Jax (singer)
Jackie Miskanic[1] (born May 5, 1996),[2] known professionally as Jax, is an American singer from East Brunswick, New Jersey.[3][4] She finished third on the fourteenth season of American Idol, an American singing competition series.[5]
Jax | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jackie Miskanic |
| Born | May 5, 1996 |
| Origin | Atlantic Beach, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Instruments | |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Labels | Atlantic Records |
Early life
Jax was raised in Atlantic Beach, New York,[1][6] and moved with her family in 2005 to East Brunswick, New Jersey.[7][8] She began singing at age 5.[9] Her father is a firefighter, injured on duty during the September 11 attacks, and her mother is a New York City school teacher.[10] After attending the East Brunswick Public Schools, Jax was homeschooled starting in eighth grade, in order to allow her sufficient time for voice lessons, performances and recording.[11]
In mid-2014, she studied at New York University in London, where she won the John Lennon Scholarship in songwriting via the BMI Foundation.[3]
Career
American Idol
Jax auditioned for the fourteenth season of American Idol, with the song "I Want To Hold Your Hand" by The Beatles.[12] She sang "Toxic" by Britney Spears for her first solo audition during Hollywood Week. Jax sang The Beatles' "Let It Be" for her final solo performance. She was the only contestant out of 80 to be declared safe immediately after the performance.[3] In April 2015, Jax became the New Jersey's most successful American Idol contestant.[13] In March 2015, she performed at the Filmore in Detroit, Michigan wearing #thedress.[14] She performed Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart" with Steven Tyler during the show's season finale.[15] Jax finished third in the competition, and her first single, "Forcefield", was released following the finale.[16] In July 2015, Jax and the other top five American Idol contestants began the American Idols LIVE! Tour 2015.[17] The tour began in Clearwater, Florida and is scheduled to end in Riverside, California. The top 3 all released a single each, the top 4 all released an extended play each, American Idol Season 14: Best of Jax - EP, and the season 14 top 9, 8, 7, 6, and 5 all released a contribution each.
Performances
| Week | Theme | Song(s) | Original artist(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auditions | Contestant's choice | "I Want to Hold Your Hand" | The Beatles | Advanced |
| Hollywood Week | Most memorable auditions; Selected to Perform | "Toxic" | Britney Spears | |
| Hollywood Week | Hollywood round | N/a | N/a | |
| Hollywood Week | Group Round | "Drive By" with Alexis Glanville, Sal Valentinetti, Kelley Kime and Monica | Train | |
| Hollywood Week | Solo round | "Let It Be" | The Beatles | |
| House of Blues (Top 48) | Contestant's choice | "You and I (Lady Gaga song)" | Lady Gaga | |
| Top 24 | Contestant's choice | "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" | Cher | Safe |
| Top 16 | Music of Motown | "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" | Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell | |
| Top 12 | "Back to the Start" | "I Want to Hold Your Hand" | The Beatles | |
| Top 11 | Party Songs | "Blank Space" | Taylor Swift | |
| Top 11 (Redux) | Songs from the Movies | "Grow Old with You" from The Wedding Singer | Adam Sandler | |
| Top 9 | Songs from the 1980s | "You Give Love a Bad Name" | Bon Jovi | |
| Top 8 | Kelly Clarkson | "Beautiful Disaster" | Kelly Clarkson | |
| Top 7 | Billboard Hot 100 | "Poker Face" | Lady Gaga | |
| Top 6 | American Classics | "Piece of My Heart" "Beat It" |
Janis Joplin Michael Jackson | |
| Top 5 | Arena Anthems | "Are You Gonna Be My Girl" "White Flag" |
Jet Dido | |
| Top 4 | Judges' Hometown Contestant's own soul |
"Empire State of Mind" "Human" |
Alicia Keys Christina Perri | |
| Top 3 | Scott Borchetta's Choice Judges' Choice Hometown's Choice |
"My Generation" "My Immortal" "Misery Business" |
The Who Evanescence Paramore |
Eliminated |
Post-Idol
Jax's first post-Idol recording, "La La Land", was released on January 6, 2016.[18] Her first music video was released later that day, for "La La Land". The song is lyrically about her experience on American Idol.[19]
In August 2016, Jax revealed that she was battling thyroid cancer,[1] but has been declared cancer-free since then.
