Better known for his music released as Project213, Jared Hallock’s latest venture sees him performing under his own name, with first single, ‘My Destiny‘. We had the pleasure to recently speak to Jared.
Talk to us a little bit about your origins in the music industry – what made you fall in love with making music?
I think I fell in love with music the same way you fall in love with a person – unexpectedly, and then all at once. I started as a drummer, sitting in my basement, trying to make sense of chaos by keeping time. Over the years, I found that songwriting gave me a way to turn weird thoughts and quiet heartbreaks into something meaningful – or at least something melodic. Music became my way of processing the absurdity of being alive. And somewhere between rhythm and lyrics, I realized that if you can make someone feel seen and smirk a little, you’ve done something worthwhile.
How has splitting time between Boise and Nashville influenced your sound or songwriting style?
Boise and Nashville are like the two sides of my brain – one a little scrappy and offbeat, the other steeped in craft and collaboration. Boise taught me how to make something out of nothing and gave me the freedom to stay weird. Nashville sharpened my instincts and helped me write songs that connect on a gut level. The contrast keeps me honest. Boise lets me experiment; Nashville makes me finish what I start.
How do you use humor and irony in your songwriting, and how does this manifest in ‘My Destiny’?
Humor and irony are survival tools. They let you talk about hard things without drowning in them. In ‘My Destiny’, there’s this contrast between the cosmic and the ridiculous – like whispering a love song while falling through space in a tennis outfit. The line “You best believe it, I’m chilling out with my destiny” is sincere, but also self-aware. The protagonist is earnestly reaching for connection while winking at the camera. That tension – between heartfelt and hilarious – is where I live creatively.
Do you see “destiny” in the song as romantic, spiritual, or something else entirely?
All of the above. In the song, “Destiny” is both a person and a metaphor. The protagonist is literally singing to someone named Destiny, but also confronting the idea of fate itself – what it means to be seen, chosen, or aligned with something bigger than yourself. It’s romantic, yes. But it’s also existential. Can you actually meet your destiny…and what if she’s in a purple tennis skirt and laughing at your jokes?
Tell us a little bit about the blended animation style in the ‘My Destiny’ music video. What made Dada-inspired absurdism perfect for this visual?
The video leans hard into surreal, Dadaist-inspired absurdity because that’s where this song lives. I worked with Tom Sanford (Hal 13 Pictures) and Scott Grady (Apricott Films) – two brilliant artists who took a loose idea and turned it into a world. I came to them with a few non-negotiables: tennis outfits, a cigar, and a purple and white color palette. Other than that, I gave them space to follow their intuition. The result is this dreamy, floating universe filled with symbolism, Easter eggs, and moments that feel both weightless and oddly familiar – like a memory you never had. The absurdism isn’t for shock; it’s a vehicle for truth.
What do you hope listeners feel the first time they hear the song or watch the video?
I hope they feel a mix of curiosity, nostalgia, and a kind of cosmic romanticism – like remembering a love that might’ve been from a parallel life. And I hope they laugh at least once. There’s a lot of intention in the details, but also a freedom to just enjoy the ride. It’s okay to feel something and not know exactly what it is. That’s kind of the point.
As a songwriter, how do you balance personal storytelling with creating something universal for listeners? Does ‘My Destiny’ resonate with you?
I try to write from a place that’s deeply personal but open-ended enough for other people to insert their own story. ‘My Destiny’ resonates with me because it captures a feeling I’ve had more than once – that surreal moment when life feels strangely aligned, and you’re afraid to mess it up by thinking too hard. The visuals might be whimsical, but the emotion underneath is real. It’s a song about belief – in yourself, in love, in possibility – even when it all feels kind of ridiculous.
In your opinion, what sets your artistry apart from others? What can fans look forward to next?
I’m not here to play it safe. I write songs that sit somewhere between sincerity and satire, between heartbreak and absurdity. I’m trying to create art that feels true but not precious — music that’s smart without taking itself too seriously. As for what’s next: more songs, more experiments, more weird ideas that probably shouldn’t work but might. I’m building a community around this whole world — part musical, part philosophical, part cosmic joke. And if you’ve ever felt like the punchline to your own story… you’ll probably fit right in.
Watch the music video for ‘My Destiny’ below, and find out more about Jared Hallock and his music online on his officialwebsite,YouTube,Facebook,Instagram, andTikTok.