FCHS senior Jakob Shifflett is not just your average student. He does much more than go to school, hang out with friends, work, and do homework. He makes music.

Shifflett has big dreams for his future. “Music is my priority. I’m not looking for the fame, I just want to be noticed. I want to be able to make a living from this,” he said. Shifflett considers himself to be a “singer/songwriter” because he both writes and sings his music. Friends of his call his music a mix of alternative, indie, and folk. Every song that Shifflett makes either tells a story, or explains how he has felt at some point in his life.

“Music has definitely always had an influence in my life.” said Shifflett. He started taking guitar and drum lessons at the age of seven. But he didn’t realize until later that he wanted music to be his career and knew he had to do something, so in eighth grade he started making his own.

Since then he has released two EPs, (a collection of music that’s longer than a single, but not long enough to be considered an album): “Lonely” and “For You,” with a third titled “Run With Me,” which has been lost to time.

Shifflett said his process for making music starts with making the chord progressions, then he writes the melody. When it comes to the lyrics, he says “It just has to be the right time, place, and mood.”

Shifflett’s music has spread throughout FCHS and beyond, with his Spotify alone having almost 200 total listeners. A variety of students enjoy Shifflett’s music. Junior Jason Boyle said, “His music makes me reflect on my past,” while senior Paul Nazari said Shifflett’s music “Gives you hope and an overall good feeling.”

Shifflett says he has many influences, such as Dallas Green and Justin Vernon. Josh Critzer, his boss at Watermarks Camp, also makes music and is Shifflett’s biggest inspiration.

In his latest EP, “For You,” Shifflett sings about his feeling for his girlfriend, senior Emily Thomas. Thomas said that his music is “such a big part of him. It’s so beautiful.” Thomas added on that Shifflett is “The kindest and most generous person I know.”

Shifflett has at least ten songs he has not released, although he does not plan to ever release those since they are not to his standards of release quality.

You can find his music on most platforms, including Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon.