T.H.E Interview – The Journey

After the best part of 10 years learning, becoming, and now sculpting Australia’s House & Techno scene, Tom Evans and Jacob Malmo decided to pool their creative talents and energies together for something greater. Enter: The Journey.

Well-versed duo The Journey gravitate in the melodic techno and progressive house pool, opening things up on musically atmospheric note all while synthesising influences around them. Embracing electronic music’s poignant zest, they are delivering studio output supported by pioneers and humble music enthusiasts equally. Built to keep dance-floor hearts full, the Melbourne based producer, DJ and label pair have knelt to electronic devotees on one knee, warming up stages at the iconic Rainbow Serpent Festival, Pitch Music & Arts to Subsonic and Strawberry Fields Festival, while having cemented a solid debut tour in 2018 throughout Europe lined with an envious 8 hour long set at Berlin’s Sisyphos.

We caught up with Jacob Malmo & Tom Evans AKA “The Journey” to learn more about their life post the pandemic, their music production process & more.

T.H.E – Hey guys. Welcome to THE Music Essentials! How are you, what’s good and bad in your world?

Jacob Malmo – Hey hey, very good to be here and thanks for having us. Things are really good in our world at the moment, not much bad to be honest. We are just coming out of our 6th lockdown and a total of 260 days across the past 18 months. Its certainly been a pretty tough time here in Melbourne but we are thankful that we both have our health and got to achieve some personal goals during this time. There is a buzz in the air with all the businesses starting to re open and our calendars filling up with summer shows. It definitely feels a tad daunting after so long in lockdown but we are definitely ready and looking forward to seeing everyone again.

T.H.E – What was it like to get back to partying and DJing again after the pandemic?

Tom Evans – We are about to find out. This week is our first weekend back with seated service. We open up completely with no restrictions on November 24.

Jacob Malmo – I guess it will take some time to re adapt but its just like riding a bike yeah?

T.H.E – How much has the last year affected the music you have made, the style and sound of it?

Tom Evans – We have stayed fairly true to our sound but I have to say the motivation to create has been a little less when you can’t test your music out to a Dance floor.

I would say some of the music might be more accessible to a listening demographic than a party setting as there really hasn’t been much party to be had.

T.H.E – How do you feel about the remixes of your track ‘Secrets’? Is it good to hear your music reinterpreted?

Jacob Malmo – We couldn’t be more happy with the outcome of both remixes. Cioz and Thankyou City are very individual in there own right and is what makes them so special as producers. Their music stands out and has its own level of flavour. With so much music being released each day I think it’s important to collaborate with forward thinking artists who deliver a unique product. As DJ’s our rekordbox is filled with records by both Cioz & Thankyou City so why not add a couple more.

T.H.E – Do you make music that suits certain labels or do you create first and worry about that later?

Jacob Malmo – From the very start, Tom and I said that we would never really stick to a certain mould or sound. We both have quite an eclectic taste in music which has its pro’s and con’s and we sometimes butt heads with ideas or what we think sounds good or bad….. but that’s all a part of the creative process for us. I would say that tracks do influence us to write a certain way but it’s never for a particular label so to speak. There has been times when we finish a record and send it to a label that we think it suits but it’s passed on and it ends up on a label which we thought wouldn’t have taken it.

T.H.E – What are some of the key bits of music making gear in your current set up?

Tom Evans – We go through phases with different synths and plugins however the Slate Digital stuff is a staple in all of our works, we have learnt a considerable amount using all their stuff.

T.H.E – Where is your best environment as a dj? A small dark club or a huge outdoor festival stage? Late at night for the weirdos or early so you can play slow and eclectic etc etc?

Jacob Malmo – Tom and I have been DJing collectively for probably 30 years now and full time for most of it, so we have definitely done it all. I consider myself a bit of weirdo and you will likely find me being that late night weirdo if I am not working…….. so I can definitely relate to that environment and know I can do a great job. In saying that some of my best memories have been playing packed summer outdoor dance floors heading towards sunset. It’s pretty nice playing on a huge system with a stack of booth monitors either side taller than you too.

Tom Evans – We have cut our teeth for years in the late night dark dives in Melbourne like Onesixone, Qbar and Revolver in Melbourne so that environment will always be home for me. The big stage is always a great experience too and a totally different kettle of fish performance wise

T.H.E – How do you work, do you have an idea in your head you work towards or do you just experiment and jam and see what happens?

Tom Evans – It really depends on the day, some days we will go in with a clear goal on what we would like to achieve and end up with a totally different result. Other times we just get in and have a jam. We have had days where we have started a bootleg for our sets and ended up with a new single.

T.H.E – What else have you got coming up/are you working on?

Jacob Malmo – We have another single coming out titled “Hollow” with Rachel May on our label UGenius Music in December. It has two big remixes from talented Australian producers, TAYA & Tristan Case and features an outstanding vocalist from Melbourne “Alverie”. It’s a little more subdued and summery than other records but feel it’s perfect for the upcoming season. Following that we have some pretty exciting projects in 2022 including a collaboration that we can’t say too much about just yet but it’s been coming for a while and we are extremely happy with it. We have been contacted by some other really exciting labels for music as well so definitely keep an eye out.