In the late 80's, Trevor Jackson designed now classic record sleeves for S-Express, Jungle Brothers and Todd Terry. In the 90's, he was known as The Underdog – remixing U2 and Massive Attack – and a decade ago he was one of the first people to bring the 80's musical aesthetic back with his Playgroup project. Later, he has done artwork for such people as Soulwax and Matias Aguayo, not to mention his label Output Recordings, which released music by Four Tet, Black Strobe, MU, DK7 and LCD Soundsystem among others. On Saturday 3rd of September, the audio-visual maestro will finally arrive to Finland to play a DJ gig at Nolla.

The story of Output Recordings (1996–2006) has been covered pretty well on various interviews (Red Bull Music Academy and Test Pressing, among others), but let's talk about the subject for a while, anyway. The NYC-based Finnish duo Dead Combo was a part of the label's roster – how did you meet the guys and ended up releasing their music? Are there other Finnish artists you're into?

 

– I discovered their music online and loved it, we spoke by emails and the rest is history. For me, they're one the greatest live bands I had the pleasure of being involved with, both maniacs, but that's what made their music so special.

 

My first Finnish musical discovery was Opel Bastards, of course! When I heard the first single Funking, I was hooked immediately and tried desperately to release the single on Output. At the time they had a difficult manager that made things impossible, so it never happened, but I stayed good friends with Timo from the band.

 

Of course i'm a big fan of hannulelauri, as well as Renaissance Man, lots of brilliant music comes from Finland. I'm very happy to be playing and visiting the country for the first time.

 

Do you think there are any labels nowadays that share same vibe as Output – either musically or what comes to design and aesthetics?

 

– I admire both Ghosty International and Not Not Fun Records. Labels such as Thrill Jockey and kranky were also an inspiration to me when I started and still release great records. Also, can't forget Smalltown Supersound.

 

On last year's Red Bull Music Academy session you mentioned you had five albums of music ready, but weren't happy enough with to put them out. Have you been working on new stuff since, and if so, can you reveal something about the material – what has been influencing you musically lately? Can we expect something to come out soon?

 

– I am always making music but never releasing it, there is so much, well actually too much music around, so releasing things becomes more difficult and in many ways not so important to me anymore. Unless I'm 99% happy with something, I don't want anyone to hear it, I care very much about everything I produce and unless it has a reason to exist, will make an impact or serves a purpose, it's pointless for me to let it out into the world.

 

The process of creating music has become as important as the result for the first time in my life, and as long as I'm enjoying that process, then that's all that matters to me right now.

 

Trevor Jackson - Civic Social Club @ The Civic Underground, Sydney by future classic

Are there any tracks that have been constanly featuring in your sets during the last few months? Any new artists you've come across and gotten excited about?

 

– I listen to all of Jamal Moss's music, it's like a sick addiction, as well as nearly everything on the Not Not Fun label. I love the band Sun Araw, a recent release by them with Matthewdavid (Livephreaxxx) is one of the best things I've ever heard, the band Mi Ami are great and the latest Kreidler album is my favourite of the year. Matias Aguayo's label Cómeme always makes me smile, Legowelt never disappoints, Oliver Ho's Raudive project releases great stuff, Ivan Smagghe's and Tim Paris's It's A Fine Line are producing wonderful music, and Caribou's remix of Virgo Four is the remix of the year for me so far, without a doubt.

 

 

How about on the design front – what are the latest projects you've been working on? 

 

– Very busy doing a load of things, I just finished an audio-visual installation for Lexus, a project for Canon promoting a new camera and a project for The Designers Republic's 25th anniversary. I'm working on a solo art show titled Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, Forever in Berlin, based upon a series of microscopic photographic images of my vinyl record collection.

 

What is your soundtrack of choice for the day after partying? Do you have favourite ”hangover records”?

 

– I don't drink nor take any drugs, so I never suffer hangovers anymore! But to relax I always listen to the Augustus Pablo or Stars of the Lid.