A chat with Airtime Records man Jesse Jacob

Jesse Jacob, born Julius Jesse Jacob de Heus, is a Dutch DJ, producer, and founder of Airtime Records. Originally starting his career in techno, he later transitioned to house music, blending deep house with garage influences. His label, Airtime Records, has become a platform for discovering unique underground talent, with Jesse prizing originality over mainstream appeal. His creative process often involves sampling 90s records and experimenting with sequencers, giving his music a fresh and distinct sound in the electronic scene. The label's visual identity is shaped by Australian artist Ksea, adding a unique visual flair to its releases.

Based in Utrecht, Jesse is inspired by the city’s growing electronic music scene and has rebranded Airtime to reflect his evolving taste. With exciting releases and intimate events planned for the future, he aims to connect more deeply with his fanbase while showcasing a new side of his artistry. Jesse continues to push boundaries in his music, constantly scouting fresh talent, and is committed to fostering a community of passionate music lovers.

Hey Julius! Let’s start by asking about the name. Where did Jesse Jacob come from?

Jesse Jacob comes from my full name which is Julius Jesse Jacob de Heus. Jesse Jacob sounded just better in English as an artist name haha.

The artwork on the label is always really cool. Can you tell us a bit about that and who’s in charge of it? Are there other artists and labels you really look up to in this regard?

I have recently done a rebranding for the label as it fits better with the style of music moving forward. As my own personal taste progresses, I find myself being more attracted to the deeper/underground styles of House combined with an influence of Garage.
The artwork is made by Ksea, an artist and designer from Australia. He really made the music and art come together.

Can you walk us through your creative process? Do you have a particular approach when starting a new track?

I always try to use new approaches over time when I’m starting a track. Recently I’m much into sampling old 90s records, chopping them up or using a sequencer to get random drum patterns. Sequencers are also cool for coming up with catchy lead patterns or vocal chops.

With so much music being released every day, how do you ensure that your tracks—and the label’s—stand out in such a crowded space?

You have to have an ear for originality and always be scouting for new talent. In the past I have denied many demos which were very well produced, but they were just copied from big artists in the scene. When I release something I want the listener to be surprised by something they’ve never heard before. I don’t care how big or small of an artist you are or what your social media looks like, it’s all about the music. 90% of the releases have come together by myself looking for that talent. And what’s cool to see is that many artists which were a talent back then on the label have now grown into significant big artists in the scene.

Your label, Airtime Records, has a new VA release, featuring tracks by yourself too. Can you tell us more about it and how you curate artists for the label?

Our new VA is featuring quite some different sounds, this is what I love about a VA. You can tell more about the different aspects and vision of the label on one release. Again this release has a couple of upcoming talents like JEBA, Fabio Santos & Micka, from whom we will hear much more in the near future for sure.

What are your future plans for Airtime Records? Are there any upcoming projects or expansions you’re excited about?

Besides some really cool releases that are coming up, we’re also in the process of planning events again. I took a step back from the events because I wasn’t satisfied with where we were going. We’re now going to focus on smaller venues, expanding our community of real music diggers, who come to the events because they’ll know what they will hear.

How do you keep yourself motivated and inspired creatively, especially in such a demanding industry? Do you ever suffer from writer’s block, for example?

I think there’s no artist that doesn’t suffer from a writing block from time to time. I just came out of one of my worst ones yet. I was already experiencing a lack of inspiration and on top of that I lost a bunch of projects from my harddrive. It was hard for me to get back on track, but you have to remember that in the end you always will. And also remember to backup your files :)

Are you still accepting demos? And what do you look for in a track before you sign it? Is it important you have a personal relationship with the artist?

I’m always looking for demos and new talent. I just started a collaboration with myBeat’s new feature Dropz (check mybeat.io). In this space, it’s easy to connect with the artist. Unfortunately, I can’t get back to everyone due to the high volume, but the artists will know once I listened to it due to their features.

What’s next for you in 2024, both as an artist and as a label owner? What can fans expect from Jesse Jacob moving forward?

Currently, I’m working on my new sound moving forward. Something challenging for me is that at many events I’ve played, I didn’t feel I could express myself as the artist I am. I have a huge collection of records I’ve never been able to play due to the crowds at those events. Of course, I’ve tried it on occasions, but these particular crowds just go dead on that. You have to remember you’re not playing there for yourself, but for the people there. That being said, through my own events and upcoming releases I want to show a new side of myself and see where it brings me.

For the label, I’ve been working on some major releases with some really cool remixers. Unfortunately, I can't spill the beans yet, but watch this space :)

Keep up with Airtime Records on Soundcloud, Instagram, Bandcamp, and Beatport.

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