Firstly, briefly introduce yourself.
My name is JAE5 and I’m a 24 year old producer from East London. I started producing 10 years ago when I was sent back to Ghana, using my computer and the software FruityLoops to learn.
What would you say are the most popular beats you’ve created?
The most popular beat I’ve created is J Hus’ ‘Did You See’.
What is your favourite song you’ve worked on and why?
‘Common Sense’ the single, because I got to play with live instruments. It was the first time I’ve really worked closely with a band. Having to merge the two worlds between computer and live was a challenge, but it was the most interesting song, which I enjoyed. I was interested in seeing how it all came together.
Do you think that production software becoming more accessible to just anyone is a good or bad thing for music?
It’s a blessing that production software has become easily accessible to people. Because for someone like me, who acquired it first for free on a demo and used bootleg ones for the longest time, I learnt how to work on being able to acquire them easily. If I didn’t have them then I probably wouldn’t be producing because I didn’t go out and buy it straight out.. I bought it recently but when I first started and was learning, I was learning on demos.
What influences you as a producer?
Good music influences me as a producer; anytime I hear something good or something amazing, it inspires me to create. I want to know how the person did it, I want to be able to do it and do it in my own way.
How did you begin making music? Was it a particular influence or circumstance?
I began making music from both influence and circumstance. Boredom definitely kicked in, especially when I was in Ghana as there wasn’t much to do. I began DJ-ing.. after a while, I wanted to create what I was playing so I got the software, trying to re-make what I would play as a DJ. So it was both influence and circumstance.
Can you tell us about any projects coming up in 2017?
I have my own personal projects coming soon.. I’ve got songs with people but I can’t confirm anything until they’re out. I’m not a person that likes to speak on what I’m working on until it’s actually out. You can have songs that can sit on the computer for 5 years.. So in terms of future projects, sorry, it’s out when it’s out lol.
This is an extract from Issue 8, The Nomad Issue of Viper Magazine. Read more from the magazine here. Buy physical and digital copies here.
Photos by The Naturalist
