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Of all the fantastic artists we got to speak with at this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event, few were as familiar with the festival as Dutch DJ and producer Julian Jordan. He sat down with us at the Bowers and Wilkins pop-up space on day one of his twelfth running at ADE to chat about all things EDM.
From the start, Julian Jordan was always meant to be a musician. When he was just five years old, he was already taking lessons and developing skills that would carry him through his future career. Before he’d even left school, he already had a contract signed with Spinnin’ Records, and in 2012 he burst onto the scene with all the skill and talent his fans had come to expect. With all that success under his belt, we were excited to learn what drives his music and where he finds the energy to fuel his creativity.
If there’s one thing Jordan stresses when talking about ways to develop a creative process, it’s finding that “signature sound.” For him, that sound comes from taking samples and creating something new.
"I like to work with samples, so they become something else that you don't recognize the sample anymore… Most importantly, you can hear it's a Julian Jordan track when you're listening to it."
Now, if you’re looking for a track with a distinctly Julian Jordan feel, you couldn’t do much better than his recent release “Dududu.” With its industrial style and percussive sound, “Dududu” feels fresh and modern, which is very in line with Jordan’s usual approach.
But how exactly does that approach work?
According to Jordan, inspiration doesn’t always strike at a convenient time, which can play havoc with a sleep schedule. “It’s strange,” he says, “because when I’m at home, I get inspired or motivated to make music at the weirdest times.” Well, those 1 AM trips to the studio might not be great for getting sleep, but it indeed leads to some great music.
Of course, not all inspiration appears fully formed. Sometimes, every artist needs to take inspiration from others. For Jordan, much of that inspiration comes from fantastic household names like Tiësto, Martin Garrix, and the Swedish House Mafia.
Rounding out the talk, Jordan chose to wish everyone at ADE a great time, adding, “if you’re not here this year, make sure you’re here next year!… It’s a blessing to be in Amsterdam this time of year!”
If you’d like to learn more about Julian Jordan, his musical process, and his spontaneous adventures, then check out the full Nexus Radio ADE Interview.
