Press
“Inspired by his lived experiences of leaving the Mormon church and heading across the USA with his partner in search of a new life, “Strangers” recounts a tale of resilience and escape that many can relate to. The warm, playful tones of acoustic guitar starts “Strangers” with a laid back, breezy elegance as Jackson’s soft voice applies delicate melodies above the stripped-back arrangement.” - Kat Lattimore
“...where Harden completely wins us over is with his vocal. He does not rely on any sort of twang to sell us the song and his voice comes across as having had enough experience to only sing the truth. The performance is very raw and intimate, with no evidence of autotune or over-processing. In fact, we’ll go out on a limb and say that if you dig the sounds of Nick Drake and Elliott Smith, you will feel right at home with “Dakota Blue Moon” in your ears.”
— UpToHear
“Fans of traditional country music are going to find a lot to like from this tune by Jackson Harden. There’s a nice easy going swing to the track, confessional lyrics, a killer steel guitar, and an overall timeless sound. If you told me that this song was recorded in the early 60s, instrumentally I would buy that. The production, though, is really great.” - Greg Jones
“...a sonic atmosphere similar to the likes of John Fahey and Joni Mitchell. Thriving in its stripped-back nature, Harden’s guitar voicing’s mixes between simple and complex, ranging from traditionally easy arpeggios to interesting fingerpicking licks. These techniques combine effortlessly with the songwriter’s singing, which deserves recognition for conveying thoughtful imagery without sacrificing its phrasing, tone, or quality.” - Michael Collins
“The combination of country and delicate vocals makes this melody unique and interesting for everyone who appreciates the depth and diversity in music. The melody has an atmosphere that instantly takes the listener to the endless prairie, where the wind descending from the distant mountains walks through the fields. The sound is filled with warmth and executed with a huge sense of style and authenticity.”
“Jackson Harden offers with Dakota Blue Moon a promising and very honest first EP. Based on Americana and Folk, Harden delivers his emotions through melodies with refined arrangements reminiscent of Wilco. With his dark and dusty guitar the young man knows how to create a catchy crescendo that quickly envelops us. With his frank and unadorned voice, he conveys his intimacy in such a way as to make his stories universal. Although short, the EP succeeds in establishing a well-defined universe.” - Frederic Bussieres
“His lyrics are always thought provoking and meaningful which sends a shiver down my spine as I listen. I often have to rewind his songs to listen to parts again.” - Joanna Park
“It was a beautiful, transportive evening, but I was most taken by the last song they performed, “When Are You Coming Back Again?”. It’s pure poetry. What I was most intrigued by was the way each verse contained a different repeating vocal line, with the “chorus” resolving the previously repeated lines. I found it genius, in its simplicity and intentionality.” - Kim Ware
“With an acoustic guitar, Harden designs a piece of simple and incredibly pure folk influences, where feelings come first: delicate, calm and exciting!” - Antonio Paolo Zucchelli