ABOUT
FROM chicago
Jacob stands as one of the defining figures in contemporary queer club culture—a torchbearer of the gay groove whose roots trace back to the storied dance floors of Chicago. Having come of age under the influence of house legends Derrick Carter, Frankie Knuckles, and Michael Serafini, Jacob absorbed the spirit & history of this decades-long musical movement built on the resilience of queer people.
At his core lies a profound musicality, an ability to translate emotion into rhythm. His DJ sets blend machine & soul in equal measure, creating bubbly journeys that transcend. Playful yet precise, Jacob weaves together house, techno, disco, and ambient textures with an effortless hand. His Fun Fun mix, named Resident Advisor “Mix of the Day,” showcases the depth of his artistry—bridging quirky melodies and percussive moments into collective euphoria.
During his Chicago tenure, Jacob became an integral part of the city’s musical DNA. Working at legendary institutions like Gramaphone Records and WLUW 88.7 FM, and holding a residency at the iconic Smart Bar, he immersed himself in the lineage of American dance music while honing his signature style as a DJ.
TO BERLIN
Since relocating to Berlin, Jacob’s sound has deepened into a dialogue between these two major musical hubs. You can hear the taste of Chicago—the warm swing, and soulful depth pulled from multigenerational gatherings on wooden dance floors where this music first took root—blended with Berlin’s sweaty, raw, time-dissolving edge. His sets flow seamlessly across eras, connecting decades and genres in a sound uniquely his own. It’s a combination that feels distinctly Meehan: a dancer as much as a DJ, who understands the function from every perspective.
Alongside performing internationally, he is a co-organizer & booker for Buttons, one of Berlin’s most beloved queer parties, and serves as an organizer & curator behind WHOLE – United Queer Festival, two cornerstones of Berlin’s creative scene.
music Production with Heart & soul
Over the past five years, Jacob has expanded his creative practice into music production. His debut single Hier on Major Records and Old Reliable, released on the legendary NYC imprint Nervous Records, established him as a producer with a sharp ear for the drama of the dance floor.
His recent collaboration with Physical Therapy, the Deeesires EP, features a standout title track built around a catchy Donna Summer sample—a certified dance floor bop that’s been lighting up dance floors worldwide, including a recent play on BBC Radio 1. The pair return to the studio again in Autumn 2025.
Jacob’s productions carry an emotional duality, tinges of melancholy brushed with hopefulness, offset by the confidence of his kicky, fresh drums. For the remainder of 2025, he’ll be based in Los Angeles, head down in the studio, crafting a steady run of self-released records set to roll out from Spring 2026.
Beyond the Club
Jacob’s devotion to the power of music extends beyond the dance floor. His Nightshade ambient series— co-produced with Mark Louque and featured on Cape Cod Public Radio —channeled his lifelong fascination with radio into a thematic, psychedelic trip inspired by the North Atlantic coastal landscape. Each episode unfolded like a patchwork transmission, revealing a cinematic approach to mood and place, both real and imagined, where “cosmic forests” and “panchromatic” skies became portals for storytelling.
Currently, he regularly hosts his UMGEBUNG series at kwia, Berlin’s beloved “neighborhood ambient listening bar,” where the night invites collective deep listening. Recent guests include Dr. Rubinstein, Sekucci, and Kimi Recor.
Dedicated to the healing potential of sound, Jacob also leads Yoga Nidra guided meditation sessions, paired with a bed of ambient compositions. Guests are invited to these immersive experiences that merge sonic renewal with meditative rest. These tools for transformation are used to reconnect us to ourselves and to one another.
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)