EXRON EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: JANTSEN

For bass heads around the world, underground icons like Jantsen are nothing short of legendary. His long list of collaborations and features epitomizes industry success, and solidifies his history as an important figure of dubstep. From the Nectar movement to E-Forest and beyond, his experiences as a DJ span decades. Currently, Jantsen resides in Boulder, Colorado, where he produces most of his music and spends ample time with family. To foster quarantine connectivity and celebrate the release of his new EP, Gutter Juice, Exron Music reached out for an interview, whereupon Jantsen shared industry insight, point of view, and nostalgia.

Exron Music: You took some time off in 2019 to focus on music and your forthcoming EP, now recently released. How did this time allow you to dig deeper into your craft and what was your biggest inspiration in creating Gutter Juice?

Jantsen: I’ve been making a lot of different styles of music the last year or two, but when Circus said they were interested in doing a release, I wanted to something with more of an old “skool” vibe and something that is definitely more true to my roots… It just made sense to go with that palette of sounds.

Exron Music: How did collaborating with Balkan Bump, a skilled trumpet player, for “Step In Time” influence the creative process and overall finished product? How did Balkan Bump’s instrumentalism flavor your electronic and staccato dubstep?

Jantsen: Originally, I had a different horn section in there. The whole theme I was going for was like a military marching band/drum cadence thing… I had this really popular British bugle horn riff but I needed to change the sample to do an official release for sample clearance reasons. I met Balkan Bump when we were both booked for Infrasound Festival. We got along really well and I was really into everything he was doing with incorporating his trumpet with music… When the opportunity came up, I asked him if he could come up with something to replace the original horn sample and he totally crushed it on his first try. It worked way better than the first version I had.

Exron Music: Gutter Juice has been well received by both fans and industry professionals, so what’s next on the to-do list? Although most live shows have been put on a temporary hold due to corona, do you have anything planned for the Fall?

Jantsen: In terms of shows, I’m taking all of 2020 off, so I’m definitely using this time to focus on new music. There’s so much I’ve been behind on, so this is the perfect time to finish old projects and make a fuckload of new tunes. There’s some big things in the works, which I can’t be too specific on, but 2021 will be a huge year once the shows start back up.

Exron Music: You’ve been in the music industry for over 15 years. How has electronic music evolved during this time, through your eyes and from your perspective?

Jantsen: The biggest thing that’s changed is watching the scene go from being completely underground to mainstream pop radio status. There’s obviously pros and cons to both. It’s always sad to see something you’ve cherished for so long be exploited and marketed for current value. The scene is completely over-saturated with DJs and producers right now, which can be frustrating, but I think it’s made it a lot easier for people who have original ideas to really shine. There’s a lot of lackluster monotony, which is forcing people to take things back to the underground for new, fresh inspiration.

Exron Music: Growing up, was music a heavy influence in your childhood? When did it become clear to you that a career in the music industry was something you wanted to pursue?

Jantsen: Music has always been the driving force in my life, from an early age. I’ve always been obsessed with music, playing in bands etc. I went to my first rave when I was 16 and I knew, right then: that was the path I was going to pursue.

Exron Music: What’s a favorite release of yours and why? What about the creative process, a collaboration, or reactions from fans elevated that release beyond others?

Jantsen: Personally, I’ve always liked “When the Beats Drop” a lot, although there are many others. Crowd reactions will def have a huge impact on my confidence in a song. There’s been songs I’ve made that I was very hesitant to play, but after seeing a crowd reaction, I’ll be super stoked on it and vice versa.

Exron Music: What’s a day in the life of a producer look like? What’s your routine when making music, or something you consistently do in the studio to bolster that creative process or give your music an edge?

Jantsen: Consistency is the most important thing for me. The only antidote to being uninspired is basically to just keep pushing forward until an idea sticks. For me, I try to live a balanced lifestyle, eat well, exercise, etc. I find all those things help the creative process.

Exron Music: You’ve performed at festivals such as Coachella, Bonnaroo, Lightning In A Bottle, Electric Forest, and many more. What’s a stand-out festival experience, a favorite night, stage, and/or crowd, and why?

Jantsen: Electric Forest and Deja Voom were by far the best festivals I’ve ever played. Electric Forest (was a favorite) because the whole vibe and aesthetic plays into my style very well. A lot of my general fan base goes to that festival, so it felt very natural and welcoming there. Deja Voom will just never be beaten because how are you ever going to top playing heavy bass music on the beach in Mexico?

Exron Music: For those in the electronic music community and beyond, music often serves a respite, a place of refuge in tumultuous waters and trying times. How has music lifted and guided you throughout your life?

Jantsen: Music is always there every day for me. It’s therapy. It’s a drug. It’s a motivator. I’ll go from listening to punk rock, (to) latin, (to) rap, (to) jazz, etc. in the course of one day. Every genre/style has its time and place. It’s one of the only things that consistently pushes me forward and inspires me.

Exron Music: Is there anything you would like to say to fans and followers of your music? Any words of wisdom to share with people around the world, especially during 2020?

Jantsen: Eat your vitamins and wear your masks.

You heard it, kidos. Eat them vitamins and rave responsibly, and certainly never without a mask.