Name: Jerry Folk
Nationality: Norwegian
Occupation: Producer, DJ
Current Release: Jerry Folk's "sadsongwtf/ All The Things" is out via Folkestad. Also now available is "Harpy Tale", the first single off his upcoming sophomore album Castle Tapes.
Gear Recommendations: Kilohearts, very fun fx plugins (free) and the Yamaha reface synths.

If you enjoyed this interview with Jerry Folk, visit him on Instagram, Facebook, twitter, and Soundcloud for more music and upcoming live dates.  

What was your first studio like?

My first studio setup was in my bedroom at my parents' place. At 15 years old. Like most producers nowadays.

A setup with a 42” inch TV as my computer screen haha and FL studio and a pair of white krks [speakers].

How and for what reasons has your set-up evolved over the years and what are currently some of the most important pieces of gear for you?

The setup didn’t really change much for a long time.

It’s always been pretty simple but I got a prophet 6 and a Nord Lead plus some other small things that I use. As well as some instruments.

But lately I’ve been trying to stay on the computer as much as possible.

Some see instruments and equipment as far less important than actual creativity, others feel they go hand in hand. What's your take on that?

I guess it depends what you are trying to do. For me the computer is the most important tool and I don’t need much to make a beat.

But it’s important for me to keep having fun with it so at times I might get stuck and try using different instruments or hardware synths to spark creativity.

But I do like the thought of needing as little as possible to do what I’m doing and I’m definitely not dependent on anything but my computer at the moment.

A studio can be as minimal as a laptop with headphones and as expansive as a multi-room recording facility. Which studio situation do you personally prefer – and why?

I prefer the less serious situation.

If I work in a massive recording facility I feel like I need to live up to my surroundings, and I’d rather just feel relaxed.

I’ve worked from my bedroom mostly and the last years I’ve been renting a studio in Oslo. But It looks almost like it could be at home and I think I like it that way.

What role does the tactile element play in your production process?

I’ve always used FL studio and most things I do happen inside there.

Omnisphere, Diva, Soundtoys and Keyscape have been my go to plugins for ages now. Pretty much has it all.

Are you interested in a “music of the future” or “continuing a tradition”?

I like to make things and combinations I haven’t heard before, but it’s very often rooted in something more traditional.

I think it’s important for me to feel like I’m moving forward and not stuck in my own old sound or in general old traditional genres.

But I don’t think so much about trying to make something sound timeless or something specific. Mostly I just try to do what feels fun to me at all times.

Within a digital working environment, it is possible to compile huge archives of ideas for later use. Tell me a bit about your strategies of building such an archive and how you put these ideas and sketches to use.

Pretty much everytime I’m in the studio if I make something not bad I export it and upload it to dropbox. I also often export just a certain piece of the track either melodies, or drums or both and store it in my own sample folder. This way I can easily recycle old ideas when I make new ones. So there is a constant flow of new and old ideas when I produce.

I also think it’s cool when a song changes completely within the song and a new mood is set. I think this is something I’ve done a lot in my music. I’ll do this by finding an old bridge for example and just copy pasting it in a new song.