Fresh off new releases, Sam Quealy and Jack Powers sit down to talk New York City, dinner party do’s and don’ts, and what it takes to release new work and stand on business.
Jack: Okay, hi, Sam!
Sam: Hi, Jack!
Jack: What’s up? I heard you have some questions for me.
Sam: Yeah, I do. So I wanted to know, how would you describe Jack Powers?
Jack: I would describe Jack Powers as kind of like a boy who fell from the stars and landed in a museum. And he is like stuck in an exhibition and he can’t get out of the exhibition of the museum.
Sam: Feel that.
Jack: And people come and see him and they’re like, oh my god, that’s the boy who fell from the stars and now he’s like stuck in the museum and he can’t get out and we need to like send him back.
Sam: Obsessed.
Jack: Yeah.
Sam: That’s where he got his power.
Jack: Yeah, yeah. (Laughs) He has a lot of powers, though.
Sam: Yeah.
Jack: Depends what time of the night.
Sam: Okay, period.
Jack: Yeah. Okay, wait, I have a question for you.
Sam: Okay.
Jack: Alright, so, you know what? One of my favorite facts about you is that you used to be a magician’s assistant on a cruise ship. And I just want to know, what’s the best trick you have up your sleeve?
Sam: Well, I think we did some really crazy tricks. There’s like the obvious ones like being cut in half, etc. But my favorite one was called The Wheel of Death. Which we had this giant spinning wheel that we constructed.
Jack: Like a big one?
Sam: Yeah, like a huge one, like bigger than my body.
Jack: Wow.
Sam: And they strapped my wrist and my feet into the thing and he would like spin me around.
Jack: Wow.
Sam: And then he would put a sack over his head and shoot a gun and then I would like hold a balloon in my mouth and he would pop the balloon.
Jack: Stop it.
Sam: Yeah, I’m a big psycho for like big tricks and hot chicks, so…
Jack: Oh my god. Big tricks and hot chicks.
Sam: Yeah.
Jack: Isn’t that what life’s about?
Sam: Exactly.
Jack: Amen.
Sam: Exactly.
Jack: That’s beautiful.
Sam: Okay, so what is like the next thing you’re excited about? What’s next for Jack?
Jack: Well, I just got off a US tour with Haute & Freddy. It was incredible. All sold out and the audience was super receptive and really going crazy for my show so thats an amazing feeling. On the same day as the NYC show at Bowery Ballroom I released my new single and video Park Avenue and I’m so happy to finally share that with people. It’s a really important song to me. And now I’m gearing up to release another single and in songwriting city.
Sam: Period.
Jack: I actually have another question for you. And I wanted to know, what are your number one do’s and dont’s at a dinner party?
Sam: Dos…
Jack: Yeah, what’s the do?
Sam: The dos is like order some drinks.
Jack: Okay.
Sam: Get involved with everyone. Don’t ignore people.
Jack: Don’t ignore people.
Sam: Don’t ignore people. Be chatty. Don’t be like the bitch that turns your back.
Jack: No.
Sam: Get to know everyone. Don’t is like order the most expensive thing. And yeah, just be cute. Get to know everyone. Bring good vibes. Don’t be a downer. Don’t let the conversation go into heavy territory.
Jack: Yeah.
Sam: That sucks. You know what I mean?
Jack: Yeah, keep it cute.
Sam: Yeah keep it cute. Give it light. You don’t want to be the one that’s being the Debbie Downer when you leave and you’re like, whoa.
Jack: Yeah.
Sam: That conversation shifted. (Laughs) Okay, what’s your fashion red flag? Like, what do you hate? What are you like, oh my god, no.
Jack: You know what I like hate right now? I hate like, wrinkles.
Sam: In clothes?
Jack: Yeah.
Sam: I thought you meant period. (Both laugh)
Jack: No.
Sam: Oh, yeah, you love a steamed shirt, like crispy steamed shirt.
Jack: Okay, so the fashion thing, you know, so maybe like an intentional wrinkle on a shirt or a pant is like cute, but you know, you should treat yourself like the most beautiful piece of art in the Louvre.
Sam: So I’m your red flag then, because I’m always a sucker for a wrinkley… I’m like never ever ironed. I don’t think I even have one.
Jack: Well, but that’s a vibe. That’s like an artistic choice for you.
Sam: Is it though? Question mark.
Jack: Yeah, no, but you know what I’m talking about though? Because you always look incredible. I’m talking about when people walk around in shirts that they pull out of the bottom of the laundry basket and you can tell.
Sam: Okay, that’s your fashion red flag.
Jack: A little bit. Am I wrong? Get a steamer, like a small one.
Sam: Steamers are good.
Jack: It just makes you look more expensive… You look like the most expensive thing on the menu if you just get a steamer. And that’s it.
Sam: Period.
Jack: My turn, okay. So we’ve spent some time in New York together. And I wanted to know, what’s your favorite thing in New York besides me?
