The Moluccan artist reclaims his electronic origins with a fresh take on UK bass and garage.
Dutch producer and musician Jael, born Giovanni Jano, recently set the stage ablaze at Dubai’s Break the Block party at Expo City. Alongside his electrifying performance, he unveiled his latest EP, Motion Sickness—a four-track sonic journey that revisits his musical roots while embracing modern electronic sounds.
“The EP is a return to my roots—a four-track journey into the pulse of UK bass and garage,” said Jael. “This EP isn’t just music; it’s a reconnection with the sounds I grew up on, reimagined through a fresh lens.”
A Tribute to UK Garage and Bass Music
The title track, Motion Sickness, showcases Jael’s signature skippy, sub-heavy UK garage beat, accompanied by the fiery lyricism of Ghanaian-born rapper Michael Ekow. The EP continues its deep dive into bass-heavy sounds with D33P, a choppy dubstep-infused track, followed by the bassline-driven Rude Boy and the garage-infused You Be There.
Jael’s love for UK Garage runs deep, tracing back to his childhood. “Since I was a kid, I always listened to UK Garage and 2-step, which originated in the UK. My cousins and uncles would give me mixtapes from DJ Van Bellen, MJ Cole, Groove Chronicles, DJ EZ, and many more. Growing up with that sound definitely shaped my musical taste, and I even started DJing it when I was 14 years old.”
A Musical Evolution: From R&B to Electronica
Jael first captured audiences with his 2021 debut Half As Much and later expanded his global reach with Close to Me, a collaboration with Juls. Initially rooted in R&B and soul, his latest work signifies a shift toward electronic production. However, he sees this not as a departure but a fusion of past influences with newfound sonic exploration.
“My musical taste has always been broad, so I don’t see this as a change but rather a fusion of my soulful roots with electronic and bass-driven sounds. I’ve been incorporating this blend into my DJ sets, and I’m excited to create even more music that brings these two worlds together,” he explains.
A Brief but Impactful Stop in Dubai
Currently on tour promoting Motion Sickness, Jael’s time in the UAE was fleeting but memorable. “I can’t wait to be back! The only sad side of this show is that I literally go in and out of the country since I have a really tight schedule. What I really want to experience is the energy of the crowd during this amazing show.”
For fans eager to dive into his latest work, Motion Sickness is now available for streaming on Spotify.
