Jacob Colon’s Top 10 Tracks: Influences Behind The Latin Tech House Pioneer’s Sound

Jacob Colon, a versatile DJ and producer, has made his mark by blending Latin, Tech House, and urban influences into a distinctive sound that resonates on both the dancefloor and the airwaves.

Known for his genre-crossing productions, Colon has garnered attention for pushing boundaries with his eclectic music taste; from pulsating House beats to innovative collaborations, his ear for production and infectious rhythms have solidified his reputation in the Electronic music scene.

We caught up with Jacob to learn about his top 10 tracks that inspire his sound, influence his sets, and shape his vision.

1. Bad Bunny – El Apagón

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Bad Bunny has become one of the hottest artists listened to right now, and during this time has dropped a couple tracks containing influences from House music. This track in particular became a huge hit as it transitioned from an Afro-reggaeton based cadence into an upbeat House track. This track became a cornerstone in the Latin Tech House movement.

2. Stryke, Raina Henderson – Like Records (Stryke’s Timecode Version)

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This is one of my favorite House tracks of all time. The low-end and synth pluck sounds deliver a nice foundation that absolutely rocks the sound systems in the clubs. The vocal section is sung with a seductive type of vibe that complements the vibe of the beat.

3. Rauw Alejandro ft. Zion & Lennox, Mr. NaisGai, The Martinez Brothers – Química

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Like El Apagón, this track was a staple in the Latin Tech House movements. The blend of Reggaeton into House music felt seamless and I believe this began the start of blending Latin commercial music into the club scene.

4. Drake, Giggs- KMT

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What I like the most in this track is the chord progression and melody. Melodies that do up or down create tension which is what I like about this track. The strings used feel like a symphony is playing and adds a bit of theatrics to the vibe.

5. Kanye West ft. Pusha T – Runaway

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The simplicity in this beat in itself is really dope. I like the dirty synth used for the bass line. It complements that classic Kanye big distorted drums sound.

6. Mau P – Drugs From Amsterdam

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The groove of this beat is really dope. What a lot of people don’t. Price about this track is that it uses the Phrygian scale. The flat second note creates a lot of tension and feels unsettling which is what drives the mood of the entire track. I also like the blend of big room sounds with the Tech House flow. It’s a new type of Tech House that brings loads of energy to the dancefloor.

7. Travis Scott – Stargazing

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This track from 2018 was a staple in Travis Scott performances. What I enjoy most about this track is the switch up at the end. Mike Dean who produced a lot of work with Travis Scott did an amazing job writing this track. The chord progressions between each beat flows seamlessly.

8. Skrillex, Fred again.., Flowdan – Rumble

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Though I’m not a huge DnB fan, I have to appreciate the technicality of this track and how it was produced. What an excellent way to utilize kick drums to create a rumble that really bounces nicely with the hats. Also, you can’t ignore the flow from Flowdan. The tone of his voice fits perfectly with the context of the track.

9. Don Toliver, Acraze – Bandit (Club Mix)

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Acraze has delivered multiple Tech House tracks that carries a commercial vibe. I feel this track is no different. The punchiness off the track hits nicely. I also like the layers applied to the synth sample. Sounds much bigger and wider than the original.

10. Kanye West – Stronger

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A lot of Kanye’s style is in today’s music. This was one of those tracks that influenced a lot of the music that came afterwards.