Q+A: Five Minutes with Jasper Sommer
Jasper Sommer is an English musician, record producer, and singer-songwriter who released his new single, ‘We Could Rule The World’ on the 20 October 2023 via EFG Records Oy. Jasper has already received mainstream publication support from the likes of COMPLEX UK and Earmilk, drawing comparisons to the likes of Four Tet and James Blake. The track itself has already premiered and received support from notable tastemaker NOTION. We took some time out to speak to the enigmatic up-and-coming artist on all things music, life and creativity.
Set the tone for us. Why the arts?
I feel I lead a very humorous life but my art (music and painting) always tends to be on the sad or dark side, like I find it almost impossible to create a happy song. So I suppose it’s an outlet for me to express my emotions that even I’m not aware of on a surface level. I’ve listened back to songs a while after making them and realised how they made so much sense to where I was mentally at that time, I guess it’s like a diary for me.
Which comes first when you’re producing – the sound or the idea?
Generally I have to go flow at the moment of creating and just accept where it takes me, the rare occasion I will have a melody already that I’ll develop from.
Does your material feature any collaborations?
No, written, produced and mixed by myself
What’s on your current playlist?
I’ve not dived into a lot since finishing my EP but I’ve had Lykke Li on repeat with a mixture of some Burial, Mazzy Star & D’Angelo in there also.
What techniques do you experiment with to get your original sound?
I found my way around the software by myself, very unconventionally, finding out how to make weird sounds and get the results I imagined by playing around.
Take us through a day in the recording studio.
Lots of coffee, I’ll probably have a list I try and work through to finish off other songs but end up starting new ones. Play some great pieces of music to get inspired. Try my best to not get distracted by my dog. In the end a good outcome for me in a session is either starting a song that gives me chills and leaves me wanting to see where it will go, or working towards finalising an existing piece. I try not to force creativity but also have a fear of becoming too lazy, so any small bit of progress in a session helps me sleep.
Was there a specific moment in your life where you thought, “this is what I want to do”?
At the age of 9, I picked up my brother’s guitar and started trying to play along to my favourite songs at the time and since then I’ve always felt a pull towards music.
What gets your creative juices flowing?
Being around anything beautiful, paintings, cinematic masterpieces, traditional architecture, nature etc. Listening to my favourite artists, or even some old songs I forgot I started.
Take us through your collection of gear, tech or software that accompanies your creative expression.
It’s pretty stripped back atm, generally I use Maschine through Logic, midi keyboard and a mic. A lot of exploring sound libraries looking for a sound that will unlock my creative flow. Sometimes I’ll sit with my acoustic or at a piano and write that way.
Any side projects you’re working on?
Working on a lot with EMMI, an amazing singer on EFG Records alongside myself.
How have you refined your craft since you entered the industry?
I’ve been producing my own stuff for around 11 years now, so a lot of exploring sounds and going in different directions, sometimes finding a sweet spot and making something I love and of course a lot of making a terrible mess and questioning everything.
Breakdown the news for us: what can we expect from you this year?
I’ll be releasing 2 singles off my EP before the end of the year, followed by the EP in Jan 2024. An EP launch party, followed by more live shows in London, USA and hopefully much more!
Famous last words?
Coffee?
