With a growing catalogue that continues to reflect their evolving sound, Jaeza are steadily carving out a space for themselves within the world of Electronic Music. Formed by John Piela and Josh Candelaria, the duo brings a blend of musical backgrounds and a shared passion for creativity to their approach, continuing to build on their foundations as they shape their sonic identity and expand their reach.

In this interview, the duo opens up about the early inspirations that shaped their love for Electronic Music, the artists and ideas that continue to influence their approach, and how they balance their individual tastes to build a unified vision as Jaeza.

Hi Jaeza, how are you both?

Never better!

Who were some of the first artists or producers that made you fall in love with Electronic Music?

Josh - Deadmau5 and Skrillex were the first two artists that really opened my eyes to Electronic Music. Before that, I didn’t even really know what Electronic Music was—I just thought it was all “Techno.” I remember having a math teacher in my freshman year of high school who was into “Techno music,” and I honestly had no clue what he meant. Then a year or two later, tracks like ‘Ghosts ‘n’ Stuff’ and ‘Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites’ started coming out and completely blew my mind. I just couldn’t believe people could create sounds like that.

John - I think my first exposure to Electronic Music was probably with Prodigy way back in the day. My older brother had their album, ‘Fat of the Land’ and I remember burning it from him. There are a few songs on that album that really play with the intersection between Hip Hop and Electronic Music that I really love. Then it wasn’t until the early teens that I started listening to a lot of the Big Room artists coming out but eventually, I found Disclosure and I think they really stick out for me as someone that shaped the way I think about Electronic Music.

What non-electronic artists have shaped how you approach music production today?

Josh - I watched a Timbaland MasterClass a while back, and it really stuck with me. He talks about how he doesn’t always play instruments—he hears the music in his head, hums melodies, taps out beats on his body and captures those raw ideas. That’s become a big part of how I work too: feel first, refine later.

John - I had a pretty sizeable obsession with Rage Against the Machine in early high school. I really dug the heavy bass focus of their tracks and at the time, there wasn’t really anything like them.

Are there any artists you admire not just for their sound, but for the way they evolve or present themselves creatively and professionally?

Josh - Jack Black, hands down. The guy can do it all. He’s a killer musician, totally original, and hilarious. There’s just something fearless about the way he shows up.

John - Is it lame to say The Beatles?

How do you balance paying homage to your influences while making sure your sound stays distinctively your own?

Josh - Writing music is so personal. Honestly, I think if you’re making music from the heart, it’s always going to sound like you, no matter who your influences are. Drawing inspiration is great, but your own personality always comes through.

John - I think knowing that we’re all standing on the shoulders of giants, musically, helps me not get too into my head. There are only so many notes you can play but there’s such a wide range of music out there. So, easy come, easy go, to make the jams, you let it flow.

When it comes to your creative alignment as a duo, do you have any differences in terms of music tastes?

Josh - We actually have really similar tastes in music, which is probably why our partnership works so well. It just feels natural whenever we’re in the studio together.

John - It might sound stupid, but I think we both just appreciate good music regardless of the genre, so it makes alignment easy.

How have your influences shifted since you first started working together, and what new artists are inspiring you lately?

Josh - When we first started making music together, one of the first things we did was sit down and list out our influences and who we wanted to emulate. We’ve pretty much stuck to that original list, but lately, I’ve been getting a lot of inspiration from artists like Chris Stussy and ZARG.

John - Ditto^. I’m always in search of the next grooving bassline, and I’ll follow my nose wherever it goes.

Is there a particular record label whose catalogue has shaped your taste or guided your direction as producers?

Josh - Early on, I was super inspired by Dirtybird and really wanted to make music in that vein. Over time, though, our style has evolved and drifted in a different direction.

John - I can’t say there is.

Do you ever find inspiration from things outside of music — like visual art, film, or architecture — and feed that into your sound?

Josh - Definitely. We actually keep a running list of “found sounds”—random audio clips from movies, funny moments, things people say—that we want to work into tracks. Songs like ‘Bobby’s Neighbor’ and ‘Sorry Mom’ are good examples of us pulling inspiration from outside the usual music world.

John - Totally, all the time. Music is all about “the vibes”, and if a piece of art gives me some vibes, then I think it's your duty to transmute that into something tangible.

Are there any artists or albums that you return to when you need to reset creatively?

Josh - I tend to throw on Mac Miller or Jack White when I need a reset

John - If I ever feel the need to reset, I respect the shuffle button. Eventually, it’ll find me something that I needed to hear.

From early encounters with iconic Electronic Music artists to drawing inspiration from unexpected sources outside of music, Jaeza’s journey is one defined by openness, collaboration, and a genuine love for the creative process. As they keep refining their sound and push into new territory, John and Josh remain grounded in the influences that first sparked their passion — while continuing to push their creative boundaries to keep their sound fresh and original. With the path ahead sure to see the duo maintain their momentum, be sure to keep up with Jaeza and their evolving journey by following them across social media.

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