Joan Jett’s acoustic album Changeup marks a shift in her musical career, offering fans an intimate reimagining of her classic hits and deeper cuts. In an interview with Kyle Meredith, Jett explained how the project emerged from an unexpected place: “It started during the lockdowns, and I think doing those acoustic tracks for Morning Joe really sparked the idea to reimagine some of my songs in a more intimate, acoustic way.” She reflected on how this process allowed her to explore the songs differently, noting that the stripped-down versions gave her a new perspective on her decades-old work.
A standout for Jett was revisiting “Victim of Circumstance,” a song whose acoustic treatment transformed its melody and harmonies. “It’s the same lyrics, but the melody took on a different context,” she said, describing how the song became “a different song altogether.” She was similarly struck by the new version of “Cherry Bomb,” a signature track from her time with The Runaways. “It’s moodier, maybe even sexy, but still has the same menace,” Jett shared.
The album’s 25 tracks don’t just showcase Jett’s biggest hits but also highlight deeper cuts that fans might not expect, such as “You Can’t Get Me” and “Coney Island Whitefish.” When asked about her selection process, Jett explained that the acoustic format allowed her to shine a light on songs that may have been overlooked: “It was about showing off some of those songs that maybe weren’t paid attention to the first time, except for the hardcore fans.”
Looking forward, Jett hinted at the possibility of exploring even more songs acoustically, possibly with a follow-up volume. “We could have done 20 more songs,” she revealed, teasing the potential for a second album in the same style. She also touched on the deeper connection she felt to the music during the lockdowns, reflecting, “We all wanted to slow down and get more intimate with the things we care about, and for me, a big part of that was music.”
Watch the interview above and then check out the videos below.
