{{Short description|American DJ and record producer (born 1991)}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = G Jones | image = G Jones Red Rocks 2023 CousinRyan5280.jpg | birth_name = Greg Jones | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|12|16}} | birth_place = Santa Cruz, California, U.S. | genre = {{hlist|Bass | dubstep | glitch | trip hop | experimental music | trap | breakbeat | IDM | ambient}} | years_active = 2012–present | label = Illusory Records | spinoffs = Nite School Klik | website = {{URL|gjonesbass.com}} }}
'''Gregory Jones''' (born 16 December 1991), known professionally as '''G Jones''' (and formerly known as '''Grizzly J'''), is an American electronic music producer and DJ.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gregory Charles Jones, Born 12/16/1991 in California |url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/gregory_charles_jones_born_1991_20729804 |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=CaliforniaBirthIndex.org}}</ref> Born in Santa Cruz, California, Jones gained prominence in the electronic music scene for his intricate and technical production and sound design, fusing elements of bass, dubstep, glitch, trap, breakbeat, IDM, ambient and experimental genres.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jardine |first=Kelly |date=October 12, 2023 |title=Unparalleled Paths: G Jones unveils his sophomore album and kicks off his North American tour |url=https://www.dubstepfbi.com/post/unparalleled-paths-g-jones-unveils-his-sophomore-album-and-kicks-off-his-north-american-tour |access-date=November 21, 2024 |website=Dubstep FBI}}</ref>
== Career == In early life, Jones took interest in alternative rock, listening through his bedroom wall to songs by Nirvana and The Smashing Pumpkins on his brother's radio next door.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Kraker |first=Liz |date=2018-11-09 |title=Ableton Master G Jones Breaks down His Creative Approach on The Ineffable Truth [Interview] |url=https://edm.com/interviews/g-jones-interview |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists |language=en}}</ref> Originally Jones aspired to be a songwriter and play in a band, but struggled to find others who shared his work ethic to practice regularly. In his early teens, Jones began recording tracks of himself playing guitar and drums, then using GarageBand to layer each piece together. After downloading Napster and typing in "techno" to the search bar,<ref name=":1">{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.facebook.com/MixmagMagazine/videos/777217532645763 |title=Mixmag On Rotation 068: G Jones |date=15 November 2018 |type=Podcast |language=en |access-date=2024-11-20 |via=MixMag}}</ref> Jones discovered songs from artists such as Daft Punk and The Chemical Brothers, leading to a transition from producing music with traditional instruments to incorporating more electronic elements. Over time, he developed a taste for more experimental music, drawing inspiration from pioneers like Aphex Twin, Squarepusher, and Venetian Snares. The music of Mr. Oizo sparked Jones' interest in hip-hop beats, prompting him to experiment with various styles and genres, including house music and hip-hop, before gravitating towards the dubstep sound around 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 December 2012 |title=G Jones Interview [SATURATE!RECORDS] |url=https://lostinsound.org/g-jones-interview-saturaterecords/ |access-date=19 November 2024 |website=Lostinsound.org}}</ref> Around age 15 or 16, Jones began using Ableton Live 6 to produce after being introduced to the software by a high school teacher, often watching tutorials on YouTube to learn production techniques.<ref name=":1" /> After several years of experimentation and practice, Jones published his first tracks under the name 'Grizzly-J', releasing the EP ''Let's Party'' in 2011.
In 2012, Jones changed his name from Grizzly-J to G Jones.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x74jp9gAieg |title=How G Jones Pushed the Boundaries of the Electronic Music Underground {{!}} Cult Figures in Music |date=2023-01-24 |last=Cult Figure Club |access-date=2024-11-20 |via=YouTube}}</ref> Later that year, G Jones released the ''Mirage'' EP on Saturate!Records, a record label based in Germany. In 2013, Jones released two EPs, ''Transmissions'' in January, and ''Eyes'' in August. The following year, G Jones released ''Ring the Alarm'', working again with the Saturate!Records label. The nine-track EP included collaborations with fellow bass music artists Minnesota, Doshy, and Mad Zach.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Koa |first=Nicholas |date=2014-07-30 |title=Exploring the Digital Abyss: G Jones Goes Further, Farther with 'Ring The Alarm' EP |url=https://www.dancemusicnw.com/g-jones-album-review/ |access-date=2024-02-16 |website=Dance Music NW |language=en-US}}</ref> In early 2015, DJ Shadow discovered some of Jones' music while crate-digging. The duo ended up working together and ultimately came up with the moniker "Nite School Klik". In April 2015, the pair released the single, "Posse", under Shadow's label, Liquid Amber. Initially keeping their individual identities kept a secret, Jones posited that the anonymity would allow for people to view the material "not just through the lens of 'what’s Shadow doing now?' and more like 'what’s this new weird stuff?'".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Medved |first=Matt |date=2015-05-21 |title=DJ Shadow & G Jones Unveil Secret Nite School Klik Project: Exclusive Interview & Premiere |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/dj-shadow-g-jones-nite-school-klik-exclusive-premiere-6568968/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Upon release, ''UKF'' called the track "dark, daring and ultimately trippy" and complimented the duo's vision and Shadow's approach to the new label. Shadow reflected on the effort, calling Jones' sound design capabilities in Ableton "astonishing".