01Profile
A Jake Osman Photo
Jake Osman
Photographer — London
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Jake Osman, born and now based in London.
What do you do?
After graduating last summer with a degree in Fashion Communication & Promotion from Central Saint Martins, my main endeavour now is my digital and photographic agency/record label/radio show/clothing brand Motive Hunter which I’ve been building since 2019. I like to think of it as a hub for dance music culture while being a platform to showcase my music-based photography and graphic work. I also run the digital marketing and DJ for events brand Out The Box and (since recently) I’m the site editor for Knowledge Magazine - the oldest magazine in jungle/drum & bass.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I actually cannot choose only one but it would have to be between Frank Ocean at Lovebox and Tame Impala at Alexandra Palace. I think the best rave I’ve been to would be Fabio and Grooverider’s Return To Rage at Heaven. That was something special.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
My oldest brother (Jody Osman) was a renowned hard-house DJ, producer and promoter in the late ’90s & early ’00s, so purely for a full-circle/sentimental family moment, I would say him. It will happen at some point. I’d say 'House Thing' is my favourite of his tracks but as we haven’t released it yet (and for the sake of Spotify playlists) I’d say his remix of 'Dance' by 12 Inch Thumpers comes in at a close second! I would have loved to have played a festival at the same time as Mac Miller too. I’ve always admired his stage presence and energy. His track with Action Bronson 'Red Dot Music' is one of my favourite instrumentals in modern-day hip-hop.
Rest In Peace.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
British rave culture. I find its realness beautifully refreshing.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Gil Scott-Heron. A true poetic genius. I feel like he’d have some answers to what the hell is going on in the world right now. 'The Bottle' is definitely a personal favourite.
Of all the independent venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
I would say by far The Cause in Tottenham. Apart from the fact it’s located just down the road from the greatest stadium in the UK… My good friend Soosee Cue and I ended up doing an impromptu b2b at the Wavey Garms event there in December 2019. We completely packed out Room 2 to the point where it was fairly empty in the main room. I distinctively remember dropping 'Tidal Wavey' by Need For Mirrors and just seeing everyone's reactions to it was one of my favourite memories of 2019. That actually was the first time I’d played to more than just a couple of friends. My all-time independent venue (that I haven’t played yet) would have to be Unit MOT in Bermondsey, South London. Every event that I’ve been to there has felt like the closest thing to a warehouse rave that a legal club could be like. Incredible scenes.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Easy, Kemistry. She co-founded Metalheadz with Goldie, which is without a doubt one of the most influential record labels in electronic dance music, let alone drum & bass. Her DJ partnership with Storm began to pave the way for female DJs in the scene. It feels obvious but wrong to not mention the song that Goldie made dedicated to her titled 'Kemistry' (the Doc Scott remix is also incredible). Rest In Peace.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'I Arise Because' by Danny Seth. I can’t say this is literally the first but it’s one of the most important tracks I have played on repeat. I used to listen to it while walking to university on the morning of every important presentation. Danny’s strong London accent makes the track somewhat of a more directly relatable version of 'Power' by Kanye West to me.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Oldie' by Odd Future. Out of the nearly 46 million current views of the video on YouTube, I’m guessing me and my mates were the vast majority of them. Suburban internet kids unite! I can’t bring myself to add that to the playlist as I’m a whole twenty-four years old now and it just doesn't hit the same way it used to, what an anthem of the past though!
One record you would keep forever?
'We’re New Here' by Gil Scott Heron & Jamie XX. Specifically, 'My Cloud' or 'NY is Killing Me'. Gil was my Mum’s favourite artist and Jamie XX at the time was one of my favourite producers so it felt like we met in the middle on this. It’s a bit ironic as I actually lost the record during a move a few years ago, so I’m using this as motivation to order a replacement.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
“I live in abundance, love is the new money”
From 'We Got Love' by Teyana Taylor. I heard it for the first time whilst lying on a sunny beach with my two flat-mates, really resonated at the time and I guess you could say it’s the outlook I try to have on life.
A song you wished you had written?
'An Ending (Ascent)' by Brian Eno. I was at The Met in New York with my parents during the 2016 exhibition 'Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology'. As we were leaving the exhibition, my Dad told me that he finally understood why I wanted to study a fashion course at university. That was probably one of the most important moments of my teenage years. Anyway, not to digress anymore, but the Brian Eno track was playing on repeat throughout the entire exhibition. As 'An Ending (Ascent)' is more of a sound piece than a conventional track I would have to say that if I was producing, I’d love to make something like 'I Let U' by Jonny L or 'Be True' by Commix.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Somewhere Else' by Paul T & Edward Oberon. A track that no pair of headphones does justice to. It just dropped on V Recordings!
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'At Last' by Beyonce (in character as Etta James) during the 2008 film ‘Cadillac Records’ which has one of my favourite all-time film-casts.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Sober Feels' by Nia Archives. I haven’t met someone that can’t get down to this track. Big respect to Nia, she’s killing it at the moment.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Sweet Love ' by M-Beat. At Boomtown 2019 during Rompa’s Reggae Shack takeover of Tangled Roots - Rompa played it as the last track of his set and it was one of those moments where everyone just held their lighters up without hesitation.
Any new artists you are into at the moment?
Kid Brunswick - it’s only a matter of time before my guy blows to superstardom, his tracks are starting to consistently hit the millions of plays mark on Spotify. And of course, Fleekee! I feel it’s a long-time coming and he deserves everything that comes his way. His debut EP is releasing on Motive Hunter Audio in the not-too-distant future. Catch us shutting down a Motive near you soon.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
Jake Osman, born and now based in London.
