Discover Jaeza: a Fresh Sound in the World of House Music
Today, we’re thrilled to be sitting down with Jaeza, a dynamic duo comprised of John Piela and Josh Candelaria, to discuss their journey into music, delving into their inspirations, musical approach and plans for the future. Having come together through their shared passion for music, Jaeza remain focused on creating music that connects with audiences, developing a sound that authentically reflects their musical tastes and influences, aiming to set themselves apart and share their approach with a broad range of Electronic Music enthusiasts.
Hi Jaeza, how are you doing today?
LTD, livin the dream baby
When did you both first realise that music was more than just a passion? Was there a moment you realised you wanted to pursue music professionally?
John: Music has always been a passion since I was really little, so there was always a part of me that wanted to do it for a living. For me, music has always been a visceral experience and being able to elicit or evoke something so powerful in someone else always seemed like it would be a trip.
Josh: John and I both had such a strong connection with music at a young age, but I never really considered music professionally until about 3 years ago. I knew that John had been playing around with producing music since college, but he never really got into Electronic Music. It was always centered around Hip Hop with an emphasis on piano-driven tracks. He reached out to me during the Covid lockdown and reminisced about the times back in college when we would jam in his garage, and I would DJ at the local bars. He told me he was thinking about producing Electronic Music and he wanted to know what I thought about moving to Seattle and embarking on that journey with him. I was kind of stuck at a crossroad in life unsure of what to do next. One day I just said, fuck it, what’s the worst that could happen, I have a lot of fun?
How would you describe your signature sound, and what would you say makes it stand out on the House scene?
Pairing melodic vocal hooks with syncopated bass lines is huge for us. We’re always playing around with funky rhythms. I think we draw inspiration from a lot of different genres and that has influenced what sort of “spice” we throw into a song or a mix.
We like to mess around with the various vibes within House music. There’s the banger mainstage Tech House and the more minimalist Tech House, there’s what I like to call rooftop House which to me is more of a majory, happy, floaty style of House music, kind of like the French House genre. You’ve also got Latin house, and the groovy sexy stuff.
Who have been some of the biggest influences on Jaeza’s sound, and how have they shaped your music as a duo?
We have always said that we want to emulate a little bit of Disclosure, a little bit of Fisher, and a little bit of Dirtybird. We love the jazzy, groovy vibes, and unique drum rhythms that Disclosure brings. Fisher is just a Tech House weapon. He brings a lot of mainstage energy to his tracks that we definitely want to capture. We also really enjoy the funky and out of left field ideas that Dirtybird always puts out.
Can you tell us a bit about your live performances? What do you aim to bring to the audience during your sets?
I like to keep the audience on their toes. They never know what’s going to happen next. I like to blend a few different genres into my sets in a cohesive way that takes the audience member on a journey.
Right now, we’ve just been playing DJ sets, but we’re currently developing a show that incorporates a lot of more live elements to our sets.
How do you define success as Artists in an industry that’s constantly evolving?
“To improve is to change. To perfect is to change often”
We want to make sure that we’re always adapting and staying open minded to everything new that is happening in the music industry. Change begets change. You can’t be stagnant if you want to evolve.
As a duo, how have you blended your individual tastes and perspectives to create a cohesive style that honours both of your creative inputs? Have you faced any challenges in regard to your collaboration?
There’s always going to be challenges in any professional relationship, but I think what’s kept us together during the tougher times was swearing an allegiance towards the music. We just want to put out good music, and sometimes that means admitting your idea might not be the greatest. Which can be tough for any artist, but we try not to let ego get in the way of anything.
How do you feel about the role of social media in shaping modern DJ culture? Does it affect how you connect with your audience?
It’s a double-edged sword. Sometimes there’s a few too many people hopping on a trend and that lends itself to poorer quality music and can make it feel cheaper. On the other hand, I’ve seen social media inspire some really cool tracks, just think of some of the stuff Fred Again has cobbled together from some bizarre places, but he makes it sound good, you know?
It’s crazy how immediately connected you can be with your audience. A literal one-degree separation from listener to artist. That’s something that has only been possible during the era of social media.
Finally, what are some goals you’re hoping to achieve in the next few years? Are there any big projects you’re currently working on?
John: Just keep improving and keep putting out music. There’s a line from the movie Young Guns, which is a western about Billy the Kid that I just happened to see the other day, and he goes:
“You have to test yourself every day, gentlemen. Once you stop testin’ yourself, you get slow. And when that happens, they kill you.” -Billy
And I think the same is true in the music industry. Every artist has to battle idleness, both physical and mental, to break through and put out good music, and that’s all I want to do. So constantly testing the boundaries of our music and seeing where that takes us.
Josh: A goal of mine is to travel the world, having a blast playing in really cool clubs. I would love to play my favorite hometown club, Audio, in SF. I’d like to get on a festival circuit at some point as well.
As we conclude our interview, it is clear that Jaeza’s approach to music is all about creativity, collaboration, and keeping things fresh. As they work on new projects and refine their live performances, the duo appears set to continue building on their artistry, and we look forward to seeing where their journey takes them next. So, be sure to take note and keep up with their latest news and projects by following Jaeza across social media today.
Jaeza Online
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