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jenkins |first=Dave |date=2015-05-27 |title=DJ Shadow & G Jones: Nite School Klik Explained… |url=https://ukf.com/read/dj-shadow-g-jones-nite-school-klik-explained/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=UKF |language=en-GB}}</ref> Later that same year, the duo followed up with a second single, titled "Nice Nightmares",<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Kreps |first=Daniel |date=2015-05-22 |title=DJ Shadow Drops 'Nice Nightmares' as Nite School Klik |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/dj-shadow-drops-heavy-nice-nightmares-as-nite-school-klik-241241/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> as well as a 45-minute mixtape.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Keogh |first=Kris |date=2015-06-04 |title=DJ Shadow & G Jones Teach Us a Lesson with Nite School Klik's Debut Mix |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dj-shadow-g-jones-teach-us-a-lesson-with-nite-school-kliks-debut-mix/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Vice |language=en}}</ref>
In August 2015, ''That Odd EP In the Pit of My Hard Drive'' was self-released. Around the same time, Jones' body of work drew the attention of Bassnectar, a fellow electronic music producer from the Bay Area. The two collaborated on "The Mystery Spot", a song which was released on his 2015 album ''Into the Sun''.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |date=2015-06-16 |title=Hear Five Tracks Off Bassnectar's New 'Into the Sun' LP |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/hear-five-tracks-off-bassnectars-new-big-f-king-sonic-collage-58357/2/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> In November, Jones collaborated with Bleep Bloop to release the ''Mind'' EP.
In 2016, G Jones collaborated for the first of many times with Eprom, releasing the track "Warrior" on his EP ''Samurai''.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawk |first=The Electric |date=2017-11-16 |title=G Jones, Bass Music Beast From The Underground {{!}} Artist Spotlight |url=https://theelectrichawk.com/g-jones-artist-spotlight/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=Electric Hawk |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that year, his second Bassnectar collaboration "Mind Tricks", was released on the album ''Unlimited''.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmj1lfvLKMQ |title=Bassnectar & G Jones - Mind Tricks ft. Lafa Taylor ★ [Unlimited] |date=2016-06-16 |last=Bassnectar |access-date=2024-11-20 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
In January 2017, G Jones released the highly anticipated ''Visions'', an eight-track EP. The EP featured several songs that received attention, notably "Helix", "Fuck What You Heard", its title track "Visions", as well as a VIP remix of his 2015 release "Lavender Town".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meunier |first=Gabrielle |date=2017-01-27 |title=G Jones Unveils Highly Anticipated New EP [Album Review] |url=https://www.edmsauce.com/2017/01/27/g-jones-unveils-highly-anticipated-new-ep-album-review/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=EDM Sauce |language=en-US}}</ref> 2017 also provided further opportunity for Jones to collaborate with Eprom, remixing the title track from the ''Pineapple'' EP and co-releasing the five-track EP ''Acid Disk''. The sound produced by Jones and Eprom on this EP drew heavy inspiration from the Roland TB-303 synthesizer, the sounds of which became popularized in the late 1980s and early 1990s by the acid techno and acid house genres. The same year, Jones also collaborated again with Bassnectar on the tracks "Underground" and "Chromatek", which were included in the ''Reflective'' and ''Reflective - Part 2'' EPs, respectively.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bein |first=Kat |date=2017-12-01 |title=Bassnectar's 'Reflective (Part 2)' EP Features G Jones, EPROM & More: Listen |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/bassnectar-reflective-part-2-ep-listen-8054890/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>
The commercial breakthrough of G Jones came in 2018 with the release of his album ''The Ineffable Truth''. While familiar elements of Jones's production were present throughout the album, more conceptual and technical works were also put forth, with ''Earmilk'' noting "an impressive evolution on G Jones' sound."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Ry |date=2019-02-20 |title=G Jones bears his soul with 'The Ineffable Truth' [Tour Review] |url=https://earmilk.com/2019/02/20/g-jones-bears-his-soul-with-the-ineffable-truth-tour-review/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=EARMILK |language=en-US}}</ref> The album received critical acclaim, with ''Billboard'' ranking the release at 5th place on its "Top 10 Best Dance/Electronic Albums of 2018" list,<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=Billboard Staff|date=2018-12-12 |title=Billboard's 10 Best Dance/Electronic Albums of 2018: Critics' Picks |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/best-dance-electronic-albums-2018-8489539/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> describing the work as "fun and fantastical, massive and grimy".