Jacob Colon, the skilled DJ and music Producer known for his unique fusion of Tech House and Latin rhythms, offers us insights into his upcoming projects and aspirations for the new year. In this exclusive interview, he discusses his musical direction, goals, and how he plans to continue evolving his signature sound in 2024; join us as we learn more about the plans and goals of this artist dedicated to creating unique musical experiences and pushing the boundaries of Electronic music.

What musical direction or theme are you most excited to explore in your upcoming projects for the new year, and why does it resonate with you?

The main goal in my projects is to deliver a vibe nobody has ever felt, which includes myself. I grab inspiration from various genres that include Hip Hop, Latin music, Trap and of course House. I use this inspiration to build the foundation of my music for elements like the bass and drums. I feel nobody has really explored this blend of music, so it’s always exciting to hear what I can come up with. Outside of production, my radio show ‘Made to Move Radio’, continues to grow and connect with listeners around the world. This has been an exciting project, and one that I am very proud of. We are currently broadcasted on over 50 radio stations worldwide and receive thousands of listeners each week on Mixcloud and Soundcloud. I hope the new year continues in this direction!

 

As you enter the new year, what goals have you set for your music career, and how do you plan to work towards achieving them?

Some of my short-term goals include learning the Threads social media system. Despite how new this social media platform is, and my lack of time invested into it, I’ve gained a couple thousand followers. This indicates an area of opportunity for me and shows that despite barely making any posts yet, people are interested in engaging with what I’m creating. Another goal I have this year, is to release more music on other labels and expand my reach of listeners. Last but not least, I’ve set out a goal to watch one or two educational videos per week on producing, mixing or mastering. I’ve been producing for a couple years now, but I know that I don’t know everything, and with that means I have room for improvement. Sometimes, it gets hard to find time to really dive into a video and practice what your studying, but moving this up on my priorities list will help this come to fruition. 

 

Can you provide a glimpse into any specific releases or milestones we can expect from you in the early months of the new year?

I’ve been considering doing a remix album blending Hip Hop vocals with my signature Tribal, Latin drum sound. There’s been a lot of samples used in the past couple years in sub-genres like Tech House, Dance Pop, and even Afro House. What I would like to do is, keep the Hip Hop vibe, but deliver it with more rhythm and groove. I guess it’s a bit hard to explain since I can only hear it in my head lol. As for milestones, I would like to see my radio show continue to climb up the charts on Mixcloud. This year, we ranked #70 on the Latin house charts which is fantastic. I would love to see that number rise into the top 50, then the top 10 and finally number one. 

 

Reflecting on your musical journey, what lessons from the past year do you intend to carry forward to ensure growth and success in the new year?

As a creative, sometimes it gets hard to stay inspired, which is important because creation is made from inspiration. I’ve learned over time that inspiration comes best when your inner dialog is in harmony with your goals. With that said, it’s important to resolve things that may stress you otherwise over time, it may become a block that prevents your creative energy to flow. Along with this, as I mentioned earlier, I want to continue educating myself with the various resources I’ve been finding online. I’ve learned that trying new things always keeps a spark of curiosity and interest that translates into more inspiration for me. 

 

Are there any new techniques, equipment, or software innovations you plan to incorporate into your music production process in the new year?

Yes. I’ve been saving some money to purchase some new equipment at the end of this month. I’ve been looking at a couple plugins on Youtube, to check out the reviews and saw some good feedback on plugins from Cableguys, and ADSR. I also checked out some VSTs, which are geared toward Hip Hop tracks, that I want to start using to create more diversity in my sound. As far as new techniques, I’m sure the more I continue to educate myself the more creative I will get. 

 

Are there any artists you hope to collaborate with in the coming year, and what kind of creative synergy do you envision?

I’ll dream big and mention guys like Kanye West or singers like Rihanna that I’d like to collaborate with. Besides the motivational aspect that someone like Kanye West brings, I feel he is a great visionary. His influences of sounds are outside of what the norm is for the genre of music he produces, which is similar to the aspirations I have for House music. I want to deliver an experience that nobody has ever heard, and I believe my unique ways of production will certainly give that experience. Another artist I would love to collab with are Feid or Young Miko. The Latin rhythms that my tracks are composed around can certainly fit the vibe that these artists have. I feel like I can do something with them that is upbeat, groovy, aggressive, and catchy. 

 

How do you see your sound evolving in the new year? Are there any genres or musical elements you aim to incorporate or experiment with?

Recently, I’ve been spending a little more time studying the low end of my music. I have gained much more insight on the fundamentals of what I’m doing, which helps in other genres that I like to produce. I’m actually in the works of putting together a project with a friend of mine from Venezuela, it has an island/beachy feel and is sung in Spanish. Additionally, I have another friend whom with I started a Reggaeton/RnB project, that lives here in New York. It’s great to branch off into other genres to give my mind a break from Dance music and create new lanes for my mind to work through.

 

How do you plan to manage your time and resources effectively to pursue your musical ambitions?

Time management is a personal skill that everyone who wants to take on any venture in their life must develop. As I get older, it becomes more important to me to find time to self-reflect and reset. Whether this is done at 5am before your day starts, or at the end of your day before bed, a mental reset helps you utilize your time and mind effectively and efficiently. We all have to find the time to work on music, even if we you are traveling, therefore a clear mind must be present to do this. In the physical sense, creating and committing to a schedule is the only real way to keep order and find opportunities for music. 

 

What do you hope your music will communicate or evoke in your listeners in the new year? Is there a particular message or emotion you wish to convey through your work?

There is one thought, that I hope for from my listeners. I want them to think, “wow I’ve never heard something like this. I’m interested and want to hear more!”

 

As you step into the new year, what are your overall aspirations as a DJ/Producer, and what impact do you hope to have on the Electronic music industry and your audience?

My main aspiration is to continue to dive into this sound that I am discovering. In due time, everything will line up the way it is supposed to. My sound will be the next wave and more people will tune in to listen to the music I’m creating. The more I pursue this goal, the closer I am to discovering the next sound. 

 

We thank Jacob Colon for his time, and wish him the best in his projects in the upcoming new year, as he promises new music and episodes of his radio show ‘Made To Move’ on the way, this DJ/Producer shows no signs of stopping in 2024. Make sure to follow him across social media to remain updated on his latest releases and news.

Connect with Jacob Colon: Soundcloud | Instagram | Spotify