Get to know Jerry Folk, the Norwegian electro-pop wünderkind

Earning over one million SoundCloud plays in two weeks for a remix is enough to inflate anyone’s ego. But for humble 23-year-old Norwegian producer Gerard Taylor, better known as Jerry Folk, it simply meant taking his studio time more seriously.

“It’s a great achievement,” Jerry admits. “But it was an accomplishment that was followed by a lot more work. The more recognition the music gets, the more hours I have to put in to feel worthy of whatever recognition I’m getting.”

Growing up, Jerry spent his time playing drums in a band, breakdancing in the streets of Oslo, scouring obscure Eastern European electro blogs and finding inspiration in Norwegian artists such as Röyksopp, Lemaitre and Todd Terje.

When he was 17, his production career took flight with the release of ‘The Kids Tape’ EP. Meshing the sprightly leads of his Scandinavian counterparts with his appreciation for expressive r’n’b vocals, funk and Soulection-esque hip hop stylings, he concocted a delectable dancefloor formula that drove hordes of listeners to his SoundCloud page.

As his nu disco-charged tracks continued to rack up millions of plays online, Jerry moved to Los Angeles in 2016. After only having played one show in the US, he stepped up to the decks for a prime time spot at one of the world’s biggest festivals, Coachella. On taking the stage, Jerry’s popularity and musical impact came into focus. “I didn’t really know that I had fans – I just knew that I had plays,” he explains. “It was the first time I realised that people know the songs and actually came out to hear my music.”

Following 2016’s funkified debut EP ‘The Kids Tape’ and his follow-up mixtape ‘Purple Evenings’, Jerry’s ‘Leisure Tapes’ EP, released in 2018, demonstrated a newfound maturity and musical direction. “Right now, I’m just focusing on my instrumental skills and becoming as good a musician asI possibly can,” says Jerry.” Filled with scintillating synth lines, honeyed vocals and glistening production, ‘The Leisure’ EP shows a producer in full command of his talents.

Jerry Folk is a member of Mixmag and WAV’s new Magnified team. Find out more by visiting wav.mixmag.net

Cameron is Mixmag's Jr. Editor. Follow him on Twitter here