What do you do?
After graduating last summer with a degree in Fashion Communication & Promotion from Central Saint Martins, my main endeavour now is my digital and photographic agency/record label/radio show/clothing brand Motive Hunter which I’ve been building since 2019. I like to think of it as a hub for dance music culture while being a platform to showcase my music-based photography and graphic work. I also run the digital marketing and DJ for events brand Out The Box and (since recently) I’m the site editor for Knowledge Magazine - the oldest magazine in jungle/drum & bass.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
I actually cannot choose only one but it would have to be between Frank Ocean at Lovebox and Tame Impala at Alexandra Palace. I think the best rave I’ve been to would be Fabio and Grooverider’s Return To Rage at Heaven. That was something special.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
My oldest brother (Jody Osman) was a renowned hard-house DJ, producer and promoter in the late ’90s & early ’00s, so purely for a full-circle/sentimental family moment, I would say him. It will happen at some point. I’d say 'House Thing' is my favourite of his tracks but as we haven’t released it yet (and for the sake of Spotify playlists) I’d say his remix of 'Dance' by 12 Inch Thumpers comes in at a close second! I would have loved to have played a festival at the same time as Mac Miller too. I’ve always admired his stage presence and energy. His track with Action Bronson 'Red Dot Music' is one of my favourite instrumentals in modern-day hip-hop.
Rest In Peace.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
British rave culture. I find its realness beautifully refreshing.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Gil Scott-Heron. A true poetic genius. I feel like he’d have some answers to what the hell is going on in the world right now. 'The Bottle' is definitely a personal favourite.
Of all the independent venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
I would say by far The Cause in Tottenham. Apart from the fact it’s located just down the road from the greatest stadium in the UK… My good friend Soosee Cue and I ended up doing an impromptu b2b at the Wavey Garms event there in December 2019. We completely packed out Room 2 to the point where it was fairly empty in the main room. I distinctively remember dropping 'Tidal Wavey' by Need For Mirrors and just seeing everyone's reactions to it was one of my favourite memories of 2019. That actually was the first time I’d played to more than just a couple of friends. My all-time independent venue (that I haven’t played yet) would have to be Unit MOT in Bermondsey, South London. Every event that I’ve been to there has felt like the closest thing to a warehouse rave that a legal club could be like. Incredible scenes.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
Easy, Kemistry. She co-founded Metalheadz with Goldie, which is without a doubt one of the most influential record labels in electronic dance music, let alone drum & bass. Her DJ partnership with Storm began to pave the way for female DJs in the scene. It feels obvious but wrong to not mention the song that Goldie made dedicated to her titled 'Kemistry' (the Doc Scott remix is also incredible). Rest In Peace.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
'I Arise Because' by Danny Seth. I can’t say this is literally the first but it’s one of the most important tracks I have played on repeat. I used to listen to it while walking to university on the morning of every important presentation. Danny’s strong London accent makes the track somewhat of a more directly relatable version of 'Power' by Kanye West to me.
A song that defines the teenage you?
'Oldie' by Odd Future. Out of the nearly 46 million current views of the video on YouTube, I’m guessing me and my mates were the vast majority of them. Suburban internet kids unite! I can’t bring myself to add that to the playlist as I’m a whole twenty-four years old now and it just doesn't hit the same way it used to, what an anthem of the past though!
One record you would keep forever?
'We’re New Here' by Gil Scott Heron & Jamie XX. Specifically, 'My Cloud' or 'NY is Killing Me'. Gil was my Mum’s favourite artist and Jamie XX at the time was one of my favourite producers so it felt like we met in the middle on this. It’s a bit ironic as I actually lost the record during a move a few years ago, so I’m using this as motivation to order a replacement.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
“I live in abundance, love is the new money”
From 'We Got Love' by Teyana Taylor. I heard it for the first time whilst lying on a sunny beach with my two flat-mates, really resonated at the time and I guess you could say it’s the outlook I try to have on life.
A song you wished you had written?
'An Ending (Ascent)' by Brian Eno. I was at The Met in New York with my parents during the 2016 exhibition 'Manus x Machina: Fashion in an Age of Technology'. As we were leaving the exhibition, my Dad told me that he finally understood why I wanted to study a fashion course at university. That was probably one of the most important moments of my teenage years. Anyway, not to digress anymore, but the Brian Eno track was playing on repeat throughout the entire exhibition. As 'An Ending (Ascent)' is more of a sound piece than a conventional track I would have to say that if I was producing, I’d love to make something like 'I Let U' by Jonny L or 'Be True' by Commix.
Best song to turn up loud?
'Somewhere Else' by Paul T & Edward Oberon. A track that no pair of headphones does justice to. It just dropped on V Recordings!
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'At Last' by Beyonce (in character as Etta James) during the 2008 film ‘Cadillac Records’ which has one of my favourite all-time film-casts.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Sober Feels' by Nia Archives. I haven’t met someone that can’t get down to this track. Big respect to Nia, she’s killing it at the moment.
Best song to end an all-nighter?
'Sweet Love ' by M-Beat. At Boomtown 2019 during Rompa’s Reggae Shack takeover of Tangled Roots - Rompa played it as the last track of his set and it was one of those moments where everyone just held their lighters up without hesitation.
Any new artists you are into at the moment?
Kid Brunswick - it’s only a matter of time before my guy blows to superstardom, his tracks are starting to consistently hit the millions of plays mark on Spotify. And of course, Fleekee! I feel it’s a long-time coming and he deserves everything that comes his way. His debut EP is releasing on Motive Hunter Audio in the not-too-distant future. Catch us shutting down a Motive near you soon.