We caught up with the Dutch talent to discuss his latest four-track EP on Junior Jack’s Adesso Music label, his process in the studio and more.
Jochem Hamerling has been immersed in music all his life and was so taken with House music that he moved from his native Netherlands to Chicago at age 17, taking inspiration from the likes of Derrick Carter and Paul Johnson. Since then, the Dutch talent has established himself as a skilled producer with an impressive back catalogue on labels like Be One, Armada, and CR2 Records, as well as a tastemaking DJ through his weekly Boom Room show on SLAM! Radio.
Hi Jochem, thanks for joining us today! You grew up in a musically inclined family. Can you share some of your earliest memories involving music and how they influenced your career?
I released my first track when I was 17 on one of Cloud9’s sublabels, and I was so proud of that achievement. I checked Beatport every hour that day. At that moment, it felt like I was officially part of dance culture.
Your journey into music started with the piano and then the saxophone. How did these instruments shape your understanding and approach to music production?
Being able to read music and understand chord progressions obviously helps a lot in music production. On the other hand, I know many guys without any musical education who are much better producers than I am. In the end, it’s all about creativity and how you use your instruments. For me, almost every track starts with a certain theme or idea I come up with while just playing around on synthesizers.
Moving to Chicago at 17 must have been a huge transition. How did the Chicago House scene, and legends like Derrick Carter and Paul Johnson, shape your musical direction?
This influenced me massively. Before Chicago, I was into big trance melodies and drops. Chicago taught me the groove and the bassline, and those elements have stayed with me ever since. I still love melody, but a good groove is everything to me.
After returning to Holland post-graduation, you quickly started DJing in clubs and producing music. Can you describe some of the challenges and triumphs you faced during this period?
I loved every genre of dance music and the art of DJing, so I took every opportunity that came my way. If they wanted house, I played house; if they wanted trance, they got trance. This approach led to many bookings and a lot of experience, but the downside was that I couldn’t really establish a distinct sound because no one, including myself, knew what my sound was. I still love every genre, so to some extent, this is still true. However, I think I’ve now found my place somewhere between house, melodic, and techno.
You have an impressive back catalogue with labels like Be One, Armada, and CR2 Records. How did these collaborations come about, and what impact have they had on your career?
I’ve made so much music over the past 20 years and sent it to countless labels. This helped me get gigs, but in the early days, my biggest success was actually a bootleg of Enya’s ‘May It Be’. I sent that out myself, and it got picked up massively. All my heroes at the time played it and I got to play some great festivals because of it. It’s a shame it could never get an official release.
Your latest project on Adesso Music, ‘The Water Of Life’ EP, is a four-tracker inspired by the Scottish whisky regions. Can you tell us more about the creative process behind this release and how the whisky regions influenced your music?
I was looking for a way to tie four different tracks together in a cohesive manner. Each of these tracks has a minimalistic approach, featuring only a few elements and a basic theme throughout. This is similar to whisky, a product made with only a few ingredients yet offering an extreme variety of flavours. Those who know me, know I have an extensive whisky collection, so this project also serves as a way for me to honour this beautiful product.
What advice would you give to aspiring producers and DJs who are just starting out in the industry?
Stick to what you love and don’t make any concessions. The music industry is extremely tough, and you need to work hard and seize every opportunity. Make sure you pursue this path only if you truly love what you do. The future will become increasingly challenging with AI and all its consequences on the horizon.
Looking ahead, what are some of your future goals and projects that you’re excited about? How do you see your sound evolving in the coming years?
I’ll stick to doing what I love: creating the music I enjoy and playing gigs that excite me. I plan to release an album next year and have many club releases and remixes coming out in the next few months. Additionally, I’ll continue curating for radio shows, which I absolutely love. I’m also very curious to see how AI will impact the music world. We’re in for some massive changes, for sure.
Follow Jochem Hamerling on SoundCloud, Facebook and Instagram.