In January 2021, she signed a record deal with Atlantic Records.[20]
Discography
Singles
| Year | Title | Peak chart positions | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| 2015 | "Forcefield" | - | American Idol Top 3 Season 14 |
| 2016 | "La La Land" | - | N/A |
| "Stars" | - | Funny | |
| "Kickin' & Screamin" | - | ||
| 2018 | "Somebody's Kid" | - | N/A |
| 2020 | "Come Home to Me" | - | N/A |
| "I Can't Believe I Shaved My Legs for This" | - | ||
| "Papercuts" | - | ||
| "Bitchcraft" | - | ||
| 2021 | "Ring Pop" | - | N/A |
References
- Lovece, Frank (August 8, 2016). "'American Idol' singer Jax battling thyroid cancer". Newsday. New York City / Long Island. Archived from the original on 2018-05-19. Retrieved May 19, 2018.
Atlantic Beach-raised singer Jackie Miskanic aka Jax...
- Makin, Cheryl (May 29, 2017). "Jax in her 'happy place' with upcoming Jersey show". My Central Jersey. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
During the tour's stop in New Orleans, Jax turned 21 — on May 5 (Cinco de Mayo) [2017]
- Makin, Cheryl (February 3, 2015). "Jax on 'American Idol': 'Showcase Week' begins tonight". MyCentralJersey.com. Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- "When 'American Idol' Hits Home: A Tribute to Jax and East Brunswick, New Jersey". Billboard. May 5, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- Mink, Casey (May 13, 2015). "'American Idol': Jax Reveals 'What I'll Do Next'". HollywoodLife.com. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- Olivier, Bobby (February 19, 2015). "Passionate East Brunswick teen raises rare Jersey flag on 'American Idol'". NJ.com (NJ Advance Media). Archived from the original on February 21, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
Jax's family — parents John and Jill Miskanic, Jax and brother Matt — moved to New Jersey in 2005, from Atlantic Beach, Long Island, where Jax (born Jackie Miskanic)
- "American Idol Contestant Jackie "Jax" Cole Wins Over America with Her Touching 9/11 Story". Bustle. January 15, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
Growing up on Long Island...
- "Hamill: Soulful New Yorker competes on 'American Idol'". Daily News. New York City. February 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
...she's 18 and she grew up on Long Island and in Jersey, the daughter of an FDNY firefighter and a city public-school teacher.
- "About Jax". American Idol official site (Fox Broadcasting). February 17, 2015. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- "Hamill: Jersey girl makes good as 'Idol' star Jax embraces life in spotlight". Daily News. New York City. May 23, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- Makin, Cheryl (March 10, 2015). "Jax keeping it real on American Idol". Courier News. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
Home schooled since the eighth grade, Jax left the township school system to pursue her musical dreams. She performed, toured, took voice lessons with a renowned vocal coach (same as Lady Gaga) and practiced nonstop in her basement recording studio.
- Gamboadate=March 11, 2015, Glenn. "'American Idol' Top 12: Jax is sole LIer selected". Newsday. New York City / Long Island. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- "'American Idol' 2015 elimination: N.J. singer Jax gets the ax". May 12, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- "American Idol Contestant Jax Wears #TheDress". People. March 3, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- "'American Idol' Finale: Jax Gets Closure Rocking Out With Steven Tyler". Billboard. May 13, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- "Jax is ready to be crowned the next 'American Idol'". Courier News. Retrieved 21 May 2015.
- "American Idol 2015! Live Tour Dates Announced". April 14, 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2015.
- Spadea, Bill. "Jax peels back the curtain with new single 'LaLaLand'". WKXW. Retrieved 6 January 2016.
- Jax in Bronson, Fred (January 7, 2016). "'American Idol' Alum Jax Addresses 'Sometimes Bitter' TV Experience in 'La La Land' Video: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 24, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
[I]t was the platform of a lifetime and it opened up all these doors for me. ... But at the same time it’s not as glamorous as it looks. People don't know. There are things I'm sometimes bitter about, about the way things were handled. ... [The song is] the closest I can give you to a backstage pass.
- "Jax announces record deal with Atlantic Records". Retrieved January 23, 2021.
External links
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