Jesse Walker: Shaping Underground Culture for Over Three Decades

Jesse Walker has long been a driving force in shaping underground dance music, community, and culture at the ‘Crossroads of the West’. From his formative years in Idaho, and Salt Lake City to his current base in Vancouver, BC, Walker’s influence extends well beyond borders, blending house and techno with cultural innovation.

Walker’s journey began in 1993 in Idaho, where he taught himself to DJ using two mismatched home stereo turntables and a rock-and-roll line mixer. At just 16, he organized a sold-out alternative music festival with his high school bandmates, igniting a lifelong passion for music, community, and creative expression. These humble beginnings set the stage for a career defined by trailblazing artistry and an unwavering commitment to the underground scene.

As the founder of New City Movement (NCM) in 1998, Walker has championed Salt Lake City's vibrant underground, transforming a city often overlooked into a beacon of creativity. His contributions have garnered widespread acclaim, earning features in Thump, 5Magazine, Rinse.FM, FADER, Music Is 4 Lovers, Out Traveler, SLUG Magazine, The Advocate, Sassy Planet, SPIN, and MTV, among others. Under Walker’s leadership—alongside key partners like Matthew Fit—NCM has cultivated a global reputation for its dedication to house music and cultural connectivity.

Walker’s DJ sets are immersive journeys—driving, soulful, and unapologetically dynamic. His ability to forge authentic connections with audiences has made him a fixture at high-profile events such as the Sundance Film Festival, the 2002 Winter Olympics, Treefort Music Festival, Utah Pride, and Neon Rodeo. He has shared the stage with iconic acts like Empire of the Sun, Green Velvet, Bonobo, Flight Facilities, Horse Meat Disco, Crystal Waters, EnVogue, and Chromeo, alongside underground legends like Victor Simonelli, Doc Martin, Eddie Fowlkes, Mark Farina, Eris Drew, David Harness, and the late Mike Huckaby. Notably, Walker’s early career was shaped by stalwarts of the Utah scene Chris Sick (Mechanized), Nick Hammer, Stephen ‘Bam Bam’ Santoro, Sean Phillips, and Kaskade, who gave him his first residency and mastered his debut mixtape.

Beyond the decks, Walker’s creative vision extends to the arts community at large. His design work with non-profits, soundscapes for site-specific installations, and collaborations with entities like the Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA), Utah Arts Festival, and NOW-ID have solidified his reputation as a multidisciplinary innovator. He played a pivotal role in bringing Neon Rodeo—an Intel and University of Utah-sponsored Creative Conference—to life; and he co-organizes the beloved Bunny Hop charity event, which, over 15 years has fun-raised for causes ranging from homeless youth shelters, and family planning, to queer safe-havens, and trans and non-binary assistance programs.

Now based in Vancouver, BC, Walker continues to evolve, bringing his distinct touch to dance floors and creative spaces worldwide. Whether curating transformative dance floor experiences, cultivating new talent, or contributing to forward-thinking artistic endeavors, Walker’s passion for storytelling and connection remains at the heart of everything he does.

For booking and other inquiries, please use the contact form, or find him on Instagram, and Soundcloud.

Featured Mixes

PRESS

• 2022 “New City Movement’s Jesse Walker Talks The Future Of SLC’s Dance, Art, & Culture Scenes, Forward-thinking Ethos, & More” (Volume Utah)

• 2021 “These College Students Are Getting Class Credit For Throwing A “House Music” Party” (Salt Lake Tribune)

• 2021 “New exhibition celebrates house music history in Salt Lake City & the Mountain West” (5 Magazine)

• 2021 "Queer Lives: A new book, Sassy Planet, looks at the LGBTQ scene in 40 cities and here we focus on just two of the most exciting – Berlin and Salt Lake City" (The Scotsman UK) [Available at Sassypla.net]

• 2019 "Salt Lake Is Probably Cooler Than Your Dumb City" (For Bottoms)

• 2019 RINSE.FM Huntleys + Palmers: Salt Lake Special with New City Movement & Choíce

• 2018 “Best Club Culture Booster” Jesse Walker of New City Movement (City Weekly 29th Annual Best of Utah)

• 2018 New City Movement: 20 Years of Groove (SLUG Magazine)

• 2018 Forward Progression, New City Movement celebrates 20 years of electronic music and human connection (City Weekly)

• 2017 SUPERNATURE! Celebrating Individuality, Gender and House Music (SLUG Magazine)

