Jack Horton—he’s a real-life rebel with keys instead of a guitar. This Oregon boy who cut his teeth in Tokyo’s piano bars has ditched the corporate life to bare his soul through music. His new single “Set Me Free” kicks off his upcoming EP Imperfections. It’s not your typical sad breakup song—this thing yanks you straight into the fire and shouts freedom right in your face.
Horton, a classically trained pianist who once juggled law school and piano-bar gigs in Tokyo before diving into tech and government roles, has always been a master of reinvention. But “Set Me Free” finds him at his most unguarded; it shows us the real Jack—no holding back. Born from the rubble of his marriage falling apart, the track turns that pain into pure musical adrenaline instead of moping. His piano pounds like a jackhammer while his voice growls and soars. “I’m grateful for my divorce,” he admits, and that gratitude, you can feel that in every note.
What makes “Set Me Free” stand out is its refusal to soften its edges. Horton’s piano work here is muscular, bringing to mind rock giants like Springsteen, but with its own modern edge. There’s no wall of guitars here – just Horton, his keys, that gritty voice of his, and a rhythm section that hits like a runaway train. The lyrics hit just as hard—no filters, no mercy. It’s all about loving someone enough to walk away, a pretty universal theme that hits extra hard coming from someone who’s clearly lived it.
As the lead single from Imperfections—a five-track EP featuring four originals and a bold rework of Jim Croce’s “Operator”—“Set Me Free” sets the tone for Horton’s most personal project yet. It’s a gutsy move to kick off a monthly song rollout with such a visceral track, but Horton’s confidence is unshakable. This is music that takes guts, but Horton’s not holding back.
Horton’s journey—from Tokyo’s piano bars to tech CEO and back to music— electrifies the stripped-down truth here. There’s no pretence, no glossy filters. “Set Me Free” is Horton laying his soul bare, drawing on a lifetime of experiences to create something real. If this is what “imperfection” sounds like, sign us up for the full ride.
Imperfections drops one track monthly through August. Consider April’s “Set Me Free” offering a warning shot: Jack Horton’s here to rock, and he’s just getting started.