Jake Ryan: Growth, Reflection, and Building Forward in New Orleans’ Dance Scene

NOLA EDM: For those meeting you for the first time — who is Jake Ryan?
Jake Ryan: I am Jake Ryan, real name Jake Lafitte Vernier, I am a 24 year old Producer/DJ born and raised in New Orleans, we moved around a few different parts of the city, so I have really been all over the place. I am trying to bring a larger more mainstream dance scene to New Orleans that gives it a larger platform, while not getting rid of its roots/essence at the same time. I felt like there were so many brands, DJs, and just people throwing so many events in the city, but when you would try and work with them they would either just say no or completely ignore you, so I started pHEIRESS as a way to give an opportunity not only to myself, but my peers as well.

NOLA EDM: You’ve got an upcoming set at de Flo — what kind of energy are you bringing into that space, and how does that room shape the way you approach your selections?
Jake Ryan: I am going to do a culmination of paying homage and bringing my own style to it. I have been going to Setdeflo for a while even though I’m younger so I know what to expect to a degree. Really just want to capitalize on the energy of the event I want sexy people dancing and sweating all night.

NOLA EDM: You’ve been involved in the city’s underground and nightlife scenes for a while — how have those communities influenced the pHEIRESS sound and attitude?

Jake Ryan: New Orleans as a whole 100%. I have been to Los Angeles, New York, Europe, Houston, Jamaica, Atlanta, WHEREVER, people always turn heads when they hear you are from this city it feels like a super power almost. There are so many people I want to give credit too. First and foremost, before they were Potnaz Worldwide, I just knew Chae, Teezy Da Kidd, Tazo, Gibby, Fred, etc.. because we were just friends in highschool throwing parties, interested in the same shit. Of course Yancy Young aka ZONA to this day is an inspiration as I know he is for so many other people in the city RIPZONA. Robb2b and Perry are goated and still deserve more credit than they get for just the blueprint of getting status outside of New Orleans. When it comes to more current times, Aliyuhhh (fka Spinelli) is my mentor and when she would do open decks at Valentina with Toussaint, it was such a prevalent time for community building in this city. I feel influence from Cav, Vick, Chilla, and D1me and everything SetDeFlo has been doing for almost a decade now and even remember watching footage of Pink Room in highschool at NOCCA not even being old enough to go. Lonny and Big Ace with Nights Like This in Houston/LA are killing it right now. Antwigadee is also a huge inspiration for just working hard like I have a theory that man does not sleep he plugs himself into a charger or something. Shel and Jabari with Shitfaced and their own brands “By Bari” and “Double U”, Alex Magnolia with Clubhouse, Lex with Delirium Aura, and everything Sunnie is doing, there are so many people I could name as inspirations but these are the main ones that come to mind right now.

NOLA EDM: You’ve also been part of the Pheresis series in the past — is another Pheresis set on the horizon, or is that something you’re hoping to revisit soon?

Jake Ryan: Sometimes you have to look at certain experiences as lessons. I’m taking a break from the monthly series to be more intentional and work on bigger projects instead of smaller consecutive ones. I’m more focused on having bigger annual events that eventually turn into festival scale type shit.