From high-powered remixes to emotionally charged originals, Jaki Nelson continues to refine a powerful and expressive voice within Electronic Music. Known for her genre-spanning adaptability and honest songwriting, she’s just as comfortable delivering hard-hitting festival tracks as she is exploring tender, vocal-led moments. With recent collaborations across House, Trance, Melodic Techno, and more, her output reflects a consistent creative focus and a clear sense of artistic identity.
We caught up with Jaki to take a look at some of the firsts and favourites that have shaped her musical journey so far – from pivotal early moments to the lyrics and releases that continue to define her work today.
Hi Jaki, how are you?
I’m great, been getting ready to do some Halloween hybrid DJ/live vocal sets, which I’m really excited about.
What’s the first song you ever remember singing along to?
Honestly, I can’t even answer that – I started singing along to the radio when I was just a few weeks old. My parents would try the classic “drive the baby around the block” trick to get me to go to sleep, but that didn’t exactly go as planned!
Can you remember the first time you heard your voice on a finished track? What was that moment like?
I was 13. My parents gave me this singing exercise: they played me a Three Dog Night song called, “Easy To Be Hard,” exactly one time, handed me a lyric sheet, and instructed me to try to recreate the melody to the best of my ability, or come up with a new one. I don’t think I ended up that close to the original, but my mom loved the version I had come up with so much that she stuck me in the studio to record it (she had started a music school with a production studio in the back earlier that year.) Hearing it back, I was brimming with pride. I shared it with a friend whose mom was a flight attendant at American Airlines – well I guess he showed it to her, and she ended up putting it on the official American Airlines playlist! I have no idea how long it stayed on there, but it was a surreal moment.
What was the first genre you fell in love with – and has that stayed with you?
Trance. OG Armin Van Buuren, Tiesto…I was obsessed. As I got older, I started gravitating more towards heavier genres, but I will still always have a soft spot for Trance.
What’s the first live show or performance that made you want to be on stage yourself?
I was 17 watching Nero in the Sahara Tent at Coachella. I’d recently discovered music production, and seeing Alana Watson (the singer) dominate a stage where you almost never see a live singer – that was that. A path forward was forged. I completely abandoned my college applications and acceptances and instead dove straight into the music industry. But I didn’t want to be Alana Watson. I wanted to be Nero – as a whole: writing, recording, producing, DJing.
And now, that’s exactly what I do.
What’s your favourite lyric you’ve written so far – and why does it resonate?
“We’re the lovers, we’re the chasers, we’re the future, we’re the players, we’re the wonders, it’s our nature, we’re the movers and the shakers now.”
As I was writing it, I was realizing how true it felt – it captured something about our generation’s drive and spirit.
Do you have a favourite studio memory from any of your recent collaborations?
Yes. I lost one of my closest friends of all time this past summer, and about two months ago, I had a dream that I saw her again. At that moment, I was fully aware that she is no longer on the plane of existence that you and I are experiencing – I was given the opportunity to visit her on hers. She was showing me all over her new home: the wraparound porch, the five or so dogs she decided to take in, the extended family members that had already passed that were living in other parts of the house. Before I was ready, I got pulled back into this plane of reality and woke up, despite my efforts. I didn’t know for sure at that moment if I believed that it was real, but I really wanted to.
Fast forward one week: She Was Silver put me in a group chat with his buddy Araya because they needed a songwriter/singer to help them fully realize an idea they had. The song concept was called “New Home”, and it literally described the feeling of losing someone and knowing that they’re in their new home on the other side and how someday you’ll find them again.
I broke down many times during the writing and recording process, but it completely validated my experience and gave me a ton of closure. I’m so grateful to know that she is doing so well and she’s so happy.
That song has since been released 100% independently, and it’s already got over 125,000 streams. Knowing that such a personal experience is resonating with people so much means everything to me.
Favourite vocal warm-up or ritual before a session or live set?
My warmup happens in the booth. I loop one section at a time and let myself fall into it – around take #10, my conscious mind steps aside and this total clarity sets in. It’s like a trance. It’s magic.
Is there a first-time experience in music you’re still hoping to tick off the list?
I can’t wait to play my first festival hybrid set! I’ve played festivals, and I’ve played hybrid sets, but I can’t wait to do both.
Favourite track of yours that you feel most proud of vocally?
Probably “Seven Nation Army”. Even with everything I’ve learned since then, that song still stands on its own two feet. It does over 1,000,000 streams each month and I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to do it.
Favourite genre to explore outside of Electronic Music?
Pop, 100%. I grew up in a pop music household! When I was a teenager, I had this giant boombox (that I later turned into my first “studio monitors” – lol) and I’d blast my newest favorite pop music knowing full well that my dad was somewhere nearby and I would try to guess which songs/artists he would take an interest in. When I played Lady Gaga’s ‘The Fame Monster’ album, I knew he’d be into it, but I didn’t expect him to barge into my room with a “WHO IS THIS?! THIS IS A HIT” when ‘Poker Face’ came on.
Whether reflecting on her roots in Trance or opening up about deeply personal songwriting experiences, Jaki Nelson’s responses offer a glimpse into the heart of an artist fuelled by connection, craft, and a relentless love for music. As her discography expands and her sound evolves, one thing remains constant: her drive to keep exploring, keep creating, and keep sharing stories through sound.
Be sure to follow Jaki Nelson across platforms for more releases, updates, and behind-the-scenes glimpses into what’s coming next.
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