A man sits at a piano and regales you with tales of love and life. It’s something that happens just as naturally in a dim-lit New York City neighborhood haunt as it does under the bright lights of Shea Stadium. It’s a timeless tradition that doesn’t occur enough in this day and age. It’s something that Jackson Penn holds sacred. At the end of 2018, the Manhattan-born and Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and storyteller sat behind a piano and simply played, taking a new school approach to a classic sound. Without any expectations or goals, he quietly wrote throughout the year equally inspired by the everyman honesty of Billy Joel and the literary spark of J.D. Salinger. Penn unveiled his independent debut single “Streetlights On Mars.” With its lithe guitar, glistening piano, and vivid lyricism, the track caught fire. It hit #12 on the US Viral and #17 on Global Viral Spotify charts. The Fader called it “an addictive pop song.” The combination of deft instrumentation and clever wordplay properly introduced his sound. His real name is actually Freddy Wexler, and he’s a GRAMMY-nominated songwriter for Justin Bieber, Lil Wayne, Ariana Grande, BlackPink, Post Malone, Selena Gomez, Halsey, Demi Lovato, Jonas Brothers, Pink, Marshmello, and Majid Jordan, among others. But Jackson Penn unlocks something special for Wexler. “My career has been a circle,” he explains. “I followed this path around the industry, and it ended right where it began. That’s how I know I’m home.”