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bein |first=Kat |date=2018-10-29 |title=G Jones Breaks Down His Brain-Busting LP 'The Ineffable Truth': Exclusive |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/g-jones-ineffable-truth-album-breakdown-8482306/ |access-date=2024-03-19 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> The album also received support from fellow artist RL Grime, featuring the track "Forgotten Dreams" on "Halloween VII", the 2018 offering of his annual Halloween-themed mixtape.[[File:G Jones Red Rocks 2023 skittles 42.jpg|thumb|G Jones playing Red Rocks Amphitheatre during his 2023 ''Paths'' tour. ]]2019 saw the release of Jones' next EP, ''Tangential Zones'', a compilation of songs described as the "epilogue" to ''The Ineffable Truth'', and originally demoed live through the course of the album tour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hahn |first=Bryan |date=2 December 2019 |title=G Jones explores the boundaries of bass music on his Tangential Zones EP |url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/12/02/g-jones-tangential-zones-ep |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref> In 2022, G Jones released several bodies of work, including an EP, ''Illusory Tracks'', and two additional Eprom collaborations, the EP ''Acid Disk 2'',<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nelson |first=Brooke |date=2022-05-18 |title=G Jones and Eprom Contort Minds with Long-Awaited 'Acid Disk 2' |url=https://edmidentity.com/2022/05/18/g-jones-and-eprom-acid-disk-2/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=EDM Identity |language=en-US}}</ref> and the mixtape ''G Jones & Eprom Present: Disk Doctors''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hawn |first=Jaide |date=2022-09-29 |title=G Jones and Eprom Medicate Your Mind with 'Disk Doctors' Mixtape |url=https://edmidentity.com/2022/09/29/g-jones-eprom-disk-doctors-mixtape/ |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=EDM Identity |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2023, G Jones released his sophomore album, ''Paths''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yopko |first=Nick |date=2023-10-13 |title=G Jones Ventures Into the Unknown on Masterful Sophomore Album, "Paths" |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/g-jones-paths-album |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=EDM.com - The Latest Electronic Dance Music News, Reviews & Artists |language=en}}</ref> While still experimenting with elements of glitch-y and acid genres as demonstrated on past works, ''Resident Advisor'' noted a more subdued approach in these explorations, instead constructing pieces that offered more approachability in their sound.<ref>{{Cite web |last=BG |first=Reid |title=G Jones - Paths · Album Review |url=https://ra.co/reviews/35763 |access-date=2024-03-19 |website=Resident Advisor |language=en}}</ref>
In 2025, G Jones collaborated with Skrillex on the song "Druids", which was featured on the LP "''F*CK U SKRILLEX YOU THINK UR ANDY WARHOL BUT UR NOT!! <3''"<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Bain |first=Katie |date=2025-04-01 |title=Skrillex Releases Dubstep-Heavy Fourth Studio Album 'F*CK U SKRILLEX': Stream It Now |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/skirllex-releases-f-u-skrillex-warhol-album-stream-it-now-1235936461/ |access-date=2025-04-01 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Later that year, G Jones and Eprom released ''Disk Utility'', a collaborative EP issued through their joint imprint. The four-track project was preceded by the single “Slamming Keys”.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Freeman |first=Rachel |date=2025-11-21 |title=Listen to G Jones and Eprom's Bold and Brash EP, "Disk Utility" |url=https://edm.com/music-releases/g-jones-eprom-disk-utility-ep/ |access-date=2025-12-02 |website=EDM |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Discography ==
=== Studio albums === {{Discography simple|album1=Visions|album1-releasedate=27 January 2017|album1-label=Illusory Records|album2=The Ineffable Truth|album2-releasedate= 26 October 2018|album2-label=Illusory Records|album3=Paths||album3-label=Illusory Records|album3-releasedate= 12 October 2023 |autoitalicize=yes|title-width=200px|details-width=200px}}
=== EPs === {{Discography simple|album1=Mirage|album1-releasedate=4 October 2012|album1-label=Saturate!Records|album2=Transmissions|album2-releasedate=22 January 2013|album2-label=Mallabel Music|album3=Ring The Alarm|album3-releasedate=29 July 2014|album3-label=Saturate!Records|album4=That Odd EP In the Pit of My Hard Drive|album4-releasedate=19 August 2015|album4-label=''Self-released''|album5=Mind (with Bleep Bloop)|album5-releasedate=3 November 2015|album5-label=Liquid Amber|album6=Acid Disk EP (with EPROM)|album6-releasedate= 28 October 2017|album6-label=Illusory Records|album7=Tangential Zones|album7-releasedate=3 December 2019|album7-label=Illusory Records|album8=Acid Disk 2 (with EPROM)|album8-releasedate=18 May 2022|album8-label=Illusory Records|album9=Illusory Tracks|album9-releasedate=22 November 2022|album9-label=Illusory Records|album10=Disk Utility (with EPROM)|album10-releasedate= 21 November 2025 |album10-label=Illusory Records|autoitalicize=yes|title-width=200px|details-width=200px}}
== References == <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> {{reflist}}
== External links ==
*[https://www.gjonesbass.com/ Official website]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jones, G}} Category:1991 births Category:Living people Category:American electronic musicians Category:Breakbeat musicians Category:Songwriters from California Category:Musicians from California Category:American dubstep musicians Category:American electronic dance music musicians Category:American electronic dance music DJs