• A native of Erattupetta, Jakes started learning Carnatic music from childhood, encouraged by his parents, Bejoy Jacob and Shammy Bejoy. “They loved music and the training in classical music now helps me as a composer,” he says.
  • AR Rahman has been an inspiration for him. He enjoys listening to film scores of Alexandre Desplat and late Jóhann Jóhannsson. Bon Iver and Norah Jones are among his favourite artistes.
  • A huge fan of Johnson Master, MG Radhakrishnan and Baburaj, he follows the works of Amit Trivedi and Santosh Narayanan. “It has become my morning routine to listen to several artistes,” he adds. Rahman’s ‘Nila kaigirathu’ is a song that is close to his heart. “I tear up whenever I hear the song.”