Often times when producers preach that they’re doing something special, they aren’t really. Jack Squire is someone who is in the lab cooking up some hot concoctions that are sure to change the game. There are already several producers fusing classical music with dance, but Jack is one of the notable ones you’ll need on your radar.
Recently, Jack came out with his fiery electro tune “Creatures” that showcases just the style he is going for, however that doesn’t mean he can’t take his style into new sonic territories. With “Creatures” we get a single that moves from an old-school dance sound to a cinematic break that finally leads us into some energetic bass. It has come just in time for festival season, so if you want your set or playlist to stick out, you’re going to want this in there. We brought Jack Squire into the dojo to answer a few questions so that all of us could get a glimpse into the mind of such an intriguing producer.
TMN: Where did the name Jack Squire come from?
JS: It’s actually my name! Squire is my middle name.
TMN: What was the inspiration behind “Creatures”; and how do you tap in creatively to the bass sound that fits you?
JS: I wanted to do something that felt very cinematic, and I’ve always loved the sound of string ensembles. They're so full of emotion. For the drop, I wound up using a lot of random sound effects for little fills. Gunshots, a woman shrieking, chainsaws, even the famous Wilhelm scream. It all makes it sound like the song is playing during a monster movie montage. Hence the name “Creatures”.
TMN: Who do you look to artist-wise if you are lacking inspiration in the moment?
JS: Joyryde and Blackgummy. Joyryde’s music is on a whole other level. I absolutely love it. Blackgummy and I actually have a studio together, and he is always doing some wild stuff. I don’t think anyone uses effects (whooshs, sweeps, little noises, subtle changeups, etc) as well as he does in his tracks. There’s lots of producers out there doing really interesting things across all genres, it really depends on my mood and what I’m doing. I think Pixel Terror’s remix of ARMNHMR’s song ‘Wings’ is one of the most interesting bass heavy tracks I’ve heard.
TMN: What do you wish you knew 2 years ago as a musician that you hope other young producers will learn now?
There’s no right or wrong way to make music. Use loops, use presets, make every sound from scratch, record the sound of stuff around your house, do whatever the hell you want. At the end of the day, if it sounds good, it sounds good.
TMN: What is your dream show?
JS: Honestly, in my experience, as long as the dance floor is packed and everyone is feeling what I’m playing, it doesn’t matter if its 50 people, 500, or more. It always feels amazing. But I definitely dream of doing some incredible stuff live eventually. I would love to bring out live instrumentalists and vocalists to big shows in the future, and do some live performance shows with incredible visuals. That’s still quite a ways off for me, though!
TMN: What is the Jack Squire plan for 2017?
JS: Lots and lots of new music! I’ve got tons of solo stuff I’m going to release this year, and have a few collabs in the works as well. You can definitely expect at least one new song every month from me.
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