In the latest instalment of the Select Cuts series, we’re joined by Keep It Zen, Red Lunar and, of course, VIVa Music producer Jacky. In addition to mixing an exclusive 60 minutes in honour of the occasion, the London-based artist also took the time to talk us through his musical birth, his love for House (both kinds ;)) and sealing the deal with Steve Lawler’s legendary imprint. It’s all below!

WWD: Start us off fresh! How did you first become involved in music? Aside from production and playing are you involved in any other roles in the industry?

Well, my journey in music really began around the precious age of 9 years old. In 1998 I was living in East Africa. My Dad’s job was based in Tanzania, therefore me and the rest of our family went with him. It was at school here when I started playing drums, and when my parents saw that wasn’t all that bad, they bought my first drum kit. It was a second hand kit from some other expats down the road and I couldn’t have been happier!

As you can imagine, my music choice was very much based around my instrument. My Sony Walkman saw albums from the likes of The Verve, Lenny Kravitz, Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Sum 41 and more. I played for years after, was in several bands throughout my schooldays, but when I got to around 15 years old I started playing basketball and gradually lost interest.

Throughout the rest of my teens I grew a very strong interest for hip hop. Playing basketball regularly the music which is associated with the sport was hip hop and so I was exposed to it all the time and it grew on me very quickly.

It wasn’t until I was nineteen (hence the name of my track ‘Nineteen’ which has had huge support in from VIVa bossman Steve Lawler) until I got my first set of turntables, and as soon I I got my hands on them I literally fell in love with it. I started mixing a lot of electro house – the likes of Wolfgang Gartner, Cirez D and Felguk. As I started going clubbing my love for house and techno grew, and (excuse the exhausted expression, but) the rest is history!

I also launched my own label last year too, Red Lunar Records. It was something I had been planning for quite some time and actually dedicated a module on my final year at university on this project and once I graduated I got the ball rolling pretty much staight away. I really wanted a team to work with on this so I partnered up with good friend from up North Richard Heiniger, whom I had experience working with running parties in the North East. After only 1 year of releases our roster already features Di Chiara Brothers, Jey Kurmis, Atove, Katal, Sascha Sonido, Groove Syndicate and Class Enemy. The ethos of the label is to put music out there, which we ourselves love and from artists we support, and you can expect to see some amazing things from us in 2016.

WWD: What got you started into producing your own music?

I think it was around 1 year after I bought my first set of decks when I started messing around with Ableton. My Uncle Michael had a full studio so I used to go around to his place and mess around with all the equipment. I remember originally messing around with a Roland TR-909, MikroKORG synth and a Korg Kaos Pad. I then started playing the things I recorded in live with the Akai APC40 and that’s when it just clicked for me. I couldn’t stop playing with it, and then it got to a point where I wanted to learn more.

At the time, I was working for a well-known bank and had been for around 4 years. One day I thought to myself “do I really want to be working in an office in 40 years?” I immediately applied for college to compete an access course in Music Production at Newcastle. I would later go on to compete a foundation degree here, and I graduated from Leeds Metropolitan University 4 years later with a First Class Honors Degree in Music Technology.

It wasn’t until I started my first year of uni that I discovered that the degree content was very much based around recording audio, microphone technique and very little about making dance music (which was what I really wanted to learn). I therefore applied the theory from my course using Logic Pro and Pro Tools and self taught myself Ableton Live. It did take me a good year or so to make anything worthy of showing my friends, but after a couple of years of persistence I started to make music which I could play out and, any producer will tell you there is no better feeling than playing your own music out in a club!

WWD: You just released a quality EP with VIVa. What can you tell us about the record?

Well, this record all came about because of a previous track of mine that I did mention earlier. My ‘Nineteen EP’ dropped on Keep It Zen Records back in February this year, and it was in May when I was sent a video of Steve Lawler dropping the lead track from this release to about 4000 people at Shindig festival in my hometown of Newcastle. I then tweeted the video and tagged Steve in the post, and within an hour he tweeted me back saying ‘my favourite track of the year so far mate…lets get you a release on VIVa ASAP!’. This was a pretty direct request and I didn’t take it lightly! It took me about 3 months to get the project exactly how I wanted it and I think it was only about 24 hours after I sent Steve the project that I got a reply from the VIVa office saying they want all 4 tracks! Having being attending viva parties for years before, releasing music with them was a huge milestone in my career, but don’t worry…I can assure you I’m just getting warmed up!

WWD: Where do you find inspiration when producing a new track or EP?

I wouldn’t say there was any one thing that inspires me when starting a new project. It could be in a nightclub watching another artist play. It could be hearing something different walking down the street. When I start writing music the end product tends to reflect my mood at the time, however, everything that happens in between is a very natural process. My tracks tend to just ‘happen’ as I try my best not to force anything. I find that usually results in me sitting for hours working on 1 groove and never getting anywhere! There more natural, the better results – that’s what I say!

WWD: We are always curious here at WWD to find out what you’re listening to at the moment. Can you give us your three current non-dance favourites?

Well actually, I was at a party the other week and we thought it would be nice to put a track on each that we remember from years ago. These are the tracks that stuck since that night…

Greenday – Breakout
Zero7 – Destiny
System Of A Down – Toxicity

WWD: Outside of music, what do you do when you’re chilling out?

Me and my girlfriend like to eat out (like, a lot). We both moved to London just over 1 year ago, and there are so many places to eat it would seem rude not to try them all, wouldn’t it? I also like to cook. Eleanor is a fantastic cook and I have learned a lot from her, but I trying to learn something new each time I step foot in the kitchen. My signature dish is chicken and tarragon risotto. I’m well good at that.

I am also a bit of a Netflix whore. When I start a series, I have to finish it almost straight away. I must have watched House about 3 times over and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve seen Breaking Bad.

WWD: Best set you heard this year and where?

Easy this one. KiNK at Found Festival, Brixton back in June. I had been meaning to catch him loads but always ended up being sidetracked or gigging myself. It was mind-blowing if I’m honest. I had never seen so much energy and creativity crammed into 1 hour. Letting the crowd play the drums in on a wireless controller then using that loop to make a whole new track…one of the best sets I have ever seen, period. Amazing talent.

WWD: What does the rest of the year have in store release and show-wise?

Well there is only 6 weeks of the year left, so release wise there isn’t much. I have plenty going on at the start of 2016 with releases and remixes on Elrow Music, Skint Records, Keep It Zen Records, Criminal Hype, Twisted Fusion and a couple more I can’t tell you about just yet. I also have an EP dropping on my label Red Lunar Records that is going to be my highlight of the year – keep an eye out for that one..

Show wise, I have a few left to see 2015 off. Over the next month to so you will catch me in London, Bristol, Great Yarmouth, Cambridge, Leeds and in on home turf in Newcastle.

WWD: What would make 2016 a good year for Jacky?

There are a couple of things that would make 2016 a memorable year for me. The first is that I want to play some festivals. I have played clubs pretty much since the start of my career but I would love to play to bigger crowds. One particular festival which I really would like to play is Secret Garden Party.

Another thing is to continue working as a full time artist. I recently quit my 9-5 in order to pursue my goal to work full time in music, and so far it’s going well, but I take each day as it comes. There is a long where to go to be where I want to be so I am working as hard as I can and hopefully I can look back in 2017 and feel that I achieved myself and enjoyed the journey along the way.

Finally, tell us a little about the mix you’ve recorded for us – what are we to expect?

This is basically a blend of some tracks I am feeling at the moment, plus a lot of my own material (some of which has never been heard!). All of these records find their way into my sets at some point so if you dig it, make sure you catch me at my next show 😉

Follow: Jacky