Jaagup Pai is an international citizen, having spent a large part of his adulthood travelling and working in London and then Melbourne. Jaagup originates from Estonia and recollects on where his passion for music began and how the SAE scholarship has enabled him to return to this early passion.

Why Songwriting and Music Production?

I was born in Estonia and I have studied classical flute and piano since I was six. I was in a family of musicians, everyone played an instrument. At college, I studied music and fell in love with jazz.

When I moved to London, I did not have an instrument so I started to look at the computer side of audio and music and how [production] worked. I found self-directed learning tricky while I also worked.

Was that a reason why you chose SAE, to have access to the equipment?

Well, that was one aspect of it. The other is the international aspect. The fact that if I moved back to Europe in the next 15 years, my qualification would be recognised there. I liked the fact that SAE was a global institution.

What was the scholarship application process like?

It was super easy. The hardest part for me was how fo you put a lifetime of music education in 250 words and how do you explain, why me… As I was considering this, I was comparing myself to people I studied with and how I measured up. I think when I moved past that, I was able to just speak about the things that made me unique and my personal experience and music journey.

What do you enjoy about making music?

Music is the first memory I ever had. It’s kind of one of the things that people ask, it was never a part of anything. It’s like music has always infused with everything because everybody around me was in the music.

If I had to break it down, I like the fact that music is universal.

What genre of music do you relate to most?

I have strong influences with jazz and some elements of electronic music. I was really big into drum and bass as a kid. House electronic music and fusions of that inspire me.

Are there artists out there that motivate you?

I like FKJ for the projects they create. The live elements and how they fuse together the sounds and produce is inspiring. Incorporating folk music in new sounds, to me, unites genres and find mutual aspects of sound – new and traditional.