T.H.E Interview – Jack O’Kings

Jack O’Kings is emerging on the Electronic Music scene with a determined force; bringing his unique Melodic House sound to the forefront, his creativity seems ever-evolving.

Although still early on in his musical journey, there is no denying Jack O’Kings’ impact on the genre, having had releases on top VIP labels like Hexagon and Strange Fruits. As he continues on a path sure to see him reach exciting heights, Jack O’Kings certainly remains one to watch out for.

So, as he joins us today for this exclusive interview, we’re looking forward to discovering more about the talented Producer and DJ Jack O’Kings.

T.H.E – Hey Jack O’Kings, how are you?

Jack O’Kings – I’m doing fantastic, especially when music is on the agenda. It’s been a busy year, trying to refine the Jack O’Kings sound further and open myself up to further opportunities and hopefully allow my music to connect with more people as I recently had a fan tell me that my music has helped them overcome a bad time in their life.

T.H.E – Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got into producing and DJing?

So, I currently work a 9-5 being in the crazy field of Cyber Security, ensuring that people remain safe and secure online. I studied Cyber Security at university. I got into music production & DJing in 2015 when I first downloaded FL Studio and started messing around with the DAW and I started DJing around that time as I wanted to show off my musical talent and be able to please a crowd. The most recent event I did was New Year’s Eve at the Leadmill in my hometown.

T.H.E – Who would you say are your biggest musical inspirations?

Jack O’Kings – I would say my biggest musical inspirations are Ben Böhmer, Deadmau5, Porter Robinson and Sultan and Shepard. They all incorporate that chill sound/vibe in their music which I like and can easily listen to. Deadmau5 was my first inspiration especially when I first started Jack O’Kings, when I produced ‘Wasted’, which was a Progressive Trance track, before I shifted to more House-based productions like ‘Still Love U’ and then finally settled on the Chill / Melodic House vibe.

T.H.E – How would you describe your sound?

Jack O’Kings – I would describe my sound as being chill, melodic and easy to listen to. In all of my productions, I make sure that the music takes the listener on a journey whether you’re on a commute to work or you need some chill music to relieve some stress. I also would describe my sound as being able to take you on an adventure and escape the hustle and bustle of real life.

T.H.E – Having had releases on labels like Hexagon and Strange Fruits, which of your tracks is your favourite to date and why?

Jack O’Kings – I would say my favourite track is ‘Losing Control’ with the wonderful Daye. I focused on doing more of a Deep House track, but it could maybe be considered as a Pop/ Dance track; Daye’s vocals really uplifted the track and put the cherry on top! It was released with Chill Planet whom I’ve released songs previously with. I wanted to produce a tune that could fit any scenario whether listening in the day or going on a late-night drive. It’s my favourite track mainly because I adopted the use of analogue synths and pushed myself out of my comfort zone by trying and experimenting with new sounds.

T.H.E – Can you tell us about your life outside of music? Do you have any interesting hobbies?

Jack O’Kings – Outside of music, I’m an avid adventurer. I’d compare myself to the redhead version of Bear Grylls. I enjoy exploring and climbing mountains and hills. I went to Wales a couple of years ago and attempted Pen Y Fan in the Brecon Beacons National Park in which the climb was meant to take 2 hours and I completed it in less than 1 hour 30 mins. I’d also say another hobby is Cyber Security, I primarily focus on Cyber Security research and how Cyber Security plays a crucial part in the music industry but also is a hobby which involves constant learning and adaptability, much like learning how to produce and mix my own music.

T.H.E – Which of your tracks would you recommend to newcomers to your music?

Jack O’Kings – I would recommend ‘Wasted’ if newcomers were approaching my music for the first time as they get to experience the chill sound that I was experimenting with early on in my production journey and can follow my progression from there to where I am currently.

Newcomers will also notice the shift in the sound and the overall quality of the tracks as, during those years, I continuously kept improving my skills and elevating my sound.

T.H.E – What challenges have you faced so far as an artist, and how have you worked to overcome them?

Jack O’Kings – As an artist, when I first started, it was about understanding rejection from labels and potential collaboration partners. Whilst rejection can be tough, especially for upcoming artists in a bustling Electronic Music industry, the way I overcame rejection was channelling my energy from rejection into refining my sound, experimenting with new sounds and improving upon my music production skills. This also helped me to overcome this as I recognise that my music/sound may not fit every label, it’s helped me to appreciate the uniqueness of my own sound/music.

T.H.E – What would you say has been your biggest achievement to date?

Jack O’Kings – I would say my biggest achievement to date has been able to release on labels like Hexagon and continue to watch my music and sound develop alongside my own progression as an artist. It’s really motivating to see myself accomplishing and achieving so many things as an artist, but it makes me think about what the next big move is or how are we going to make the next tracks even better.

T.H.E – Looking ahead, what can fans expect from you? What are you hoping to achieve next?

Jack O’Kings – Fans can expect fresh new tunes where I’m continuing to refine and improve on my own sound. In terms of what I’m hoping to achieve next, I’m hoping to perform more shows within 2024 to allow fans to be able to further connect with my music at events. I plan to also aim to perform during ADE next year and continue to grow and progress Jack O’Kings further into the new year!

With exciting times ahead of him, Jack O’Kings is sure to keep his motivation and determination high; so, as we wrap up our interview, we thank him for his time and eagerly look forward to seeing what’s next to come from this talented Producer and DJ.