When we think of sage, we think of ritualism. We think of ineffable smoke which dissipates, providing a spiritual ambience when burnt. Analogies can be drawn between sage and the act of improvisation in a few unique ways. Improvisation too is ineffable, presiding in the present, dissipating upon reflection. Improvisation also permits a state of ‘flow’ within the performer, similar to that of a ritualistic trance-like state. In this light, Sage is a modern and contemporary twist on what a spiritual jazz record can be.

In August 2020, Jake was awarded an opportunity to take part in the Sage Gateshead Summer Artist Residency programme. During an intense week of hermit-life in his studio, Jake worked for 80 hours to write, arrange, engineer and produce this monumental 55 minute record which had no pre-conception prior to the residency. Sage is a multi-tracked, no overdub record; Jake wanted to capture the energy present within the performance itself and present an honest reflection of what was achieved within the week of work. A lot of what you hear on this record are bespoke performances which were of the moment; one-take improvised recordings to capture an idea at its inception, rather than its production. This record is full of solos and features, collaborations between notable Leeds based improvisers, and an ambience that can only come from a mutual love and respect for the craft of improvisation and the love of musicking itself. This record would not have been possible without turntablist and DJ NikNak, Joel Stedman, Joe Love, Chris Duffin and Jay Taylor. This ensemble came together during a period in time where performing and writing music felt taboo; the collective desire to converse musically and create is evident.

The Band:

Jake Mehew - Fender Rhodes MK1 piano, upright piano, Prophet 08, ARP Odyssey, MPC1000, double bass, melodica, percussion.

NikNak (Nicole Raymond) - turntables, Korg KP3 KAOSS Pad, percussion.

Joel Stedman - soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, flute, electric guitar, congas, djembe, percussion.

Chris Duffin - tenor saxophone, Rhodes MK1 piano, Moog Sub Phatty, Digitakt sampler, percussion.

Jay Taylor - double bass, electric bass, percussion

Joe Love - drum kit, percussion

Djembe Ollin - djembes, dunun drums, percussion.

All Compositions by Jake Mehew
Arrangements by the band
Engineered by Jake Mehew
Mixed by Chris Sharkey

This project was generously supported by Sage Gateshead and the 'Summer Artists Residency' project. Supported by Arts Council England.

Freeflow

Alternate Manifestations

Astral Coastline

Calm Storm

The Harvest

Say What Again!

Freefall

Sage

The Black Nation

Live Modular Techno Set - Recorded Direct from Hardware

*If you've enjoyed this set, it would mean the world to me if you could vote for it in the HÖR x Voltage Labs [Maximum Heat] competition. The link to follow is here: https://hoer.live/contest_entry/385-jake-mehew-hor-x-voltage-labs-maximum-heat-modular-techno/ *

This improvised set was recorded live in one take using my Eurorack modular system, the Vermona DRM1, and Soma Pulsar-23. No edits, no overdubs. Just raw, hardware-driven techno straight from the machines. The performance explores hypnotic rhythmic cycles, saturated textures, and evolving timbral feedback systems, all shaped in real-time.

Rooted in live hardware improvisation, this recording reflects my ongoing research into the psychoacoustics of entrainment and the physicality of sound. It’s an attempt to capture something visceral, where structure emerges from chaos and the studio dissolves into the dancefloor.

Recorded with HOR x Voltage Labs in mind.

Jake Mehew Instagram: www.instagram.com/jake_mehew_music
Jake Mehew Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jakemehewmusic

Jake Mehew - HÖR x Voltage Labs [MAXIMUM HEAT] / Modular Techno Mix

Jake Mehew is an mixed-media electronic artist based in Leeds, UK. Jake's work combines modular technologies, generative visual stimuli and spatial sound staging in seemingly infinite configurations, delivering bespoke performances for each public appearance. With an interest in improvisation, Jake seemingly conjours alien sonicscapes from his immersive musical/visual practices and technologies; these experiences are created to illicit sensations of flow, ecstacy and trance from an audience through combinations of polyrhythms/meters, timbre and repetition. Jake's artistic practices are informed by ideas from neuropsychology, ritualism in music, magic, and phenominological experience.

In his career, Jake has supported notable artists including Suzanne Ciani, Arooj Aftab, The Comet is Coming, Soccer 96, Sunda Arc, Matthew Halsall, Mdou Moctar, Mabe Fratti. Jake has been fortunate enough to be a recipient of the Richie Hawtin PhD scholarship at the University of Huddersfield, and the Arts Council England DYCP grant. As an advocate for immersive technology, Jake has created work (to be released 2024) for Berlin-based spatial audio studio MONOM, and has created festival experiences for D&B Audiotechnik. Jake's work exists both in art exhibitions, and clubs; In the past Jake has exhibited audio-visual art with Britten Pears Arts, Sage Gateshead, The Nottingham Contemporary, Leeds International Festival of Ideas in the UK, and his work has taken him to play notable dance festivals such as Houghton Festival, We Out Here, Superbooth, and with the Berlin Modular Society.

Jake Mehew

Popular tracks