About Jake
Jake Amy is a Melbourne/Naarm-based multidisciplinary artist, working as pianist, composer, producer, studio engineer, teacher, record label founder and magazine editor.
Initially from regional Victoria, Jake grew up on dial-up speed LimeWire downloads. Loving and inspired by his grandmother’s late-night organ jams, Jake took to learning classical piano at age 5. His compositions received critical acclaim from some of Australia’s most well-known classical pianists, including Michael Kieran-Harvey and Hoang Pham.
From thirteen, Jake began to tour nationally and internationally with various ensembles, and had the opportunity to perform his own compositions in New York. Jake's passion for sound engineering came from working alongside sound engineer and mentor Brett Van Hoorn on a variety of amateur and large-scale productions (such as festivals, theatrical productions, community events). Jake completed his VCE studies at Newhaven College on a musical scholarship. Jake moved to Melbourne immediately after high school to complete a Bachelor of Music at Monash University. While studying, Jake co-wrote musical Ambushed with Karen Milkins-Hendry, which premiered at the 2018 Melbourne Fringe Festival. From 2013, Jake has performed in over 30 stage musicals.
Jake has toured around Australia with funky fem hop outfit The Mamas and fiery blues artist Jesse Valach, and has played with artists such as Ambrose Akinmusire, Tony Moreno, Julie O'Hara and John Rees (Men At Work). Jake plays over 250 gigs a year as an active member in over 20 bands. Jake still records and produces music for a myriad of artists, including The Mamas, Emma Volard, Bailey Judd.
In 2020, Jake began his own music magazine Attaboi, which aimed to discuss important social/political issues within the Australian music industry context. Jake also runs a music label and production-house Wild Oats Records.
Jake attributes his passion of music to mentors, friends and family: Gladys Burns (great grandmother), Craig Amy (father), Anne Tschiderer (primary school music teacher), Joyce Williams (first formal piano teacher), Carmel Slater (classical piano teacher), Leigh Owens (bandleader), Marcus Satchell (Marcus introduced Jake to recordings of Herbie Hancock and Donny Hathaway), Kirk Skinner (musical director), Brett Van Hoorn (sound engineer), Elaine Epifano, Byron Scothern, Emma Volard, Jordan Pereira, Barney McAll, Em Schnall, Sam Keevers.