FL:For people who may not know, tell us how you got started as a DJ, What inspirations led you to where you are today?
JEL: Growing up, music was a big part of my upbringing. My mother played soca, calypso, reggae and dancehall. Every Saturday when we would clean the house or cook, the speakers would pounding heavy. My grandmother was even worse, she loved Calypso music. Bet yuh life Kitcehener, Sparrow, Baron, Scrunter, Shadow would play in her house.
All that aside, my mom was a party promoter. She used to take me when she needed to set up, which exposed me to a lot of music. Although I was never there when the event was going on, I was usually around when things were being set up. Somehow, the DJ would always set up first and start playing an early warm session. While mom and other event organizers were setting up, I would always stand near the DJ while music was playing.
Fast forward to age 14, I decided that I wanted to become a DJ. I put out my first mix CD in 2009 and published it online . Through that, I met Travis World and like minded individuals, who liked soca music and wanted to see it grow. From that we hosted an online radio station to help push soca music that lasted about two years.
In terms of inspirations, there were four DJs that I looked up to. The four are Dr. Jay The Soca Prince, DJ Spice, Tony Tempo and DJ Private Ryan. Back in 2011, I reached out to Ryan for advice and he gave me valuable insight that helped propel me to where I am today.
FL: Di Soca Analysts – Give us the backstory on how the site came about, Who’s apart of it and where you would like to see it go?
JEL: Di Soca Analysts or DSA, is a soca media company that I co-own with Richard Ramsundar (a popular videographer) and his close friend Kendrix. It currently has a total of six members (inclusive of myself). DSA is a digital media platform that focuses on the discussion of Caribbean culture and soca music. I found that there aren’t platforms available to discuss relevant topics to soca. If there is, it’s usually tied with the seasonal soca season that occurs in their prospective country. The soca music industry is growing every day and people need to be aware of the changes. The main focus of DSA is to look at the industry from all over, not just Trinidad & Tobago. DSA currently has a website with useful articles for DJs and artists. We also host a monthly podcast and upload videos that break down soca songs.
FL: 2020 Carnival Season is in full swing, What fetes & carnivals are you looking forward to and why?
JEL: Outside of Trinidad & Tobago, the mecca of carnival, I definitely look forward to Jamaica Carnival and Vincy Mas. I’m amazed at the growth and investment that goes into JA carnival, being that Jamaica is built on tourism.
Vincy Mas- Vincy doh party normal. Thanks to ambassadors like Problem Child & Skinny Fabulous, their carnival is definitely one rooted in pace. Their energy, stamina and unique sounds in soca is the raw vibe I miss from T&T’s early 2000s soca days. Not to mention the Sunset and Breadfruit which Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is popularly known for.
FL: Speaking of Fetes. Many Feters brought up how deejays playback too many tunes. During the fetes, What do you think is an excellent way to stop this from happening?
JEL: This is absolutely a pet peeve of mine too. There are at least 400-500 soca songs released for a given carnival, be it Grenada, SVG, T&T or St. Lucia. Replaying the same soca songs within an hour of each other hurts the growth of soca music over time. I wrote a whole thesis on this, but I’ll keep it short.
Here’s what I recommend:
- DJs should show up at least 1 hr before their scheduled set time to hear what the DJ before them plays. Take note of the songs that you can add to your set to elevate the fete experience as a patron
- Don’t be afraid to include recurrent or throwback jams. There’s a whole universe of soca music that doesn’t get played, people appreciate the classics.
- Take the risk and Introduce new music-YES it’s scary to play a song that some patrons don’t know. However, we underestimate the audience. TAKE THE RISK, carnival audiences know the music. If you are working with an MC/hype man/host, let them know ahead of time that you want to try something new or introduce a new song. This one is major because this is how sleeper songs turn into hits.
- Promoters need to invest in DJs who actually like to play soca music. So many times we’ll publicly hear DJs say that they don’t like soca but they get hired for the event. It’s okay to not like soca, we all have likes and dislikes, but in that case it’s okay to pass up gigs and focus on things you are truly passionate about.
FL: If you had to pick 1 arena to play at, which would it be? A fete or on the road and why?
JEL: It would definitely be the road hands down. There’s a vibe and energy that the road has that you can’t find in fetes. Masqueraders are more open to hearing chunes and everyone is there to have a good time. The ladies especially! It’s very rare you’ll find stush vibes on the road.
FL: With Having Carnival Influence, How do plan to help push the culture forward?
JEL: From the music side we need to establish a proper industry for artists, musicians and creators. I would like to assist with the distribution and access of music. Outside of carnival, I think there should be soca music festivals and conferences , etc. We don’t have an industry, we have producers and artists who treat it like a side hustle but there is no industry. It is up to us as creators to contribute to the growth of Caribbean music. With the tools and the platform I have on hand, I have projects to help address the gap.
FL: What advice and tips would you give aspiring DJs and Veterans DJs alike?
JEL: Aspiring DJs:
- Work hard and be patient—> I know that social media promotes instant gratification but there’s a lot of work that needs to be done to become a top or popular DJ. It takes TIME, I’ve been doing this since 2009 and I’ve only reached half way of where I want to go.
- Networking is key→ Talent is only 60% of the success you need in this industry. Forming relationships and connections will propel you higher.
- PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE → A great DJ once told me, you’re only as good as your last performance. Don’t feel you’re too good to practice. The only way you get better is if you practice.
- Look for gaps in the market → Considering that the DJ market is oversaturated with DJs today, it’s important to see what is missing and how you can help fill the need.
Veteran DJs:
- Be willing to try new things and adapt. The younger generation has a lot to offer, granted we may not have grown up in the age of records we are still just as passionate about the art-form.
- Never lose touch with your audience-You must consistently do your research to hear what your audience likes and why. If you’re a DJ that is also a party promoter, always try to figure out what your audience wants in terms of service and entertainment. It changes rapidly as competition pops up every day.
- Mentor and bring young talent to big stages. Each one, teach one, there’s so much fight down in our industry that it often can decrease the quality of our culture where knowledge isn’t being transferred to the younger generation. It’s your responsibility to guide the future generation as things change.
FL: What does Jel have planned for the future, Where can we catch you next, and how can people contact you for events?
JEL: DJ JEL – 2020 Jusso Brunch Boatride NYC
On July 26, I will host my annual Jusso Brunch Boatride. This event combines my love of West Indian food with music. It’s sold out every year and it’s one not to miss.
- Upcoming dates: Jamaica Carnival, Caribana, Vincy Mas, Nottinghill Carnival and a few shows in Miami, Toronto, Houston, Montreal and more to be announced.
- Patrons can view upcoming events using the events tab highlight on Instagram
To book DJ JEL, email Jelinthemix@gmail.com
Follow DJ JEL on Tik Tok, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook : @Jelinthemix
To listen and download mixes visit Jelinthemix.com
