Juk Juk- Four Tet Favourite

Juk Juk is young London producer Caleb Waterman. At 21, he has already built a considerable following on the strength of one 12” release and various internet mixes. His debut, Winter Turn Spring/Frozen was released on Kieran (Four Tet) Hebden’s influential Text imprint. The record made an instant impact getting numerous radio plays including Rob da Bank and Gilles Peterson on Radio One and even a play on Nick Luscombe’s Radio Three show, where composer Jon Hopkins singled him out as a game-changing talent. The first press sold out everywhere in just three days.  This Saturday he plays at Way Back Here's 1st Birthday in London alongside Braiden and Helen S caught up with him.

Pulse: Hello Juk Juk, what are you up to right now?  Juk Juk: I’ve been setting up releases for February and May on my own label, which I haven’t actually named yet. Also I’m currently working on a few remixes.

For those who aren't familiar with your sound, describe it for us.  It’s psychedelic, 2step, garage, although it goes a lot of other places as well. It’s music to be listened to in a club, but also for heads that want something different.

What are your earliest musical memories?  Loads of really crap music on Top of the Pops! But the first good memories are from the All Tomorrow’s Parties festivals, which I started going to with my family when I was still quite young. I remember getting handed a bass to play in the crowd by Jared Warren when I was about 15, that was a pretty cool moment. First band I remember seeing was The Beta Band. Another mental memory was being at the front of a Lighting Bolt set, watching blood bouncing on the snare drum! I was very young and surrounded by lots of men going completely crazy.

This last year's been a busy one for you, what's been your highlight so far?  It’s been pretty busy since the release on Text, which was in September but hoping 2012 will be the big one. I’m just generally psyched about the release. I was pretty happy with the way the Daily Street mix worked out, as it was not a traditional way of doing a mix.

You've signed to Four Tet's Text Recordings, how did that come about?  I’d met Kieran a couple of times through mutual friends over the last few years and had always been a fan of his label and music so thought it would be a good idea to send him a few tracks. He started playing out ‘Winter Turn Spring’ and following its reception at Plastic People in Shoreditch back in June he asked me if he could release it.

And how has it changed the game for you?  Opened my eyes to the fact that there IS a game. In practical terms it was a platform for more people to hear my music, and generate interest and bookings etc.

Who do you regard as your contemporaries right now?  People like Four Tet, Caribou, Dark Sky, Floating Points, Gold Panda, Koreless.

Who would you most like to collaborate with or remix at the moment?  There’s no particular artist as far as remixing goes as I get drawn to individual sounds within songs, rather than specific artists. However folk music is always cool, as I like working with folk guitar, vocals and harp.   As far as collaboration goes, I’m hoping to do some work soon with Gabe Gurnsey from Factory Floor, who is an incredible drummer. I’d also like to work with Burial (whose drum production is amazing). Will hopefully be working on some collaborations with Dark Sky in the near future.

And finally, where can we see you playing soon?  I am DJing with Braiden at Way Back Here’s 1st birthday at Question Mark Bar in Dalston on 3rd Dec, and I have three or 4 other shows coming up in Dec/Jan, including Blessing Force on 15th Dec at Corsica Studios, Church and Selective Hearing in January, plus a gig in Stockholm at Debaser.

For tickets and info for Way Back Here this Saturday, 3rd December, head here

Way Back Here with Braiden and Juk Juk
Saturday, 3 December 2011
Time 9.00pm - 4.00am
Venue ?/ 129 Stoke Newington High Street, London, N16 0PH , UK
Cost £3 Concessions, £4 OTD

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