Jack Prest

Jack Prest is an interdisciplinary artist, sound engineer and composer. With a deep technical understanding of sound and training in conceptual art, his practice focuses on experimental electronic music. For Jack that means anything from ambient spaces to hip hop to music concrète to club beats. Viewing the studio as his main instrument, pushing sonic boundaries through music production overrides a specific style or genre. 

Jack frames his sound practice within a wider interdisciplinary vision, best demonstrated by his debut work as lead artist and director, The Risk Of Hyperbole. It was commissioned by Phoenix Central Park and premiered in a sold out season in late 2021. His interdisciplinary work has received support from Art Gallery of NSW, Create NSW, Australia Council, Bundanon Trust, Foxy Digitalis, FBi, NTS and Dublab.

In 2023 Jack returned to the Art Gallery of NSW as a part of Monumental (Working Title) for Sydney Festival and released his album The Risk Of Hyperbole – Vol.2 – Object through Art As Catharsis. He joined long-time collaborator Azzam Mohamed on stage for Dirty Feet’s Out Of The Studio program in Sept 2023. Jack is currently developing three new performance works. Echo Mapping a duet with dancer Azzam Mohamed, a solo audio-visual performance work called Time Machine Test Tones and a new collaborative multi-art performance Discovery Engine. These works already have peer-support from Create NSW and confirmed presenter interest from AGNSW, Phoenix Central Park, The Substation and New Annual Festival.

With over a decade of experience Jack’s path as an artist builds on an extensive career as a facilitator and collaborator. Performance works, for which he has composed original scores, have featured at: Dance Massive, Sydney Festival, Keir Choreographic Award, Darwin Festival, Bleach Festival, Sydney Opera House, Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, APAM, Carriageworks, Next Wave, Junction Festival, Queenstown Arts Festival. He created the score for the 2013 Helpmann Award winning Whelping Box and in 2018 was nominated for Outstanding Achievement in Independent Dance at the Australian Dance Awards for Between Tiny Cities. These projects include collaborations with arts leaders: Nick Power, Performance Space, Branch Nebula, My Darling Patricia, Intimate Spectacle and Matthew Prest.

Building on this success in Australia these works have engaged international audiences with touring to international festivals and events including: Breakin Convention (Sadlers Wells), ImPulzTanz (Austria), Sziget Festival (Hungary), Tanz Im August (Germany), La Place (France), Compagnie par Terre (France), Freespace (Hong Kong), Skateistan (Cambodia), Hong Kong Arts Festival, Georgetown Festival (Malaysia).

Jack currently holds a position as senior engineer at Studios 301, Australia’s largest recording facility, and is a leading engineer and producer within the Australia independent and alternative music scene. His mixing and production credits feature prominent artists and labels in both the Australian and International markets: Nardean, Godtet, Jonti, Santpoort, Donatachi, Sampa The Great, Tasman Keith, Ijale, Mohi, Omar Musa, Urthboy, Goldon Vessel, Benji Lewis, JK Group, Kcin, Horatio Luna, E4444e, Kelly Lee Owens, Mr Rhodes, Alphamama, Stones Throw, Kitsune, Friends of Friends, Future Classic, Elefant Traks, Etc Etc, Sony.

In recent times Jack has stepped into the role of handling large orchestral sessions for Studios 301. Including strings and horns for two David Campbell records (for legendary producer Chong Lim), Delta Goodrem’s christmas album, the Australian Navy Band and the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Through his work for Studios 301 Jack has recorded and engineered for some of the worlds biggest artists: Skrillex, Flume, Brockhampton, ASAP Rocky, YG, Rae Sremmurd, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Skepta, Delta Goodrum, Action Bronson, What So Not, Will.I.Am, David Campbell and Tom Odell.

As an electronic music artist Jack has performed at a top level in Australia including: the Big Day Out; DJ residencies at Home Nightclub, Chinese Laundry, Purple Sneakers; supporting international artists such as LCD Soundsystem, Public Enemy and MIA. His original music has featured on Triple J, Double J, Rage (ABC TV), Channel 7’s Packed To The Rafters, Triple J Unearthed, AU Review, Tone Deaf, Music Feeds, Earmilk and many more.