• 2017 "Why Utah Pride Is So Surprising — and Important" (The Advocate)

• 2017 "The LGBTQ Guide to Salt Lake City" (THUMP / VICE)

• 2017 Always Never Yesterday: Podcast + Interview

• 2016 "Hometown Heroes: Mr. Jesse Walker from Salt Lake City" (Music is 4 Lovers)

• 2015 "Jesse Walker On Beats Booze and Bunny Ears" (SLUG Magazine)

• 2015 "How Salt Lake City Became an Unlikely Gay Mecca" (Take Part)

• 2014 "Salt Lake City: Insider's Guide" (OUT Traveler)

• 2014 "SLUG STYLE: Jesse Walker" (SLUG Magazine)

• 2013 Untitled [warehouse party] (SLUG Magazine)

• 2013 "Say ‘I do’ to Salt Lake’s newest dance and arts company" (SL Tribune)

• 2013 "5 Profiles of People Who Love Salt Lake" (Downtown Magazine)

• 2013 "100" Reader nominated 'Catalysts' in the community. (Catalyst Magazine)

• 2013 Jesse Walker's Bunny Hop (SLUG Magazine)

• 2012 Featured Creative (Cityhome Collective)

• 2012 "Bunny Movin" (SL Tribune)

• 2010 "Bonkers geodesic futuristic homes of Idaho Falls" (Boing Boing)

• 2008 Gavin's Underground Interview

• 2007 "Spin Out" PRISM (Club Pick) (SPIN Magazine)

• 2007 "Rave flyers from Idaho, early-mid '90s" (Boing Boing)

• 2007 "The Club Where You Live" (Club Systems International)

• 2007 "Fun, Done" (City Weekly)

• 2007 "Spin City" (City Weekly)

• 2004 "84***" 'Cribs' segment (3.2 Percent TV)

• 1998 "Local DJ Sends a Message to Utah's Electronic Scene" (MTV.com)

We are fortunate to have shared the stage and formed relationships with artists across the spectrum of dance music, including…

DJ Minx, Eddie Fowlkes, Horse Meat Disco, Empire Of The Sun, Bonobo, Chromeo, Kaskade, A-Trak, Crystal Waters, Victor Simonelli, CJ Mackintosh, Ted Patterson, David Harness, Mystic Bill, Mike Huckaby, Cajmere (Green Velvet), Doc Martin, Mark Farina, Chez Damier, Marques Wyatt, DJ Garth, Lars Behrenroth, Jason Kendig, Mike Servito, Dan Bell, Brown Amy, Aaron Clark, Jeffrey Sfire, Eris Drew, Waajeed, The AM, Titonton Duvante, Tammy Lakkis, Ladymonix, Jay Tripwire, Grace Sands, Mark Grant, Dubfire, Mauricio Aviles, TK, Warehouse Preservation Society, Brett Johnson, Sharlese, Alexander East, JT Donaldson, Peter Croce, Joshua IZ, Diz Washington, Johnny Fiasco, Dan Curtain, Thor, Sinéad, Tin Man, Benji Candelario, Stacy Kidd, Wicked Sound System, Onionz, Jay-J, Sunshine Jones (Dubtribe), Galen, Snowboy, Willie Graff, Amtrac, Sharam, EXOS, Edit Select, Jay West, Andy Caldwell, Matthew Bandy, Andy Compton (The Rurals), Jimmy Whoo, Master Kev, DJ Disciple, Jojoflores, DJ Chang, Groove Junkies, Deepswing, Julius the Mad Thinker, Derrick Thompson (Drivetrain), Jon Howard, DJ Fluid, Rob G., Neik, Suciu, BlazeJ, Andrew Thomson, Ryan Crosson, Parris Taylor, Shawn Phillips, Stephen 'Bam Bam' Santoro, Nick Hammer, Club Chow, WF Rani "G", Sassmouth, Adam Stolz, Chavez, Adam Michael Terry, Blessed 1, Ean Golden, Riche Boom, Sappho, Howin Wong, Typefunk, Interstate Disco, Orographic, Condrick, Siak PHD, Cedano, When We Vanish, STAKX, Ryan Scannura, Lone Dancer, Deep Club, SL Steez, Loki, Field Recordings, Julliette, Tinkfu, Lamp Shady, Not That Jennifer, Mooninite, Dum Boy Sticky, Brass Tax, Plexøs, UTA Trax, Bobo, Choice, Gabo, Manu, Brain Detergent, Austen van der Bleek.