Hoping to set airwaves alight with his brilliant new single featuring Charlotte Turnbull, Jake Alder is an exciting producer with a beautiful spectrum of musical influences.
We got the opportunity to have a quick chat with Jake to find out more about his passion for music, his plans for the future and more.
For those who haven't yet heard your music, how best would you describe yourself as an artist?
This question always stumps me. My goal with writing and producing music is to provoke a positive emotion. It's supposed to be feel good music that uplifts you, like an explosion of colours in your mind.
Has music always been a big part of your life?
Yes! Since I can remember my life has always been about music. It's all I'm interested in. I listen to music and write every day. I get bored easily if I am not doing something musical.
What are some of your earliest memories of music?
I remember starting violin lessons at the age of five, but gave that up quickly, and then when I was eight years old I wanted to learn the saxophone, but wasn't allowed to by my parents unless I learnt the recorder first... So I did that and by my 10th birthday, I was the proud owner of a saxophone and still play it to this day! Guitar and drums are my main instruments when it comes to writing music and I have been doing so in bands since I was 12 years old.
How difficult would you say this industry is to make a name for yourself?
It's very difficult! The standards of music are so high now and more and more people are able to write music because of music software being available. It's difficult to stand out. Musicians need to go that extra mile more than ever now to help try and make a name for themselves... But I like a challenge!
You released 'Long Lost' on July 1 - can you tell us about the creative process behind that track?
I was asked to help Charlotte Turnbull with her first single 'Sundown' last November and met her for the first time during that writing and recording session. She inspired me because her songwriting ability was so good that I remember on the train home from London, thinking 'I need to write a song with Charlotte on it'. Working with Charlotte on her own stuff pushed me to create the best song I could possibly do at the time because I wanted her to sing on it. That evening when I got back home I started work on 'Long Lost' and didn't stop until four in the morning. I had it finished by the next day. It was a painless process... It's surprising what you can do when you are truly inspired.
What was Charlotte like to work with on the track?
She was great to work with. We just clicked when it came to writing music and it all came really naturally. Although she is an RnB artist, I could see that she was equally a great pop artist, and we wanted to show that in 'Long Lost'.
Where do you draw influence and inspiration from for your work?
Everywhere! I listen to all kinds of music from in your face rock to folky acoustic music. As long as it's catchy, I'll listen to it. All of my songs start with me playing on guitar and then that gets worked into a more electronic sound. Kygo is probably the main influence in regards as to where I want my song production to end up being, but because I listen to all types of music it's not always the case.
How important is creative control to you when it comes to your work?
It is very important! Especially for me! With my songs I need to be moved in some way when I listen back to them. Once I have written it and thought up some vocal melodies and lyrics to help the singer get started, I usually have a singer or style of singer in mind and will then approach them to come up with their own unique stamp on the song. It's a joint process.
If you could collaborate with anybody on new material, who would you choose and why?
There are so many artists and producers I want to collaborate with. Kygo, Jack Garratt, Years & Years, Labrinth, Ben Howard, Alt J... The list goes on!
Finally, what else should we expect from you in the coming weeks and months?
I have a couple of official remixes coming out for some new artists which I am excited about. I will be playing live this summer which I have missed doing. I am also producing a few artists as we speak so their stuff will be out soon. And obviously I am gearing up for my next single... It's going to be good, I promise!