5 to 9

Hidden away in Jack Walter’s basement is a treasure trove of vinyl records and audio equipment during a youth spent scratching and remixing through house parties and the techno scene. In this episode of 5 to 9, Jack discusses how he keeps his DJing days alive despite his workload as an engineering leader, and how you too can get started spinning vinyl and dropping beats the old-school way.

Highlights:
  • One: The Evolution of a DJ: Jack shares his journey from listening to Hip Hop to spinning records at house parties and clubs.
  • Two: Check the Technique: Jack explains how beat matching forms the backbone of any live DJ gig.
  • Three: From Analogue to Digital: Jack traces the shift from traditional vinyl records to the integration of digital tools, highlighting the game-changing technology that has revolutionized DJing.
  • Four: Keep Spinning: Jack shares an honest glimpse into the DJ lifestyle and how it intertwines (to varying degrees of success) with the demands of daily life.

Jump Into the Conversation:

[03:15] Exploring diverse music genres with big speakers. 
[10:31] Hip hop DJs use two turntables for mixing. 
[20:12] Late nights making music and grinding out demos. 
[26:02] Exploring music genres leads to cool places.

What is 5 to 9?

By day, engineering leaders craft innovative solutions with elegant strings of code. But when the work day ends, who do these keyboard warriors and the people who manage them become? Five to Nine - gives an exclusive glimpse into the lives of software engineers and the minds who guide them, brought to you by Jellyfish CEO Andrew Lau. Peer behind the scenes as we delve into the diverse realms these tech virtuosos inhabit after the clock strikes five. From vinyl DJs who keep it old school to virtuoso cellists and from connoisseurs of meticulously brewed coffee to daring cultivators of forbidden tomatoes – each guest unveils a hidden facet of themselves. But what's more intriguing is the connection between these avocations and their roles as product and engineering leaders. The question remains: Who are you when the laptop closes? Discover the captivating obsessions that shape these remarkable individuals and illuminate a different dimension of leadership.