Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast!
If you love jaw-dropping guitar playing and high-octane rock then listen up, because if you haven’t discovered JACOB DERAPS yet… now is the time.
Hailing from St-Georges, Quebec, Jacob has exploded onto the modern rock scene as one of the most electrifying young guitarists out there. His playing blends insane technical precision with a deep love for the golden era of hard rock—channeling legends like Eddie Van Halen while bringing a fresh, modern energy that’s completely his own.
And the industry is taking notice. Guitar World—with over 1.7 million followers—recently asked: “Who’s the most exciting up-and-coming guitar player?” Their answer? Jacob Deraps. They even said they couldn’t get one of his riffs out of their head for days—and boldly claimed in one of their videos: “Jacob Deraps is here to rescue hard rock.”
His rise started early—at just 13 years old, his YouTube performances went viral, stunning fans with his uncanny ability to capture the tone and feel of Eddie Van Halen. That buzz quickly turned into real recognition, including praise, support and guitar endorsement from the Van Halen camp, and admiration from Dweezil Zappa, who awarded him the prestigious Dweezil and Frank Zappa Fellowship.
In this episode, we dive into his journey—from those early viral moments to signing a global publishing deal with Anthem Entertainment (home of Rush), building an impressive international following, and producing his own music. We also talk studio tips, creative process, and his latest album Viva Rock ’n’ Roll—which shot straight to #1 on the hard rock charts in Japan and scored an impressive 88/100 in Burn Magazine.
After tearing it up across the U.S. on tour recently and wowing audiences everywhere, Jacob is just getting started—with plenty more shows on the horizon.
Just posted, Deraps received a 10 out of 10 review from Powerplay Magazine for their Feb 6 2026 N.Y.C. show. So if you get the chance to see him live, don’t miss it.
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