Features » Q&A » JKS – “The Importance Of Silence Is Underrated”

JKS – “The Importance Of Silence Is Underrated”

We caught up with JKS to put him through the paces of the quick-fire Q&A.

Why music?

Music makes me feel alive.

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Sound engineering. I’m fascinated with the physical principles of sound, not necessarily as a sound engineer in music, but more generally.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Always follow your heart – in your relationships or your professional life.

What inspires you?

Musicians that have their signature sound.

What’s the next big thing?

Artificial Intelligence x Musical Industry – it could become a bit scary. It will have a significant impact and not for the best! Imagine Spotify providing playlists created only with AI depending on people’s tastes, so they have no one to reward financially.

Best club experience?

RSO, Berlin & K41 (∄), Kiev.

What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?

Packaging medicine in a warehouse.

How do you know when a track’s finished?

I feel it that at some point I know I can not add more things otherwise, I will lose the energy I want to express.

What was your last day job, and when did you realize you could give it up?

Sound assistant for French TV. I realized I had to give it up when I started to earn more money with music than with this job. Plus, things started going pretty well with music, so I wanted more time to create and concentrate on my passion.

Which song do you wish you wrote?

James Shinra – ‘Anxsrv’.

What’s the easiest way to make it in the music industry?

There is nothing easy, to be honest – It’s a lot of mental strength, but I’d say concentrate on having your own sound and not trying to make music that sounds like other artists. And also give a lot of importance to social media, unfortunately,

What’s the worst track you’ve ever released?

JKS – ‘Firedance’. I hate it haha.

JKS · Mixes

Quentin Dupieux – Reality.

The Anomaly by Hervé Le Tellier.

What or who is underrated?

The importance of silence is underrated a lot.

What or who is overrated?

DJs only booked because of Instagram.

What are you addicted to?

Pretty much everything that gives me dopamine – I have ADHD.

What do you lust over?

Being able to live from my music for my whole life and still being happy with it.

What is your greatest regret?

Not having enough time to dedicate to drum practice ( I’ve done it for ten years before starting touring).

What one thing would most improve your life?

To better manage my concentration so I can have more control over my ADHD.

What’s the worst gig you’ve ever played?

When I started touring 7 years ago, it was in Lyon, in front of no one except the people working at the bar.

Collaboration: rich creative experience or pain in the ass?

Creative experience!

What’s the secret to a great mix?

It’s all about the selection. Not only mixing Technics.

If you could only listen to one more track, what would it be?

Pink Floyd – Echoes.

How do you relax?

Listening to music, but not techno.

What one piece of software/kit could you not do without? Why?

Waves H-Delay. I love it. The way I use delay on my percussion defines my sound a lot.

Art or money?

Both are related to me now. Art is necessary to make money, and money is necessary to make art.

Ronaldo or Messi?

Football is not my thing.

Strangest place you ever wrote a track?

In the sky (not that weird for a DJ, though!)

Must-visit record store?

Bikini wax, Berlin – very cute and cosy!

What’s your single biggest frustration in the music industry?

Definitely, the fact that now, image and social media are more important than the music you make.

What’s your favorite label? Why?

In electronic music, I’d say Ilian Tape. The artistic direction is just the best. Everything sounds coherent and the music is dope and eclectic.

What’s the worst thing about making music?

The worst thing is that I can not control my inspiration.

What’s your motto?

Never stop to believe in you – that’s why I am here today.

Name something timeless

Pizzas.

Tweet us a tip. What’s the best production advice you can give in 140 characters or less?

Try to concentrate more on the quality of your elements and how they fit well together than on the quantity of elements.

Complete this sentence: At heart I’m just a frustrated…

…drummer/percussionist who couldn’t continue to be part of my band and who still feels the need to create!

If someone saw a performance of yours in 1000 years, what do you think they would they say?

It still has influences of music from the past. My music has a lot of tribal percussion influences so I’m sure they would recognize some elements that were already existing 1000 years ago! 🙂