own official release in aid to help raise more funds for the service with ‘Head South Records’ agreeing to donate all profits made from the single to the community hub in order to help support the service in their own way. Jack went on record stating that the entire thing had taken a hold on him, offering his services to the community hub in anyway he can in the future, including fundraising, performing or even just helping out around the venue.
The track was recorded at Head South Recording Studios in Brighton, England, written by Jack Dunn and produced by Jack Dunn and Head South Records label executive Quentin McEwen. Set for release on December 28, 2024 as a CD Single, 7” Single, Cassette Single, Digital Download and made available to Weekly Airplay and Worldwide Streaming with all proceeds going to the ‘Beeston Community Hub Project’.
Song Description;The song begins with soft sombre piano tones, which immediately give the track a winter feel, appropriate given the songs lyrics. As the intro plays, a soft rhythmic guitar can be heard just to give a little backing to the piano sounds as the songs soft ballad nature is immediately clear with Jack singing in a controlled emotive manner,
“I walk around the streets back home in the winter months/Plenty of layers and I’m wrapped up warm/Homeless people sleeping under bridges, sleeping in the doorways freezing cold/Couldn’t imagine what it’s like/I hope I never have to know/I toss my loose change in an upturned cap/But I feel like I should be doing a little more than that/I feel like we should be doing more than that/We could be doing more than that.” along with Jack’s lead vocals, you can hear the backing vocals delivered by session musician and backing band regular Cherrie Williams, just adding another layer of vulnerability to the songs obvious emotional pull.
Very much continuing in the same vain as we move into the second verse as Jack adds more layers to the songs story, acknowledging that we all get caught up in our own little lives sometimes too much to consider what we’re walking past on a daily basis, this time during the second verse the pacing increases ever so slightly to add a little urgency to what he’s singing,
“I’m just like you, I feel sad in the moment but it passes through/Never give it a second thought/I don’t know who it is, but at the end of the day they’re still someone’s kid/Falling on hard times and even harder luck/People glance but they just don’t seem to give a fuck/Too much going on to take the time/We’ve got too much going on in our very busy lives.”Which then leads perfectly into the songs chorus which hammers home the songs main pull, it’s catchy and repetitive and delivers the songs main talking point, that people are truly dying on the street, unsure if they’ll make it through the night,
“Another night of sleeping rough/Nobody told you it was ever going to be this tough/Unsure where your next meals coming/Keep telling yourself to hold on tight/Not sure if you’re even going to make it through the night.” which is repeated twice before another verse.
Jack’s voice becomes louder and more urgent as he delivers one final attempt to paint the picture and encourage those to think twice before ignoring those on the streets,
“Winter months and the snowfall flurries/Everybody throwing money at the bar for their Christmas party/Stumbling past the homeless in the cold cold nights/Not sure if they’ll make it out alive/Unsure if they’ll even make it through the night/And you tell yourself it looks rough/But you convince yourself that your loose change wouldn’t be enough/To make a difference/But feels a bit heartless, feels a bit ignorant.” which is then followed by the songs pre-chorus and chorus combination once more before fading out to the soft piano tones.
“Sleeping Rough”“I walk around the streets back home in the winter months
Plenty of layers and I’m wrapped up warm
Homeless people sleeping under bridges, sleeping in the doorways freezing cold
Couldn’t imagine what it’s like
I hope I never have to know
I toss my loose change in an upturned cap
But I feel like I should be doing a little more than that
I feel like we should be doing more than that
We could be doing more than that
I’m just like you, I feel sad in the moment but it passes through
Never give it a second thought
I don’t know who it is, but at the end of the day they’re still someone’s kid
Falling on hard times and even harder luck
People glance but they just don’t seem to give a fuck
Too much going on to take the time
We’ve got too much going on in our very busy lives
Another night of sleeping rough
Nobody told you it was ever going to be this tough
Unsure where your next meals coming
Keep telling yourself to hold on tight
Not sure if you’re even going to make it through the night
Another night of sleeping rough
Nobody told you it was ever going to be this tough
Unsure where your next meals coming
Keep telling yourself to hold on tight
Not sure if you’re even going to make it through the nightWinter months and the snowfall flurries
Everybody throwing money at the bar for their Christmas party
Stumbling past the homeless in the cold cold nights
Not sure if they’ll make it out alive
Unsure if they’ll even make it through the night
And you tell yourself it looks rough
But you convince yourself that your loose change wouldn’t be enough
To make a difference
But feels a bit heartless, feels a bit ignorant
I’m just like you, I feel sad in the moment but it passes through
Never give it a second thought
I don’t know who it is, but at the end of the day they’re still someone’s kid
Falling on hard times and even harder luck
People glance but they just don’t seem to give a fuck
Too much going on to take the time
We’ve got too much going on in our very busy lives
Another night of sleeping rough
Nobody told you it was ever going to be this tough
Unsure where your next meals coming
Keep telling yourself to hold on tight
Not sure if you’re even going to make it through the night
Another night of sleeping rough
Nobody told you it was ever going to be this tough
Unsure where your next meals coming
Keep telling yourself to hold on tight
Not sure if you’re even going to make it through the night”
Credits & Personnel;
CREDITSProduced by Jack Dunn, Quentin McEwen
Engineered by Lewis Richardson
Mixed by Jack Dunn, Quentin McEwen, Charlie Willis
Recorded at Head South Recording Studios, Brighton, England, UK
PERSONNELJack Dunn – vocals, piano, lyrics, composition, production, mixing
Cherrie Williams – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Lewis Richardson – engineering
Charlie Willis – mixing
Quentin McEwen – production, mixing, production management
