Jaki Nelson on Breaking Boundaries in Dance Music and Her Vision for 2025

Jaki Nelson has been carving her unique path in the world of Dance music, seamlessly blending emotionally charged melodies with high-energy beats that span across genres. From chart-topping Billboard hits to hundreds of millions of streams on Spotify, the Los Angeles-based singer, songwriter, and producer has consistently pushed creative boundaries. Her tracks have resonated far and wide, earning spots on prestigious playlists and airplay on stations curated by the likes of David Guetta and Tiësto.  

With performances on legendary stages like SF Pride and Avalon Hollywood under her belt, and with an ever-growing list of collaborations featuring industry heavyweights, Jaki is stepping into 2025 with a fresh perspective and exciting plans. We sat down with Jaki to explore her journey, her creative process, and what’s next in her musical evolution. 

Hi Jaki Nelson, how are you today? 

I’m great, just another day in paradise! Currently finishing up a track that I’m really excited about. 

Can you tell us about your journey into music? When did you first realize this was your path? 

Music is in my blood – my dad was a big rock n’ roller in the 70’s, my sister was in a country band, and my mom opened a music school when I was a pre-teen. Around that same time, I was suddenly drawn completely into the Dance music world – I even convinced my mom to let me go to a festival starring Armin Van Buuren when I was 14! Soon after, I met a boy who opened my eyes to the world of music production. I immediately fell head over heels with producing, songwriting, and recording. After a life-changing trip to Coachella that same year, I knew this was my path. 

Who were your early musical influences, and how would you say these have changed as you’ve evolved as an artist? 

How early we talking? I’m classically trained on piano so we could go back as far as Debussy, but I also loved studying Andrea Bocelli (the infamous Italian singer) as a kid. The real shift for me though was Kaskade’s “Fire and Ice” album. It wasn’t just an album to me, it was a revelation. The way he blended sound design with simple, compelling lyrics…I had always loved listening to music, but that was the first time I had ever heard music that made me deeply want to make music. 

How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard your music before? 

My music spans every corner of the Dance music spectrum – from Hypertechno to Dance Pop to Bass House to Trance. At its core, my sound combines emotionally charged melodies with high-energy beats. Recently, I feel like my mental health has been a large focus of my music making efforts, so a lot of what I’ve been releasing and the songs that are going to be coming out soon talk about personal growth, perseverance, and celebration. One track I’m proud of, Just Be You, details my experience of feeling like an alien in my own life and pays homage to the people that bring me back to earth. I’m in a place now though where I feel like I can do anything, and I want my fans to feel the same. 

Can you walk us through your songwriting and production process?  

My career has led me towards a LOT of collaborations, so most of the time, I’m not in the producer chair, but when I am, it’s my favorite part. After all, production is my first love. I have to be careful because my ADHD brain will get so hyperfocused on it that if I’m not careful, I won’t get up for 14 hours at a time for days on end. Not a great idea! But either way, I always start with the hook of a track. Once I’ve got that, I move outward, either forward towards the second half, or backwards. It gives me a roadmap of where I’m going. Once the track is reasonably sorted, I’ll start writing – same concept. I like to start with the title, and then work around that. One of my favorite things to do is to find titles that can have a double meaning – it’s a fun game that helps me keep my creative mind sharp. Though sometimes it’s better to just plainly say what you mean. Depends on the vibe. 

Growing up in Los Angeles, how would you say the city’s music scene influenced your artistry? 

I mentioned a boy earlier – we dated for a few years. Anyway, his best friend’s dad was a producer at Interscope Records and taught him a lot that ended up getting passed down through my ex and on to me. Those are the kinds of people that are hanging around big music cities like LA, and I can’t begin to imagine how different my life would be had I never had that. I’m so grateful. 

What’s been one of your most memorable performances so far, and why? 

There’s a wonderful lesson I learned a few years ago: The more honest we are about who we are and what we want, the more the world seems to open doors to where we want to go. I had just come out publicly and immediately got invited to play San Francisco Pride. Quite honestly, I couldn’t sleep for weeks, I was so excited. The timing worked out that I got to stay with my gay uncles for that trip – they had a place nearby. We spent the morning all getting to know each other on a much deeper level than ever before. That afternoon, there were over half a million people in the audience! But knowing that my uncles were there just really made me feel at home in a performance setting that I had never previously done anything close to. It was one of the most exhilarating and rewarding moments of my life. 

What inspires you to keep evolving as an artist when trends in Electronic Music are constantly shifting? 

The trends are exciting! I love new music. I listen to hundreds of songs every month trying to find the absolute best new music, both because I want to spin it in my sets, and also because I want to know exactly why it’s the best. I want to pick it apart and understand every single choice that the producer made. 

Your music has been supported by industry giants like R3HAB, Martin Garrix, and Jonas Blue. How does it feel to have such VIP names backing your tracks, and how has this recognition impacted your career trajectory and creative approach? 

It’s such an honor! I’ve looked up to those artists for most of my life, and to be included amongst those names and their music choices is beyond wild. Their recognition has driven me to keep pushing my creative boundaries and it’s opened doors to working with a lot of other amazing producers. It’s allowed me to focus on what I love – making music all day every day, and that’s something I’ve wanted since the day I discovered Fruity Loops! 

How do you keep your confidence strong while navigating the ups and downs of the music industry? 

It helps to be a Certified Platinum artist with hundreds of millions of streams! But honestly for me, it’s less about confidence as much as the ceaseless pursuit of perfection paired with curiosity. And that’s been there since long before any of the accolades started coming in.  

Finally, what are you hoping to achieve next in your creative journey? 

I mentioned earlier that I’ve been putting some sets together – I’m really excited to be revisiting my roots and getting back to the original version of the dreams I set out to accomplish when I was just starting. Long before any of this success, I was not only singing, songwriting, and producing, but I was DJing live shows – while also singing and playing synth leads all simultaneously. Eventually the demands of the studio became too much to juggle and I had to put something down. Starting in 2025, I’m gonna be DJing a new live show and I’m really looking forward to being able to connect more with my fans by incorporating not just great music, but also live singing some of my songs. I’m stoked to be bringing more of the human touch into the Dance music live performance space. 

As our conversation with Jaki Nelson comes to a close, one thing is clear: her passion for music and relentless curiosity drive her to constantly evolve as an artist. From crafting hits with a global reach to standing before massive audiences at important events, Jaki’s journey so far showcases the power of authenticity and perseverance.  
 
With her upcoming live DJ shows that will blend her dynamic performances with live vocals, 2025 looks set to be a year of reinvention and deeper connections with her fans, and as she continues to bridge the gap between human emotion and electronic soundscapes, there’s no doubt that Jaki Nelson is just getting started. 

Jaki Nelson Online 

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