Exclusive Interview with Jerry T Funky

 

Jerry T Funky is a non-binary dance DJ and producer with music embedded into their soul. They’ve been playing music since they were three years old with experience in both the piano and guitar. They make electronic dance music and their latest single “Vogue” is one that sits comfortably in that world and its intersection with the LGBTQ+ community.

We sat down with Jerry T Funky to talk about their creative journey, inspirations, and what’s next.

MusicsWeek: When did you begin to see music as more than a personal outlet?

Jerry T Funky: I think when I was seventeen, and had some people over - one of them, a friend of a friend, said to me that I was one of the best DJs they had ever heard. Up until this point, I was only planning on DJing for fun and didn’t have any plans to perform. 

MusicsWeek: What personal traits do you think most influence your creative decisions?

Jerry T Funky: One of my biggest personal traits that attributes to my musicianship is my avid love of learning. To truly learn something, you must implement what you know. Therefore, the more you learn about music, the more you create. It tends to build on itself like that. I am lucky that, for me, learning something gives me a profound feeling of accomplishment, and that propels me forward to learn more. 

 

MusicsWeek: What helps you stay productive during periods of creative uncertainty?

Jerry T Funky: Probably the most helpful is routine, it’s easier to exercise a muscle that is in regular use. I think that learning helps, especially if you’re in a rut. But mostly, I think that following inspiration is what keeps me creative. I think that’s why I play two instruments outside of voice or being a DJ and producer - with so many options, it’s hard to run out of inspiration.

MusicsWeek: What was the focus or intention behind your most recent release?

Jerry T Funky: The focus for “Vogue” was to make a song that you could see being played at a seasonal fashion show. By the end of the track, this turned into something else, turning into a song of LGBTQIA+ empowerment and also of fashion.

MusicsWeek: How did the creation of this project differ from your earlier work?

Jerry T Funky: This song differs from my earlier work, by myself standing in my identity, being publicly out as a queer musician, rather than strictly in my small circle of friends. You’ll see this impacts my future releases as well.

MusicsWeek: What aspects of your latest project feel most representative of where you are now?

Jerry T Funky: I think we are finally seeing all that I am truly capable of, now that I am not holding back. You know, being in the closet has a way of doing that - holding you back. Here, you see my free expression entirely unfettered.

MusicsWeek: Were there any unexpected challenges that shaped the final outcome?

Jerry T Funky: There were some issues in my home recording studio that I was very happy to be able to resolve at a local studio with the help of my recording engineer Fil. Without his help, the ad-libs for the track wouldn’t have been half as impressive.

MusicsWeek: How do you think about your audience when you’re creating new material?

Jerry T Funky: When I think about my audience, I think about bringing quality. As a lifetime musician, I have wrote several hundreds of songs, maybe more. Much of which will never be released. That’s because I want to release music that is valuable. Music that I would stand behind; that represents me.

MusicsWeek: What kind of response from listeners feels most meaningful to you?