Few artists manage to captivate both seasoned listeners and new fans with as much versatility and finesse as Freejak. With his latest release, “The Tutor,” on the London-based indie electronic imprint Perfect Havoc, Freejak demonstrates his remarkable ability to masterfully navigate between genres while maintaining his signature sound. As the summer heats up, this Latin-infused dance track arrives just in time to ignite dance floors and playlists. Download/stream it here: https://freejak.lnk.to/the.tutor.
Freejak’s journey in music is as compelling as the tracks he produces. He shares his origins: “Like so many other musicians, I started early with classical piano training from 6/7 onwards.” This early immersion in music set the stage for what would become a lifelong passion, leading to his first record deal at 16 and his major deal at 19. With nearly 30 years in the industry, Freejak continues to evolve as a producer and DJ, adapting to the ever-changing landscape of electronic music.
“The Tutor” stands as a testament to Freejak’s versatility. It is a far cry from his previous work on Perfect Havoc, most notably his 2022 remake of the iconic “Sandstorm” by Darude—a track that was met with widespread acclaim across the DJ circuit. “Yes, ‘The Tutor’ couldn’t be much further away from the fist-pumping beats of ‘Sandstorm’,” Freejak notes, highlighting the creative freedom he embraces when crafting new music. “Dance music, for me, can come from anywhere as long as it makes me want to dance... on that day, I landed on some Latin-flavored chords, and the track built itself.”
The playful energy of “The Tutor” is infectious, driven by a rolling Latin piano sample and a dance instructor-style hook that invites listeners to move. It’s a track designed for summer, blending pumping beats with samba-inducing melodies to create a feel-good anthem that showcases Freejak’s polished production skills. This ability to infuse different genres and styles into his work is something Freejak attributes to years of listening deeply to music. “After many years of absorbing music, most producers learn to listen just a little deeper—not just to the notes but to the instruments, the timbre, the ambience, the flow and swing, and the tiny nuances of each genre.”
But it’s not just his adaptability that has garnered Freejak respect among his peers—his work ethic and dedication to his craft have also played a significant role. This dedication has led to collaborations with some of the biggest electronic and pop music names, including Paul Oakenfold, Kelis, Sigala, and Craig David. It’s also why DJ titans like David Guetta and Dimitri Vegas personally requested him to remix their track “She Knows” featuring Akon. “I had a real double-take moment when I glanced at my phone and saw a notification saying Dimitri Vegas wanted to send you a message,” Freejak recalls. This moment underscored the idea that “you never know who is listening.”
As a DJ, Freejak’s sound continues to evolve, influenced by the boundary-pushing creativity of artists like Fred Again, Sammy Virgi, Skrillex, and Diplo. “I’ve never been one to be tied by genre,” he says, emphasising his approach to selecting tracks that resonate with the crowd’s energy. This flexibility is key to keeping the electronic music scene vibrant and forward-looking, a philosophy Freejak embodies in both his DJ sets and productions.
Despite his impressive achievements, Freejak remains humble and grounded. Reflecting on the pressures of the music industry and the impact of AI on the creative process, he expresses concern about how these changes could affect artists trying to make a living. “AI could massively increase the amount of music out there, diluting the pool for real musicians,” he warns. Yet, he remains optimistic that creative people will find ways to embrace and “misuse” AI to produce great work.
In an increasingly saturated music industry, Freejak advises up-and-coming artists to embrace their uniqueness. “If you really want to be great, you have to be unique, you have to take risks, and you have to stand out.” This advice is more relevant than ever in an age where hundreds of thousands of tracks are uploaded daily, and standing out is the key to success.
As Freejak looks forward to the future, his passion for music remains undiminished. Although he’s taken a step back from DJing to focus on family and personal well-being, he continues to produce and release music that resonates with fans worldwide. Upcoming projects include a top-secret track with Ministry of Sound, new music with Dimitri Vegas’s label Smash The House, and continued releases with Perfect Havoc.
In “The Tutor,” Freejak delivers an irresistible summertime anthem and reaffirms his position as a versatile and innovative force in the electronic music scene. As he continues to evolve and experiment with new sounds, there’s no doubt that Freejak will keep listeners on their toes, eagerly anticipating what he’ll create next.
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