Texan multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jack Barksdale is immensely talented, delivering powerful performances on guitar, harmonica, mandolin, piano and more. Battleground is a song that showcases his fine instrumental work, while also displaying the intensity of his lyrics. In a voice that is clean, clear, and pure, Barksdale conveys thought-provoking words that convey his message in stark, direct terms. Full of purpose, he confronts us with inequality and the imbalance of power between the super-rich and the economically disadvantaged. Battleground carries an important and challenging truth: those with wealth, power, and influence live by different rules in a system driven by injustice. The accompanying video, filmed by Jamie Harmon, matches the intensity of the song, with artful editing of desolate, abandoned locations creating a sense of cinematic drama.
Barksdale says of the song and video: “‘Battleground is about how we, as a society, let people and companies with lots of money, power, and influence get away with things that we would otherwise be very wary of. The music video is more of a symbolic gesture to capture the overall feel of the song. Taking the idea of class warfare and letting the eye and ear travel and search through the song in a symbolic manner.”
The song features acclaimed singer-songwriter Julian Taylor, whose voice adds depth and resonance. Barksdale says: “I met Julian Taylor at the You Got Gold John Prine Tribute in 2025 and have since become a big fan of his music. I was very excited Julian was able to lend his voice to the song.”
Taylor adds: “‘Battleground’ is a stellar song from an artist who continues to break new ground lyrically.”
Battleground is the title track from Barksdale’s forthcoming EP, which is due on 16th October 2026. This is the follow-up to Barksdale’s well-received full-length record, 2023’s Voices, which features the voice of GRAMMY Award-winning Sarah Jarosz and was released on Truly Handmade Records, the label created by the estate of songwriter Guy Clark. Just nineteen years old, Barksdale is already developing a reputation for adding his voice to uncomfortable, challenging themes. Check it out.
