If you spent any time on the internet circa 2013, you remember the "Nerd Vandals." Two kids from Omaha, Nebraska, wearing thick-rimmed glasses and drawing "math" on sidewalks with chalk. It was peak Vine humor—innocent, goofy, and wildly viral. Most people assumed Jack Gilinsky and Jack Johnson would fade away when Vine died in 2017.
They didn't.
Fast forward to 2026, and the duo is currently navigating one of the most interesting "second acts" in pop music. It hasn’t been a straight line to the top, though. There were years of silence, solo experiments that felt a bit disjointed, and a massive shift in how they handle their business. Honestly, their story is less about being "influencers" and more about how two childhood best friends survived the meat grinder of teenage fame without losing their minds—or their friendship.
The Hiatus That Almost Ended Everything
For a long time, it felt like Jack & Jack were everywhere. You couldn't turn on a Top 40 station in 2018 without hearing "Rise," their massive collaboration with Jonas Blue. That track didn't just bubble under; it became a global monster, hitting number one on UK radio and racking up nearly a billion streams. But behind the scenes, things were getting heavy.
Major labels have a way of trying to mold artists into something they aren't. By 2020, the guys were burnt out. They announced a hiatus that lasted three years. During that time, the internet basically moved on. Jack Gilinsky moved back to Omaha for a bit during the pandemic, focusing on fitness and solo tracks like "My Love" with Don Toliver. Jack Johnson, meanwhile, was grinding on the production side, trying to find a sound that didn't feel like "manufactured pop."
They needed the space.
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It’s rare to see a duo break apart at the height of their commercial success and actually come back stronger. Usually, when groups "take a break," it's code for "we can't stand each other." But since these two have known each other since pre-kindergarten—literally meeting because Johnson walked up and sniffed Gilinsky in a neighbor's yard—the bond was deeper than a record contract.
Coming Home to "Symbiosis"
The reunion started quietly in 2022 with "Runaway," but 2024 and 2025 were the real turning points. They dropped the album Home in March 2024, which signaled a total departure from their old style. It wasn't the "bubblegum rap" of their early twenties. It was more atmospheric, leaning into electronic influences while keeping those tight harmonies they’re known for.
Now, as we move through 2026, they are deep into the Symbiosis era.
What’s cool about this current phase is that they are doing it entirely on their own terms. They’re independent now, working through Create Music Group rather than a massive corporate machine. Their 2025 North American and European tours proved the "Jack & Jack" brand wasn't just a nostalgia trip for former Viners. They were selling out venues in cities like London, Milan, and Seattle.
The newest music, like "Losing You" and "Our Song," has a "folky-pop" vibe that feels much more authentic to who they are as thirty-somethings. It’s mature. It’s a bit moody. Most importantly, it sounds like something they actually want to listen to.
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The Numbers Don't Lie
If you think they're "irrelevant," look at the data:
- "Rise" is sitting at over 900 million Spotify streams.
- "No One Compares To You" is RIAA Gold-certified with over 260 million plays.
- Their 2024/2025 tours saw a massive uptick in "legacy fans" bringing younger siblings, creating a weirdly multi-generational audience for guys who started on a 6-second video app.
What Most People Get Wrong About Them
The biggest misconception is that they were just "Vine stars who tried to sing." In reality, they were musicians who used Vine as a marketing tool. They were writing hooks in makeshift studios with the Eakins brothers (Barrington Park) back in Omaha long before they ever moved to LA.
Another thing? People love to pit them against each other. There’s always been this narrative of "who is the better Jack?" In 2026, they’ve basically laughed that off. During recent interviews, like their sit-down with The Luna Collective, they’ve been vocal about how they balance each other out. If Gilinsky has writer's block, Johnson’s ideas "blossom," and vice versa. It’s a collaborative ecosystem that most solo artists would kill for.
Why the 2026 "Symbiosis" Tour is Different
If you're planning on catching them on the fall 2025/2026 leg of the tour, expect something different than the high-energy, screaming-fan chaos of 2015.
The Symbiosis tour is much more focused on the "journey." They’ve been playing live versions of "Thought I Was Dead" and "Like That (Jack's Version)" that feel more like a jam session than a rehearsed pop show. They've also been pulling out "OG" songs—the stuff from the Calibraska EP—as a nod to the fans who have been there since the beginning.
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It feels like a celebration of resilience. They survived the "influencer" stigma, which is incredibly hard to do. Think about it: how many other 2013 internet stars are still headlining world tours in 2026? The list is very, very short.
How to Follow the New Era
If you’re just getting back into them, don’t just go back to "Wild Life" (though it’s still a bop).
- Listen to "Losing You": It’s the best representation of their 2025/2026 sound—raw, emotional, and less polished in a good way.
- Check the Live Sessions: Their "Home Live Sessions" on YouTube show off Gilinsky’s vocal growth. The guy can actually belt now.
- Follow the Independent Moves: Pay attention to how they’re releasing music. They’ve been doing "immersive" rollouts, teasing tracks on social media months in advance to build a community rather than just chasing a radio hit.
The takeaway here is simple: Jack Gilinsky and Jack Johnson aren't just a relic of the Vine era. They're a case study in how to evolve. They’ve traded the fleeting high of viral fame for the slow burn of a sustainable music career.
Next Steps for Fans: Check out their official tour site for the remaining 2026 "Symbiosis" dates across North America. If you haven't heard the Home album yet, start with the track "September's Gone"—it’s arguably the most honest song they’ve ever written about leaving their hometown to chase a dream that turned out to be much more complicated than they expected.