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Soul Shakedown Studios gets ready to shake the earth
Jakob John can see San DIego being the next music mecca
Jakob John: "This shit's happening, but at the same time, it's just the beginning."
Soul Shakedown Studios started in founder Jakob John’s North County garage. It stayed there for two years before moving into a space in San Marcos. Now, five years later, the studio has grown into a still larger space where John produces all genres of music, but with a heavy lean towards hip-hop. “We’ve been able to run the studio without a loan, investor or outside source,” the producer says. “It’s been straight off the muscle and completely independent.”
John views San Diego’s music scene as a place with enormous potential for more nation-wide recognition. “Being in the music industry, I see a lot of artists that come down from LA to work with our artists, because our sound is so different. San Diego music has changed enormously in the past five years, and I think we’re on the growth right now. It’s about bringing light to that so we can all get behind our artists, whether it’s a singer, a band, or a rapper. I’m not talking about anybody specifically. Let’s just get behind anyone.”
One particular area where the San Marcos-based producer puts his focus is on music programs for young people. John has partnered with charter school High Tech High to teach studio techniques. He has also opened his studio for one-day classes. “There aren’t a lot of programs for struggling kids who can’t afford full tuition, so we’ve been offering daily classes for people. They can come in for a day for a hundred bucks. We can make beats with them, teach them how to record vocals, things like that. If we can teach the youth and just bring everybody together, I think in the next five years, I can see San Diego being the next mecca, like Atlanta or New York, of music. It’s not impossible. We’re going to get there.”
Recording over 200 artists a month, Soul Shakedown Studios is helping musicians’ ambitions become their reality. “I’m one hundred percent in it. I’m an artist as well, so I see talent, no matter what genre it is. I know what it looks like. I can see it in their eyes.”
John recently went viral with North County rapper Bishop Snow. Snow’s song “Press the Issue,” produced by John, currently has over 280,000 likes and over seven million views on Instagram alone. “I’m not going to lie to you,” says John, “North County has got it right now, because we have fought so hard for the recognition. We have it, but we’re still fighting for it. There’s this weird middle ground where people are starting to notice it. Us fighting to be known up here has made us stronger.” The producer says other hot names coming out of the North County music sector are Obed Padilla, John Givez, and Flashy B. “We’re all starting to come together, and it’s like, 'You know what, fuck it. We’ve got to do it.' This shit’s happening, but at the same time, it’s just the beginning. We still haven’t seen the true epitome of what this entails. There’s still so much more to come. I’m excited for the future.”
Video:
Bishop John: "Press the Issue"
John is producing an upcoming song called “Boop Bing” — a hip-hop collaboration from artists Sietgang Yabbie, Lil Weirdo, Gee EL, and Flashy B. “We already shot the music video. We shot it right across the street from Petco Park. When that one drops, it might be the one. The only other thing I can speak on it is…Kendrick vibes. The surprise drop is going to make it go crazier. When it comes out as a surprise, that’s when it shakes the earth a little bit.”
As a producer and a musician, John sees the music as therapy. His message for anybody thinking of recording? “This music is how you get your emotions out and how you express yourself. Whether you’re telling a story or telling reality, it’s all artistry. It’s like a movie. Just have fun. Just create. Let it out, even if it’s a song you’re never going to release. If it’s something you felt in a moment, get it off your chest. Feel it. Maybe tomorrow when you wake up and listen to it, you’ll see if you really want to do it or not.”
Here's something you might be interested in.
Soul Shakedown Studios gets ready to shake the earth
Jakob John can see San DIego being the next music mecca
Soul Shakedown Studios gets ready to shake the earth
Jakob John can see San DIego being the next music mecca
Jakob John: "This shit's happening, but at the same time, it's just the beginning."
Soul Shakedown Studios started in founder Jakob John’s North County garage. It stayed there for two years before moving into a space in San Marcos. Now, five years later, the studio has grown into a still larger space where John produces all genres of music, but with a heavy lean towards hip-hop. “We’ve been able to run the studio without a loan, investor or outside source,” the producer says. “It’s been straight off the muscle and completely independent.”
John views San Diego’s music scene as a place with enormous potential for more nation-wide recognition. “Being in the music industry, I see a lot of artists that come down from LA to work with our artists, because our sound is so different. San Diego music has changed enormously in the past five years, and I think we’re on the growth right now. It’s about bringing light to that so we can all get behind our artists, whether it’s a singer, a band, or a rapper. I’m not talking about anybody specifically. Let’s just get behind anyone.”
One particular area where the San Marcos-based producer puts his focus is on music programs for young people. John has partnered with charter school High Tech High to teach studio techniques. He has also opened his studio for one-day classes. “There aren’t a lot of programs for struggling kids who can’t afford full tuition, so we’ve been offering daily classes for people. They can come in for a day for a hundred bucks. We can make beats with them, teach them how to record vocals, things like that. If we can teach the youth and just bring everybody together, I think in the next five years, I can see San Diego being the next mecca, like Atlanta or New York, of music. It’s not impossible. We’re going to get there.”
Recording over 200 artists a month, Soul Shakedown Studios is helping musicians’ ambitions become their reality. “I’m one hundred percent in it. I’m an artist as well, so I see talent, no matter what genre it is. I know what it looks like. I can see it in their eyes.”
John recently went viral with North County rapper Bishop Snow. Snow’s song “Press the Issue,” produced by John, currently has over 280,000 likes and over seven million views on Instagram alone. “I’m not going to lie to you,” says John, “North County has got it right now, because we have fought so hard for the recognition. We have it, but we’re still fighting for it. There’s this weird middle ground where people are starting to notice it. Us fighting to be known up here has made us stronger.” The producer says other hot names coming out of the North County music sector are Obed Padilla, John Givez, and Flashy B. “We’re all starting to come together, and it’s like, 'You know what, fuck it. We’ve got to do it.' This shit’s happening, but at the same time, it’s just the beginning. We still haven’t seen the true epitome of what this entails. There’s still so much more to come. I’m excited for the future.”
Video:
Bishop John: "Press the Issue"
John is producing an upcoming song called “Boop Bing” — a hip-hop collaboration from artists Sietgang Yabbie, Lil Weirdo, Gee EL, and Flashy B. “We already shot the music video. We shot it right across the street from Petco Park. When that one drops, it might be the one. The only other thing I can speak on it is…Kendrick vibes. The surprise drop is going to make it go crazier. When it comes out as a surprise, that’s when it shakes the earth a little bit.”
As a producer and a musician, John sees the music as therapy. His message for anybody thinking of recording? “This music is how you get your emotions out and how you express yourself. Whether you’re telling a story or telling reality, it’s all artistry. It’s like a movie. Just have fun. Just create. Let it out, even if it’s a song you’re never going to release. If it’s something you felt in a moment, get it off your chest. Feel it. Maybe tomorrow when you wake up and listen to it, you’ll see if you really want to do it or not.”
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