Sam: Well, actually, I’ve been loving walking around, listening to Lana Del Rey and just like stumbling across different stores. I love trash and vaudeville. This store’s really cool. It’s really New York. Stumbling into coffee shops. Just the best day, like my ideal day in New York is just walking around listening to music and not really having a plan. I went to Mast bookstore…
Jack: Oh, you did?
Sam: Yeah, It’s really cool. Getting lost in all those kind of bookstores and stuff and just having no plans is like the best day.
Jack: Totally.
Sam: There’s a lot of essence to New York and I also like that people are just, I don’t know, they’re more… How do I put it into a word? I feel like they don’t give a fuck. They’re more interested to get involved. They’re happy to like, lift each other up. There’s real sense of community. There’s more of a scene for upcoming artists as opposed to other places where it’s either like you’re really big or you don’t exist. And I feel like in New York, there’s a lot of things where people are supporting each other and coming to each other’s shows and stuff, and that’s really nice that you get that in New York.
Jack: Totally. Well, I hope you spend more time here bitch.
Sam: I know. What’s something you learned this week?
Jack: I learned about singing more.
Sam: That’s good.
Jack: I’ve been taking vocal lessons every day. So I’ve learned a little more about singing!
Sam: Okay!
Jack: That’s it. So, if you could raid anyone’s closet, living or dead, who would it be?
Sam: Oh my god. Vivienne Westwood.
Jack: Ooh, that’s a good one.
Sam: Yeah.
Jack: I could see that for you.
Sam: I know.
Jack: Damn, okay.
Sam: Who would you pick?
Jack: I would pick, like, John Galliano’s—
Sam: That was my second one as well…
Jack: Yeah. Not his personal one, but if he has an archive of all his menswear runway shows? I would risk going to jail to break in there.
Sam: Yeah. Period.
Jack: I guess.
Sam: What’s the last book you read?
Jack: Um… that’s a good question. I have serious ADHD, so I’ll read, like, a page of everything. But the last book I started was—okay, I usually don’t like tell-alls about famous people because I think it’s kind of rude to write them. But—
Sam: But…
Jack: But the woman who cut David Bowie’s hair into the Ziggy Stardust mullet, dyed it red, and went on tour with him as his dresser during that whole era wrote her tell-all—and it’s giving.
Sam: Really? What’s it called?
Jack: Me and Mr. Jones.
Sam: Okay.
Jack: She spills the tea.
Sam: Okay.
Jack: I’m still in the middle of it—like, second chapter—but it was an exception to my tell-all rule. I just have such a soft spot for that era.
Jack: You’re honestly one of the most mentally stable people I know.
Sam: Thank you.
Jack: In the creative world, it’s easy to lose your fucking mind. So what are your secrets to keeping your head on your shoulders?
Sam: I think I just don’t give a fuck. I trust my gut, I listen to my art, and I do what I like. I hope other people like it, but I really try not to care what anyone thinks. Staying honest—in art and in life—is important. My superpower is not caring what other people think.
Jack: I love that.
Sam: Yeah.
Jack: So important.
Sam: Okay, last questions. I have two.
Jack: Shoot.
Sam: First—what inspires you about New York City?
Jack: I like how it’s always changing. People are always moving here, and moving out.
Sam: Yes.
Jack: There’s this joie de vivre—this enthusiasm for life. On a perfect autumn or spring day, everyone just walks outside and seizes the moment. The little things: walking down the street, people sitting in the park. It’s really beautiful.
Sam: Yeah. Just the life of the city.
Okay—what’s wrong with New York City?
Jack: The price. The price is wrong. The price is not right in New York City.
Sam: It’s expensive.
Jack: It’s bad. If New York City were less expensive, it would be richer. Truly.
Sam: Yeah.
Jack: I don’t know what to do about that, but—yeah.
Sam: One day at a time.
Jack: One day at a time.
Jack: What makes you fearless?
Sam: Honestly, the same thing—not giving a fuck. Not overthinking, not second-guessing. And if things go wrong, I just move on. I’ve got thick Australian skin. I try not to let things affect me personally or artistically, and I just keep going.
Jack: Yeah.
Sam: The drive for my art, and not caring too much. That’s what works for me.
Jack: I love that.
Sam: Yeah. Resilience.
Jack: Resilience.
Sam: Resilience.
Jack: That’s the best thing about New York City, too. Growing up here taught me resilience. It’s the most important quality anyone can have.
Sam: A bitch has to bounce back.
Jack: Exactly.
Sam: As the famous song goes, I get knocked down…
Jack: But I get up again.
Sam: You’re never gonna keep me down.
Jack: Amen.
Jack: Speaking of getting up again—what can we see you get up to next?
Sam: I’m releasing an album.
Jack: Period.
Sam: In January. The second single is coming out soon, and then I’ll be touring next year—2026.
Jack: Wow. You best believe it.
Sam: Yeah.
Jack: Sickening.
Sam: Yes.
Jack: I’m so happy for you!
Sam: And I’m happy for you.
Jack: Oh—stop it. We’re doing big things.
Sam: Yes.