adidas & Calico Club present 'The Original': Jiri Taihuttu
For adidas, Originals are not a foreign concept. But what does that mean? Originals can exist in all shapes, sizes, times, spaces: unique, the beginning, a pioneer. adidas asked us to explore 'The Original' with us: we went the way of music. A concept close to our hearts, with music creating emotions few other things can.
Jiri Taihuttu has been a friend of Calico for years now. His musical journey has brought him places and is a very interesting one to say the least. A journey rooted in culture, expression, and the purity of making music. Guided by instinct, emotion, and an unshakable connection to his heritage, Jiri invites us into his creative process — one that doesn’t follow trends, but instead flows from something far more honest: original.
A heartfelt thank you to Stassen Hifi, who have expertly ensured Jiri's sound comes across just as the artist wants. That might seem easy, but make no mistake, they are masters in their craft. Their Palazzo listening castle is joy for anyone's ears as it houses Stassen's latest and greatest in hifi. This place is an inspiration for anyone, but definitely someone with music in his fingers: Jiri Taihuttu.
You’ve had a promising Dutch rap career. What made you think: rap is not for me anymore?
I stopped feeling inspired or creatively challenged during studio sessions, and I started to realize that I wasn’t getting the same sense of fulfillment out of it anymore. This genre has given me so much, and I’m incredibly grateful for everything it brought into my life. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve also started to feel like it no longer reflects who I am or where I want to go. That’s why it felt like the right moment to close this chapter – while I can still look back on all the beautiful things I experienced with a genuine sense of appreciation and peace.
What made you feel going back to your original sound?
I’m in a phase of exploring what it is I truly want to create, and my guitar remains a big part of that journey. Flamenco is my playing style—it’s in my hands, it’s part of who I am—but I’m not limiting myself to it. I’m looking ahead, trying to find a sound and direction that feels authentic to where I am in life right now.
You've inspired a generation of youngin's with ANBU and Jiri11, is that the goal with your new project as well?
No, I don’t yet know what my next project will be. Right now, it’s mainly about inspiring myself again. I’m driven by intrinsic motivation at this point, rather than chasing a specific goal or outcome.
Do you find creating a unique flamenco piece is more difficult than your previous songs?
No, not really. Music is just music to me—it’s a language I speak fluently. I don’t really think in terms of genres. To me, it doesn’t matter what style it is; I can always adapt to the feeling that a particular sound brings with it.
The whole world is used to laptop speakers, in-ears or wireless headphones. What does it mean to you hearing your own music through devices expertly created for the best listening experience?
Of course, I’m used to listening to my final product in some of the best studios, where you naturally start paying attention to every little detail—and that’s really exciting and a special and unique experience that I would recommend everyone to try. But that doesn’t mean music can only be appreciated that way. On the contrary, I think it’s incredibly important that my music is as accessible and enjoyable as possible on the platforms and devices people use to listen nowadays. Music is for everyone!
