Today we’d like to introduce you to DJ Jel.
Hi DJ Jel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My love of music and more specifically soca music came at a very early age. When I was eight years old, my mom used to host large-scale events or fetes. On many occasions, I would accompany her when she and her team were setting up the venues. As the event came together, I’d always spend time watching the DJ as they did their sound check.
I was fascinated with how they would mix two songs and ultimately it was then I knew I wanted to be a DJ. I convinced my mom to purchase starter equipment as an early investment and the rest is history. My early DJ days consisted of hosting a weekly program on an online radio station as well as the usual private events (Birthday parties, BBQs, backyard events, and baby showers). This gave me the time to develop my skills and learn different techniques.
Although I enjoyed doing private events, I wanted to transition to public events. By doing so, I knew I needed exposure. As a form of marketing, at age 15, I launched my monthly mix series and website to help people in the Caribbean and the diaspora learn new soca music for events and upcoming festivals.
Though I had very few listeners when I first started, I was able to grow from a couple hundred to a total of six million visitors who stream. Thanks to this, I was able to grow my audience and tour different markets. It wasn’t easy and a lot of people in the entertainment industry doubted me at first, however, the passion and drive behind the culture kept me pushing to reach where I am today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has not been a smooth road, to say the least. Anyone who works in Entertainment will tell you that it is a very cut-throat industry. The key to growing in this industry is to be resilient and to be yourself. There’s no need to pretend to be someone you are not, the ones that stand out are very unique.
Some of the biggest struggles I encountered was being so young in entertainment. I started playing music at age 14 and got the opportunity to play in different festivals and events at age 18. In the Caribbean Entertainment industry, it is very hard for someone young to enter. The talent isn’t embraced and there is little to no guidance from those who are a little more seasoned in the industry. Despite this, I was able to find 2-3 great mentors to help me along the way and carve my path in the industry.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an International Soca DJ who is also known as The Soca Boss. My passion for soca music made me one of the youngest DJs to curate a full soca music (Tuff Soca) channel on Bob Marley’s Tuff Gong Radio via Sirius XM which is available in the US and Canada markets. Soca music is a genre of music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago.
The musical genre combines both African and East-Indian influences and is one of the most dominant genres in the English-speaking Caribbean. In addition to presenting the music to the public, I play a role in educating people about the genre and what can be done to improve it. In many ways, it has positioned me to be a thought leader in the space.
What sets me apart in the market is my performance style. Every single set you hear from me will be different from what is traditionally done in the soca market. I incorporate music that isn’t always in the popular rotation, including music from across the Caribbean and not limited to one country or island.
This love and passion for soca music have granted me opportunities to perform outside of my home bases (South Florida and NYC) on various stages across the globe including cities such as Sydney, Australia, London, Atlanta, Kingston, Bridgetown, Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton to name a few.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I’d say luck doesn’t have much of a factor in comparison to manifestation. Every good thing that has happened to me comes from my putting into the universe. Whether it’s writing down goals or speaking them out loud, some of my biggest dreams come from this practice.
At times I would have big goals to fulfill and would have no idea how to execute them or where to go from there but once I had them written down and visually in front of me they became more and more attainable. I believe one of the main reasons I can tour is due to manifest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.Jelinthemix.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/jelinthemix
- Facebook: facebook.com/jelinthemix
- Twitter: twitter.com/jelinthemix
- Youtube: youtube.com/jelinthemix
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/jelinthemix
- Other: tiktok.com/@jelinthemix
Image Credits
LehWeGo.com and Kevin Shah
