Life & Work with Khara “DJ K-VASS” Vassell of Greater Miami Area

Today we’d like to introduce you to Khara “DJ K-VASS” Vassell.

Hi Khara “DJ K-VASS”, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I’m the child of two Jamaican immigrants, and 1/3 of the pride and joy of a late maternal grandmother who started life in the USA for my entire family. From a very young age, I was immersed in movement. Playing soccer and dancing were my first loves. But even then, I felt a deep, almost unspoken connection to music. It became a way to express the emotions I couldn’t put into words. Certain sounds would resonate so deeply with me that I knew early on my relationship with music was different than most people.

As I got older, soccer became more competitive, and I had to step away from dancing. Still, music stayed with me. I would spend hours curating playlists on my iPod for even the most mundane tasks like driving home from school or running errands. Despite the demands of school and sports, I knew I wanted to stay close to music. That’s when I decided: I wanted to be a DJ.

At 13, I asked my mom to buy me my first DJ controller as she was a huge influence in my love for music. It was simple: just a crossfader, a couple of volume knobs, filters, and EQ’s, but it was everything to me. I downloaded the software and spent countless nights watching DJ sets and teaching myself how to beatmatch, cue songs, and learn the fundamentals of DJing. Soon after, I began posting mixes on SoundCloud.

Things slowed down again as soccer began to take off for me. I eventually earned an athletic scholarship to UNC-Chapel Hill, but after a medical disqualification, I was finally able to return to DJing in college. I started spinning at parties, sharing new mixes, and reigniting my passion.

Post-graduation, I pursued a master’s degree in mental health counseling—a decision rooted in my passion for helping people work through their mental and emotional struggles. But my life still didn’t feel completely fulfilled. Deep down, I knew I couldn’t keep putting music on hold.

After some real soul-searching, I made a decision: no more waiting. I launched No Pressure Radio on SoundCloud and reached out to DJ Fergie, my big brother and mentor. I told him I was ready to take this seriously. He welcomed me in, invited me to play at events like “Caribbean City”, and connected me with some amazing movers and shakers in the industry-leading to even more opportunities to connect with others who had my back and gave me opportunities like Shacia Payne, DJ Aya, and Kareem from the “Ubuntu” Creative Collective, just to name a few of many.

Now I’m based in Miami, spinning at events like “Stamped”, “Flavor” at Mangrove, and “Mosaic World Vibes”. I’m blending my love for music with my calling to support mental wellness. I get to help heal both minds and spirits, and for that, I’m incredibly grateful to God.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
No path worth trekking has ever been smooth and I’ve definitely hit some roadblocks. There’s the artist’s rite of passage: self-doubt. Questioning your own voice, wondering if what you bring to the table really matters. Also being a black queer woman trying to break into the industry, I feel things can get a little more complex. There are moments where potential conflict feels inevitable. I think people with marginalized identities hold themselves to a higher standard to avoid being misunderstood, talked over, or dismissed. I’ve had to have a certain amount of drive, emotional poise, and consistent support from my community to bounce back from setbacks.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’d like to call myself a selector or “soundgirl”, but I often go with the more widely-known “DJ”. Making people dance is my number one priority, no matter the event I’m spinning at. I like to get inside their minds and try to figure out what they want to hear, but I also like to play new sounds/genres they didn’t know they needed to hear. I’m known for playing unexpected tracks while also sprinkling in a bit of Caribbean flavor. I’m most proud of making people feel something whenever I play, almost like I was able to develop a connection with them through music or allow others to create that connection with each other.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
My heart. I’m somewhat of an artist, so my work is very emotionally-driven. Not only am I trying to unite people on the dance-floor, but I’m also curating a vibe to heal people, and I don’t take that honor lightly. Often times, I hear stories about how you can’t be too emotional in this industry, but I think that is the very thing that has allowed me to connect with my motivation and help me recover from setbacks, or connect with other DJ’s in the industry to build community. At the end of the day we are making art based on how we feel, and when we are acting on what we feel, I believe we are the most successful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dj_kvass/?hl=en
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/dj_kvass

Image Credits
-Andre Dawson – @876creative
-Onliest Photography – @artbyonliest
-Mc Henry – @mcvhenry