Sydney-based producer Jake Jepson is quietly shaping the music of Billboard-charting artists.
The 21-year-old, with five years of development work behind him, is fresh home from his third US writing trip in two years, collaborating with artists like Russ, Jeremih, Zzz, Vory, Shy Glizzy, Nafe Smallz, and RnB Rock.
Equally skilled vocally and as a producer, his toplining ability is a serious asset in any room – bringing clarity, tone, and direction to even the most unformed ideas. His creativity also branches into visuals, with his self-shot and edited loop videos catching attention across platforms and ultimately leading to major collaborations.
Jepson’s melodic prowess and lyrical talents have quickly positioned him as a musical prospect on the global stage – and now, he’s setting the stage for his next chapter, with his own music on the horizon. He’s giving us a taste of what’s to come with “Care”, a new single featuring Kiri Gerbs.
As part of our Up-And-Coming Australian Artists series, we chatted to the rising star to find out more about his musical journey thus far.
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My parents wouldn’t play much genre-specific music around the house as a kid, but they would play the radio a lot. I think because everything playing on the radio was a big hit at the time; I was listening subconsciously and that gave me a knack for writing catchy melodies. I also joined the school band as a drummer when I was 9, which taught me how rhythm worked and when it came to learning how to produce music, I was already able to program drums easily and understand the rhythm components of a song.
What artists influenced you growing up?
For my fifth birthday my mum bought me a CD – Justin Bieber’s My World 2.0, which I loved. Having this influence early on definitely shaped my taste for more R&B leaning melodies. When I was around 12-13, I got Spotify and started finding new artists for myself, which was around the time the Soundcloud rap wave was peaking. From there I went down a rabbit hole of finding new artists in that lane, with some of the most influential being PARTYNEXTDOOR, Don Toliver, Bryson Tiller, and Brent Faiyaz. These artists alongside so many others shaped not only the way I write melodies and lyrics, but the way I approach music as a whole.
When did you discover your passion for creating music?
When I was 14, my two best friends were making beats in class. The idea of creating a beat for someone to rap or sing over was so cool to me, so I picked up FL Studio and started learning everything from the right sound selection to how to create chords that made you feel a certain way. All of this interested me and I just kept learning and learning.
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What are some career highlights so far?
One of the biggest highlights for me has been executive producing Russ’ album W!LD alongside Russ & Kiri Gerbs. I got to travel across the US and Canada to watch the music being performed live in arenas, which is more than I could’ve ever dreamed of happening when I first started making music. This album also went No. 1 on Billboard which was always a big goal of mine.
Through my TikTok and Instagram videos, I have also been able to connect and work with some of my favourite producers and artists. Some other artists I have produced for recently include Jeremih, Pnb Rock, Vory, and Dina Ayada.
What kind of personality traits and values do you believe it takes to succeed in the music industry?
I think you have to really believe in your craft to the point where you won’t let anybody tell you that it’s not going to work out and you have to be able to use that criticism as motivation to always be pushing your abilities further. I believe the best result will come if you’re working on music that makes you excited, instead of trying to please other people.
Nowadays you also have to know how to push your sound on social media and be really consistent with it – that’s the easiest way now to get your music heard.
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How would you describe your music to a potential fan?
I think my music and the music I produce is a unique blend of all the genres I’ve consumed, as well as all of my early influences. For example I might have an indie pop guitar loop but I’m doing R&B runs and harmonies over it. Or I might have a beautiful live recorded piano with some overly processed autotuned vocals and synths. As I continue to produce music for people and release my own music, I believe most music fans will be able to find something in my catalogue that resonates with them, regardless of their preferred genre.
What are your goals for 2026 and beyond? What can fans expect from you this year?
I have never released my own music despite having videos of me singing all over my social media, so that’s the primary goal for this year. The first single I’m dropping is called “Care” with Kiri Gerbs.
I also just want to challenge myself by working with new artists & producers in different genres & to push the sound further both in my production and the music I’m releasing.
