Two years ago he wanted to be in a band, now he's the dubstep producer on everyone's lips...

As a conversation opener Kmag asks Jakwob what he makes of all the hype currently about him. "Yeah, it's pretty mental, it's been a crazy year for me," he casually replies.

But when BBC Radio 1's Zane Lowe gave him his first ever airtime, his exact words were: "We like to take a risk in the Hottest record department, tonight is one of those moments."

The risk paid off. The remix was Ellie Goulding's Under The Sheets, back in November last year. It came about before Goulding went on top the BBC's Sound of 2010 poll so Jakwob was in the right place at the right time. They had chatted about the track on the internet and we all know what the end product was.

"I'm now starting to get some of my original tracks played out now which is really cool. I've just done my mini-mix for Annie Mac which was pretty stressful but very enjoyable to do," he adds.

JAKWOB - MINIX MIX ANNIE MAC - BBC RADIO 1 (FEB 26th 2010) by jakwob

 
In addition to his Under The Sheets remix, he's also remixed the Temper Trap's Fader, Killa Kela's Everyday and Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip's Get Better, all of which offer something different but there's one similarity with all the tunes.

"A chilled track with something that kicks you in balls half way through," as Jakwob puts it. "I've been to too many dubstep nights where it's just a loud noise constantly, and I can't handle that."

When he makes his music, he tries to picture himself on the dance floor listening to it: "The majority of people just want to chill out and not mosh and that's what I try and get over in my tracks."

It's the same style that led to Radio 1 DJs Jaymo & Andy George proclaiming: "It's that kind of dubstep that's not offensive, it's chilled and I think my mum would like that... in a good way."

For those of you unaware, Jakwob's only 20. He's still studying at university and being thrown into the spotlight has affected his studies: "I'm spending a lot of time on my music now, the other week I got an attendance letter so for the next six weeks I'm just going to concentrate on my studies and then it's all about my music."

As he's one of a bunch of talented up-and-coming producers, it's interesting to get his take on the success of underground music at the moment: "It's really good to see artists listening to music you wouldn't expect them to and it's good to see artists branching out across all genres."

When asked if he had one artist he would love to work with, it is not a shock but still surprising when he doesn't refer to a massive name on the dubstep or d&b scene: "That's a pretty mental question but if I had to name anyone in the world then it would probably be David Bowie."

This answer may allude back to his musical past. Jakwob has been involved in music from the age of 10 and is a multi-instrumentalist having been involved in many groups starting in jazz moving on to play death metal and folk.  When he started university, two years ago, he wanted to be in a band: "I wanted to get a band together but couldn't so I ended up just staying in my room for hours making my own music and that's literally how I got into production."

Plans for the summer include a mini-tour, working on his new label, Boom Ting, and the release of his debut album Moving Parts in April. He was tight lipped when asked if he had any collaborations in the pipeline: "I've been working with a few different MCs and pop singers, one of which is a girl called Charli XCX who is wicked and that's all I'm going to give you..."

Arguably one of the most exciting producers on the scene, 2010 looks set to be a huge year for Jakwob.

Jakwob's remix of Audio Bully's Only Man will be released on March 22nd.

Words: Sam Moir
Photography: Lucy Bridger

 

 

• Jakwob

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