An inside look into the Little Apples DJ scene from beginner "Just Right"

Jake Wright poses in a dimly lit bar, flashing a peace sign while wearing a Metallica shirt and a backward cap. Courtesy: Jake Wright

Evening Drive Interview Clip - Jake WrightBy Sophie Veatch

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Jake Wright, better known as “Just Right,” made an appearance this past week on Wildcat 91.9’s very own “Evening Drive” show with host Sophie Veatch. Jake started his DJ journey about 2 years ago and has since been making his way into Aggieville’s bar scene, playing at popular places such as Tubby’s Sports Bar and Johnny Kaw’s. When talking to Jake, we get to learn about what it’s like to break into the scene as a newcomer and how to start building a name for yourself.  

Getting his start as a wedding DJ, Jake talks about his fun and spontaneous experiences, saying, “For my first wedding ever, I was a backup DJ for another guy during my training, and he actually ended up leaving in the middle of it, saying, ‘You got it, bro’”. Even though this was an abrupt jump into independence, he took this as a fun opportunity to learn and explained how scheduled the job is. Djing weddings is a necessary and common stepping stone in the DJ industry, but Jake said he didn’t like the pressures of the gig, such as the strict song scheduling. “It’s way too much pressure, like I’m going to ruin someone’s best night of their life.”  

Jake talks about how he was able to slowly build his presence in bars in Aggieville by networking with other locals in the scene, posting his mixes on SoundCloud, and curating his social media presence as a visual portfolio. He explains that infiltrating the space has a lot to do with knowing people who can help you get into places for gigs and building your resume through those experiences. “Once you’re there, it’s all about working to where you want to be and making yourself standout” he says. When asked where he would want to have a gig next, he expresses his love for Kansas City’s music scene and says he would love to play at local bars like the Mosaic or In the Lowest Ferns.  

Now, for the age-old question, “Can I put in a song request?” Jake explains that, in theory, he could, but most likely it won’t be downloaded to his library, or the song's bpm won’t mix easily with the rest of his set. “I usually just tell them yes, so they’ll go away. I want to play it. I want everyone to have a good time, but it’s kind of my job to pick the music.” In other words, it’s hard to please people when you’re thinking of the crowd.  

Getting a raw perspective from a fellow Kansas State student can be refreshing and show other young people that investing in their creative interests can be very gratifying and bring opportunities they hadn’t thought possible. Needless to say, the vibes are Just Right when Jake is DJing.