Jake Walker is All About Dreamy Pads, Slow Burners, and Crunchy Percussion

DJ and producer Jake Walker recently made the move from Wollongong to Sydney. A veteran of sorts—having worked in music and nightlife for many years now—we had Jake into THUMP on FBi Click to make us an exclusive mix. Listen to it below, and read our interview below.

What are you about?

Dreamy pads, slow burners, crunchy/distorted/warped percussion, and regular ventures outside the four-to-the-floor rhythmic format.

Where in the world are you today?

Recently relocated from the hometown of Wollongong to an Inner West garage near you.

Favourite record of all time?

Probably Joy Orbison's J. Doe/BRKLN CLLN. Probably the record of that Hessle Audio & affiliated UK labels/artists scene that got me into the dancey side of things.

Tell us about the best time you've played disc jockey?

A recent sunrise on the sand at a secret beachside location just north of Wollongong was probably my favourite time to date. There were whales & fairy bread. A wholesome time for all.

What was the first record you bought?

Might've been Screamadelica, Primal Scream. If not that, probably something by Bob Dylan.

What's your favourite record?

Right now? Shanti Celeste & Funkineven's SSS. Equal parts funky & spacey.

What are your thoughts behind the mix?

I wanted to approach this mix differently to how I usually would by delving into the heavy stuff earlier on and letting it slowly deconstruct. I've been obsessed of late with the notion of getting diminishing returns of enjoyment from any particular stimulus and having the feeling of novelty gradually wear off. Think of this mix as inspired by Basinski's Disintegration Tapes but with almost-certainly far less artistic merit. It peaks in the conventional sense early on but has a softer, stranger kind of intensity later I think.

What kind of feelings do you want people to conjure from your music?

Slight queasiness; moderate happiness with tinge of discontentment; urge to dance.

Tell us about your work cultivating culture in the gong? (Four4)

Started out with ambient/beats-oriented production as 'Reactionary' with a video DJ a few years back & running the occasional gig booking the handful of friends around town that were also getting their heads into the types of production and DJing that didn't gel with the existing club scene in Wollongong.

Was fearing the return home to Wollongong's comparatively underwhelming nightlife after a pretty excellent time living in NLD so I got together with some mates upon my return home and started putting on parties under the name Four4. Got to book a bunch of my favourite Wollongong & Sydney acts at local venues/festivals/warehouse parties and see a bunch of friends (new and old) turn on to (what I feel is) the good shit.

We've since finished up with Four4 but it's proven difficult to drag myself away from the dance scene there given how receptive the Wollongong friends are. Myself and some friends from back home way have some plans for parties there so I'll def be continuing to venture back home periodically.

What's to come from Jake Walker?

Got a bunch of tracks that have sat in varying states of semi-completion for a long while; should probably get them to a level where I don't feel quite as self-conscious about sharing them around with mates but life is busy.

Follow Jake Walker on Facebook.