jsn

I’ve been working as a musician for a long time, but the work I was doing in classical music wasn’t totally satisfying on its own. I felt like I was making music for other people and not for me. I started to go out and experience the scene after moving to New York a few years ago, and I got so inspired by the sounds I was hearing and the people I was meeting. I taught myself how to mix, started collecting tracks and finding my sound, and prioritized doing it just because it was fun. By letting myself explore and have fun, I also found joy in playing piano again and realized it’s just one of many tools I can use to create and share my sound.

I think there’s something about the way pianists experience rhythm that makes techno music really resonate with us. Playing piano is very physical, and pianists are used to squeezing all kinds of complex rhythms into our ten fingers. I think this is why dance music feels so satisfying to me. I’ve always felt that my best piano playing basically feels like dancing, so the experience of DJing and playing piano aren’t that different for me.

I started JUNCTION to create a space for experimentation and community. I see the series as an incubator for new talent, ideas, and sounds. The name represents a coming together - of artists, genres, dancers, friends. I’m letting it become what it wants to become, with each edition bringing something new and unexpected.

I’ve been prioritizing exploration, curiosity, and a sense of play. I’m just trying not to take myself too seriously! I try to listen widely, including things that are way outside my comfort zone. It’s easy to collect only music that fits with my sound, but I try to make sure I’m listening to new things and having new experiences. Anything I can do that takes me out of my normal routine helps me feel tapped into my own taste and creativity.