ABOUT
Jacob Meehan is a Chicago-raised, Berlin and Los Angeles–based DJ, producer, and cultural engineer whose work moves between the dance floor and the systems that shape it.
Known for a long-standing presence within the global queer scene, his practice is grounded in a dancer’s perspective — translating lived experience into both DJ sets and recorded output with intention and control.
His current work marks a more focused turn toward music production, extending that approach into a growing body of self-directed releases.
CHICAGO → BERLIN
A torchbearer whose roots trace back to the storied dance floors of Chicago, Meehan came of age under the influence of house figures like Derrick Carter, Frankie Knuckles, and Michael Serafini. His foundation was shaped while working the stacks at Gramaphone Records and behind the booth at Smartbar, absorbing house and techno as both language and cultural.
Based in Berlin since 2016, his work has been further refined within the city’s club ecosystem. Alongside his DJ practice, he has played a key role in shaping contemporary queer nightlife through his work with Buttons and as an organizer of WHOLE Festival since 2018 — a visionary project that brings together collectives, artists, and audiences from across the world.
GAY GROOVE RECORDS
Meehan’s music productions reflect a shift toward greater autonomy, with current releases unfolding through his own imprint, Gay Groove Records. The label functions as a direct extension of his practice, allowing him to shape not only the music itself but how it is framed and released, while also serving as a home for close collaborations.
Gay Groove draws from a lineage of queer dance floor culture, while pointing toward a sensibility that is direct and physical - a kicky freshness that could only come from a f****t.
Earlier releases, including Hier on Major Records and Old Reliable on the legendary NYC imprint Nervous Records, established Meehan’s voice within a contemporary club landscape. His collaboration with Physical Therapy, the Deeesires EP, further expanded that reach, with the title track circulating widely across dance floors and radio.
Current work includes ongoing studio collaborations with Motherboard the new moniker of vocal powerhouse Kyle Kidd, alongside forthcoming remixes from artists including Nita Aviance and Saint Guel, signaling a more collaborative phase of output. We are here for the vocal anthems + remix package!
Jacob’s productions build on decades spent inside club environments, translating that lived experience into tracks that move between darker, more driving forms and moments of openness and release.
AMBIENT & LISTENING
Beyond the club, Meehan’s practice extends into ambient and contemplative work. As part of his role within WHOLE Festival, he curates the ambient stage, shaping a space for deep listening within the wider festival environment.
The Nightshade series he co-produced for Cape Cod Public Radio during the pandemic, reflects an ongoing interest in radio as a medium for psychedelic storytelling.
Alongside this, he works with Yoga Nidra guided meditation, developing ambient compositions designed for rest and immersion, with forthcoming releases expanding in this direction.
Recent tracks
PAST APPEARANCES
Adonis (London)
Basement (NYC)
Battle Hymn (NYC)
Beats in Space (NYC)
Black Party (NYC)
Body Movements (London)
Bunker (NYC)
Carry Nation (NYC)
Cocktail d'Amore (Berlin)
Club Toilet (Detroit)
Contact (Tokyo)
Corsica Studios (London)
Dub Lab (LA)
Equation Festival (Vietnam)
Flower Factory (DC)
Folsom Festival (SF)
Gimma A Reason (New Orleans)
Hardthrob (Singapore)
Honcho Campout (USA)
Honey Soundsystem (SF)
Horn (Bangkok)
Horse Meat Disco (Berlin)
Lecken (Berlin)
Lighthouse Festival (Tisno)
Listen Festival (Brussels)
Lot Radio (NYC)
Nowadays (NYC)
Panorama Bar (Berlin)
Queen! (Chicago)
Savage (Hanoi)
Signal (LA)
Smart Bar (Chicago)
Smutt (Manila)
Tresor (Berlin)
Unter (NYC)
Unknwn (Manila)
Vaseline Alley (LA)
Vitamina (Milan)
Wire Festival (NYC)
Watergate (Berlin)
Wrecked (NYC)
Zero Chill (NYC)