Culture Now: Trevor Jackson

Trevor Jackson talks with music journalist Emma Warren about the inaugural Parallel Visions event at the ICA titled Palindrome and his long-spanning career as DJ, music producer and art director.

Trevor Jackson is a London based art director, DJ and producer. His work blurs the border between vision and sound via print, video, light installations and music - from dark, psychedelic hip hop, house and techno through to industrial new wave, post punk classics and rarities. Operating under a number of monikers including The Underdog and Playgroup, Jackson's carefully crafted releases, remixes and compilations such as DJ Kicks and Metal Dance along with his Output Recordings Label (home to Four Tet and LCD Soundsystem) have been cited as seminal compendia of experimental EDM.

His artistic and design work, especially in the form of cover designs, has been widely exhibited and reflect his engagement with the dialogue between music and visual representation. In 2007 he showcased his live audio visual performance RGBPM at the BFI IMAX, and in 2011 Jackson had his first solo show NOWHERE at the KK Gallery in London. These video, photographic and screenprinted works explored the innocence of natural light and colour, as well as the power of opposing astrological forces.

As a DJ, he regularly plays in large mainstream clubs (Fabric, London), festivals (Sonar, Glastonbury) and high-profile music, fashion and art events (Kraftwerk at Tate Modern, Serpentine Summer Party, V&A, Art Basel). Over the years he has worked with the likes of Massive Attack, U2, Soulwax, Unkle, Dinos Chapman, Tiga, Soft Cell, The Gossip and Franz Ferdinand.

Music journalist and broadcaster Emma Warren has been documenting new music scenes since the mid 1990s when she was a founding contributor to influential magazine Jockey Slut. She has been a judge on the Mercury Music Prize, has compiled compilations for Soul Jazz, made radio documentaries for the BBC and currently writes for music and nature website Caught By The River.