Texas singer-songwriter Jack Barksdale is using wit, satire and folk storytelling to address a very contemporary subject: scams.
Barksdale’s latest single, “The Scam Song,” released July 17 through Cloverdale Records, blends humor with social commentary, examining how financial fraud and the abuse of power have become increasingly normalized in modern society.
Built around acoustic instrumentation and Barksdale’s conversational songwriting style, the track opens with a tongue-in-cheek reference to the familiar “Nigerian prince” email scam before expanding into a broader commentary on wealth, influence and corporate behavior.
“The Scam Song 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,” Barksdale said in announcing the release.
The song serves as the lead single from “Battleground,” a five-song EP scheduled for release Oct. 16. The project was produced by Memphis musician and producer Mark Edgar Stuart and recorded at the historic Sam Phillips Recording Service in Memphis, Tennessee. The title track features acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Julian Taylor.
The release also includes a music video built around symbolic imagery that reinforces the song’s message. According to Barksdale, the video’s concept originated with his sister, who suggested depicting people in business suits removing money from his guitar case as a visual metaphor for exploitation.
Now in his late teens, Barksdale has steadily built a reputation as one of Texas’ emerging folk and Americana songwriters. A Fort Worth native, he began writing original songs at age 9 and has since performed throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
His songwriting draws from folk, country, blues, rock and Americana traditions while often exploring subjects beyond the typical themes associated with young artists. That maturity has earned praise from American Songwriter, which noted that Barksdale possesses “insights and awareness far beyond people twice his age.”
Barksdale’s profile continued to rise with the 2025 release of “Voices,” issued through Truly Handmade Records, the label founded by the estate of legendary Texas songwriter Guy Clark. The album’s single, “Martyrs,” featuring Grammy Award-winning artist Sarah Jarosz, received airplay across Americana radio and SiriusXM. His music has now surpassed 8 million streams on Spotify.
Earlier projects include the 2024 EP “Out of Order,” the instrumental collection “Phantom Trails,” and the ongoing Jack Barksdale’s Roots Revival Podcast, where he interviews fellow songwriters about the craft of writing and performing original music.
Barksdale is currently touring North America, with appearances scheduled at venues including Mountain Stage, Eddie’s Attic and multiple dates across Texas.
