A CHAT W/ MERKER
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Introduction
Q: Introduce yourself.
My name’s Merker, also known as Jamie. I’m from Huddersfield, and I’m currently deciding on scran.
The Beginnings
Q: Can you tell us about your journey into music and discovering producing?
Growing up in Huddersfield, most of the good clubs had already closed down, so it was tough to get exposed to dance music early on. I’ve always appreciated all types of music, but DJ Q and Flava D were the first dance artists I got into. Seeing DJ Q perform at Bassment in his hometown was a special moment—it introduced me to older tracks and inspired me to explore further.
Moving to Leeds made me appreciate dance music even more. Spending countless hours researching older music and labels also pushed me towards producing, which I’ve been doing for about a year now.
Musical Influences
Q: What are your biggest musical influences, both within and outside garage?
I’m always learning more about dub culture and how garage has evolved. The older artists and labels are a massive rabbit hole to explore. Jon Buccieri and his work with his labels are a huge inspiration. Artists like Silva Bumpa, Auramatic, and Main Phase are also massive influences—they’re really pushing boundaries right now.
Q: What is one record you always come back to?
Easily Bump and Flex - Long Time Coming. This track has everything a bumpy 4x4 garage tune should have and does it perfectly.
Creative Process
Q: Walk us through your typical process for creating a new track.
Inspiration always comes first, and it can appear when I least expect it. Sometimes I’ll hear a bass sound, a vocal, or something while I’m out and about that sparks ideas. Finding cool stuff in older and newer music also helps.
Q: Do you have any rituals or routines to get into the creative zone?
I wouldn’t call it a ritual, but taking breaks is essential. Sometimes I’ll step away for a couple of weeks—it helps reset and brings back that eagerness to produce. When ideas are flowing, it’s easy to lose track of other things, so taking that time off can break it up.
Tracks and Challenges
Q: What’s the story behind “I Need Relief”?
I heard the vocal a while back on “I Need Relief” by Digital Domain—it’s a proper sick old-school rave track. I decided to give it a more clubby vibe and used parts of the original vocal to seal the track. All the bass samples are from a Wideboys sample pack, which fit really well.
Q: What challenges do you experience as an emerging artist?
Trying to find my sound is still something I’m figuring out. I love experimenting with different genres and styles just for fun, but it can make narrowing down my identity as an artist tricky.
Looking Ahead
Q: How do you see the garage scene evolving in the next few years?
The garage scene is always evolving, and it’s exciting to see where it’s headed. I’d love to see more experimentation while still keeping the essence of what makes garage so special.