JayFK has been killing it since dropping his first track just a year ago. With 86 more under his belt, it's clear that he's no amateur. Whether Deep House or Techno, Jay's tracks always bring an authentic vibe to get the crowd moving. And his downtempo stuff? Pure atmospheric bliss that proves he's got skills for days. Keep an eye on this one - big things are coming.

Interview:

About JayFK

Hello Audiotool community! I'm Jens and I live in a small town near Hannover in Germany. I am now 48 years old, married and father of two fantastic boys. I've been on Audiotool for almost exactly a year now. The question of my favorite style is difficult, I would rather say there is no style I don't like. I like rock as well as electronic music, no matter if it is techno, hip hop, ambient or whatever. Oh and if the question about pizza is meant seriously: Salami with anchovies and lots, really lots of cheese!

Describe the style of music you produce

As with my taste in music, I'm not tied to one genre when it comes to producing. The genre in which I travel the most is trance. Detached from the genre, my tracks usually have a dark, melancholic touch. No idea why…

What is your musical background and when did you start making music?

Everything I know about music today I have acquired myself over the years. I have no musical training or anything like that. There are no musically gifted people in my family either. But I've always loved listening to music. I'm a big fan of The Doors, The Ramones and Placebo (no other band can make melancholic songs that put you in a good mood like that). I also listened to a lot of RAP in the 80s and 90s. In the 90s Steve Mason had his own radio show on BBC Germany. That was the beginning of my passion for techno and trance. My brother came one day with a used 2-channel mixer and we started recording our own mixtapes. A little later the first turntables were at my house and we tried to emulate our idols of that time. These were, for example, Marc Spoon, Carl Cox, Kai Tracid, Adam Beyer and Sven Väth. This is how my “music career” as a DJ began. My highlights here were sets on a truck at the Reincarnation Parade in Hanover and once I was allowed to DJ directly after Kai Tracid on an open air rave. But I was never able to make any real money with it (which I never intended). At the time, one of my DJ colleagues was already producing his own tracks with an old Atari ST. Since that was too expensive for me at the time, I looked for software solutions to be able to produce myself. First I worked with Steinberg's ReBirth, a software variant of the Roland 303, 808 & 909. Then Propellerhead's Reason came out and I stayed there for the next 20 years until I discovered Audiotool…

What is your favorite Audiotool device and why?

I'm not sure if the Pulv or the Quasar is my #1 choice, but they're definitely the two devices that appear in 99% of my tracks. I love the sound of the Pulv, which can produce almost any sound imaginable. With the Quasar, I love the adjustment options and the infinite width that it can give to a sound. The two devices are exceptionally good, especially in direct interaction. When the Pulv plays a pad and then you turn up the CutOff just a little bit... Wooaaahh!

What is your favorite trick in AT/What technique do you always use?

I don't know if these are really tricks, but there are some things that I use from time to time. For the Pulv, I like to use the noise volume control. Turned up at the right time, a baseline sounds like distorted drums and can prepare for a drop or the start of a new instrument. I used this effect, for example, in my track (Vertigo) Vertigo I often use another trick when I don't know what to do with a track or I'm missing that certain something. Then I take a pattern from one instrument and copy it to the note- track of a completely different instrument. For example the pattern of the lead melody to the baseline. Or, which can also be very cool, put the drum patterns on the baseline device. This often results in unexpected sounds.

Have you ever had a writer's block? If so, how did you deal with it and what do you recommend to your colleagues?

Sometimes I really have no idea at all. In this case, you shouldn't be afraid to discard a track you've started completely. What can help is to break your normal routine. If you usually start with a baseline and build your track around it, then just start with a few piano chords or something else. It doesn't help me to decide: "Today I'll produce a chillout track." In the end, a completely different genre usually comes out than I planned at the beginning. So the best thing is to just let things go…

What has helped you the most on Audiotool to improve and widen your musical horizon?

In my first days on Audiotool, a suggestion from Snadbrugen was a huge help. He suggested that I should start by using the presets of the devices to understand how they work. That really helped a lot. Just as helpful is the remix function, which allows you to analyze tracks and see what others are doing differently. But the most important point here is clearly the community. You get really important tips and assistance, often even without asking. At this point my special thanks go to kurp and Soph .

What do you like most about Audiotool? Is there anything you would like to suggest?

I think Audiotool is absolutely fantastic. You have to keep in mind that this is a free DAW. Audiotool is just incredibly professional for that. What I love most is the endless possibilities of interconnecting devices. There really are no limits. "Have you ever connected a quasar behind a quasar?" - "No problem, just try it!" If I could wish for anything, it would be a new synth or a sampler with a filter and the ability to edit the pitch and length of the sample using the keyboard in the pattern track.

Your message to the community:

Be nice to each other! [Editor's Note: I second that]

Social/Music Links

Youtube https://youtube.com/channel/UCdshaEqreMBVHAuL5lbQpVw

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jayfk2701/?hl=de

Edition Audiotool: JayFK

Track #1:

SPO by Snadbrugen

One of the first tracks that showed me what is possible in audiotool. Also Sand was one of the first members who noticed me and my tracks. I love how the track pushes forward. It feels like something new happens after every single bar.

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/ke3qno7asrj/]]

Track #2:

Unbekannt by kurp

I first recognized Kurp with his track "drone ship". It was a great pleasure to remix it. I learned so much about the quasar and the waveshaper by analyzing his track! But for the Album I've chosen "Unbekannt". This track is what we call in Germany "Brett", meaning a track that blows you completely away. Wait until 5:10 and you will know what I mean.

@Kurp : You're the Audiotool god of techno!

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/wfgfuh2w0d/]]

Track #3:

Blurred shapes by Lavalamp

I just love this track. The melody and the pads are so amazing. 1:19 and 3:19 WOW!!!. Over the past year I have gotten to know Lavalamp as a very pleasent and friendly person who always finds kind words. Je suis très heureux de t'avoir rencontré ici mon ami!

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/13zlzb6b/]]

Track #4:

Guilt by Soph

I don´t know when but one day I made a comment under a track and wrote something like: "I wish I could make reese bass like in this track." And what happend? Soph contacted me and just said: "I can show you how to do reese bass." And he did! Wow, that's the value of a community. Please check out his great stuff!

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/onxov41o/]]

Track #5:

[ATD 2022] 1,000 FOLLOWER SPECIAL by Vulkron

Now to the contrast program. The entry for the ATD 2022 from is just awesome! If you listen to the complete track it feels like three or four different tracks. 3:41 is so great!!! Considering that I used to listen to so much Rap and Hip Hop in the past I just had to pick this track.

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/f70hjmibq/]]

Track #6:

ScienceFiction [ATD22] by JayFK

Now to my part of the album. I had to choose between two tracks. But because my favorite track is a remix I chose this one. The track is not so melodic as my other trance tracks but I still love the power of the track and not least it is my top track so far with more than 350 plays. Btw in this track also used the trick with the noise volume of the Pulv.

[[EMBED:https://www.audiotool.com/track/vesvtyd7m/]]

Full Album

Edition Audiotool: JayFK

• a-records

18

about 1 year ago

1		SPO Snadbrugen	Snadbrugen	1209
2		Unbekannt kurp	kurp	386
3		Blurred shapes Lavalamp	Lavalamp	508
4		Guilt Soph	Soph	512
5		[ATD 2022] 1,000 FOLLOWER SPECIAL Vulkron po9t	Vulkron po9t	8384
6		ScienceFiction [ATD22] JayFK	JayFK	499