Jack Van Cleaf

Having spent time in San Diego before settling in Nashville, Jack Van Cleaf has developed a songwriting style rooted in contemporary folk, Americana and a melodic strain of indie rock where acoustic guitars sit alongside more electric arrangements. He began writing as a teenager and went on to study songwriting at Belmont University — a setting that shaped his early recordings and long-term collaborations with fellow musicians. Long independent, he broadened his audience in 2023 with “Rattlesnake,” an introspective track that circulated widely online and caught the attention of Noah Kahan, who invited him to open on his Stick Season tour. Zach Bryan also picked up the song and later recorded a version with him. Since then his career has navigated between Nashville’s singer‑songwriter scene and a larger touring format, including stints with artists such as Shakey Graves and Madi Diaz. In his songs Jack Van Cleaf explores themes of coming of age, identity and being on the move, using direct lyrics, spare atmospheres and a recurring tension between folk confession, dreamlike textures and rock energy.