01/12/2026
Artist Highlight: Jared Eakin
Q***r X Events is once again highlighting the many artists in its community, starting with its resident creators! Jared recently presented their work at one of the Q***r X parties and agreed to an interview. Check it out below!
Q***r X:
Jared, what have recent years been like for you, creatively? Are you working on anything now?
Jared:
After a four-year hiatus from music production as a result of burnout, I’ve returned to the studio with renewed enthusiasm. In recent years I found myself uninspired by what previously drew me to music, but after taking time off for reflection, new wells of inspiration came to me through ambient and soundtrack composition. These areas of music have always influenced my production but more recently have become a source of expression that I'm excited about. My new creative goals are now to generate music for interactive media, continue working on two outstanding projects, and embark on newfound technical development.
Q***r X:
Tell me more about the specifics of these projects.
Jared:
Among these two projects is a KDH Cover. I caught the K-Pop Demon Hunter bug and there was only one clear path to treatment: a surprise cover in my occult industrial define.human production framework. Learning the Korean parts and adapting the industry-refined pop vocals has been especially challenging but I’m confident it will be one of my better releases once completed. This piece will be the swan song that wraps up my define.human project and its final love letter to the fans that have kept me going throughout the years.
The second endeavor is a project titled "For The Love Of Open Wounds." This piece is a collaboration with AJ who proposed the concept of lovers excising pieces of their own bodies for one another to portray how toxic romantic entanglement can be, as it sometimes causes couples to deconstruct their identities for the sake of the other. From this concept I am composing a melodic down-tempo piece to accompany an eventual music video that reads like video art. While the full compositional foundation is complete and laid out, continuing work will include adding thematic and textural components and flourishes before mixing it all into place.
Q***r X:
What are you most excited about with this work?
Jared:
I'm excited to transition from my previous project to a practice that more closely fits my current interests. The change in substance and methodology has left me ready to dive headfirst into 2026 with renewed creativity and focus.
