Jackson Hirsh pays it forward from demo to main stage

When Jackson Hirsh was a college sophomore with a guitar, a voice, and a dream, a Hunter’s Fund grant helped him take his first big step—recording his very own demo. That recording opened doors, turning small local shows into bigger opportunities. Before long, Jackson signed a record deal and began performing under the name Rence.

Today, Rence is an LA-based singer, songwriter, and producer with more than 38 million streams to his name. He’s performed at major festivals like Lollapalooza and collaborated with artists such as Noah Cyrus—all milestones that trace back to that first demo.

In a full-circle gesture of gratitude, Jackson chose to return his grant so another young musician could begin their own journey. His gift back to Hunter’s Fund now helps a new artist record their first demo and follow their dream.

That’s the ripple effect your support creates—one artist inspiring the next, proving that every gift helps launch a voice, a vision, and a future.