Jaki Nelson – Quickfire – Interview

Jaki Nelson, a certified Platinum and Diamond Artist, continues to build a name for herself in Electronic Music – bringing a thoughtful, versatile approach to songwriting and performance, her journey boasts collaborations with exciting names on the scene, revealing a catalogue of work ranging across genres, all whilst showcasing the distinct vocal presence grounding her sound.

In this quickfire interview, she opens up about the music that first inspired her, the habits that shape her creative process, and the genres and sounds that continue to influence her work today.

What’s the first song you ever fell in love with?

Pachelbel’s ‘Canon in D.’ I had a cassette of it that I would fall asleep to every night as a kid. It’s why I could never make classical music; I’d constantly be falling asleep! I’ve tested this.

Studio session or live performance?

I’m a lifelong studio rat, but nothing beats the rush of being on stage and connecting with real people in real time.

A dream collaboration—dead or alive?

There’s a very real chance that I would drop dead if I ever got to work with Kaskade.

What’s your go-to comfort track?

“Let Me In” by Sean Angus Watson. It’s a completely instrumental track featuring a single guitar, and it’s the most relaxing piece of music I’ve ever found.

Most underrated genre in your opinion?

Melodic Bass House! It’s not even officially a genre yet, but it should be. It blends the emotional depth of Melodic Techno with the grit and energy of Bass House.

What’s a lyric of yours that means a lot to you?

“Just be you, just beautiful, just be you, that’s all” 

That line is the heartbeat of my personal journey –  learning to stop hiding and just be. Still working on it, honestly.

Early riser or night owl for studio sessions?

Late morning riser, 100%. 

I like to work closer to traditional work hours, but I’m never gonna get there before 10 am. My best work happens in the first 3 hours of the day; whenever that day actually starts is another thing…

Vocal warm-up: essential or overrated?

Depends on what you’re singing! If you’re belting out high notes, you better be warmed up or you can hurt yourself. I know people who have done it and couldn’t sing for a very long time after…years. 

But if we’re doing vibe tracks or if it’s a low vocal or low energy vocal, raw is 1000% better.

If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?

Truly, no idea. Music has been my world since before I even existed. 

One thing fans might not know about you?

I have the most outlandish artistic process of anyone I know. 

In order for me to do my best work, I need to be completely and utterly exhausted – peeling myself out of bed. There are a million ways to get there, but getting there is key.

I’m also not allowed to eat anything – food is the enemy of my voice. On studio days, I usually don’t eat or drink anything except water until like 2 pm or later so I can get all my vocals perfect. 

The weird thing? Ever since I really committed to this system, I’ve had more energy than ever.

As we end our interview, we thank Jaki Nelson for providing a thoughtful look into the routines, influences, and ideas that guide her approach to music. With more projects on the way and a clear sense of direction, she continues to explore her sound while building meaningful connections through her work. So, we’ll be staying tuned to her journey and look forward to hearing where her vocals land next. 

Be sure to keep up with Jaki Nelson and her latest news by following her across social media.

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