We caught up with the brilliant and insightful DJ JEL a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, DJ thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?

My interest in the Caribbean Entertainment industry came when I was eight years old. I would accompany my mom when she used to host large-scale parties (known in the English-Speaking Caribbean as fetes). On many occasions, I would watch her and her team set-up various 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.

DJ, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

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, which is now one of the most dominant genres in the English-speaking Caribbean. Soca music combines both African and East-Indian influences which reflects just some of the influences you can find in the 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 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 (NYC and South Florida) on various stages across the globe including cities such as Sydney, Australia, London, Atlanta, Kingston, Bridgetown, Toronto, Montreal and Edmonton to name a few. In the last two years I was also awarded FETELIST’s Soca DJ of the year award.

In addition to DJ’ing, I also curate events in Trinidad & Tobago, New York City, and Miami. Most recently I launched the Anasa Mas Experience which seeks to give first time and repeat masqueraders the best possible mas experience for Miami Carnival 2023.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

I’d credit Gary Vaynerchuk’s (Gary Vee) books and videos for impacting the way I think and approach the market. Books such as #AskGaryVee and Twelve and a half really shifted the way I think about Caribbean Entertainment and entrepreneurship. His books made me look at values such as patience, gratitude, self awareness and accountability.

Culturally, accountability is not really a value that is taught in the West Indies or in the diaspora. We tend to blame people and external factors when things go wrong when most times we’re at fault. Although I haven’t mastered it as yet I try my absolute best to hold myself accountable for projects and meet deadlines when I can.

As a result of Gary Vee’s content, I was able to put in the necessary work to grow my own audiences on different online platforms and convert them into bookings and shows all over the world. Without his contributions, I don’t think I’d have the mindset to do what I do.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

1. Sharing on social media (Word of Mouth Advertising)

Word of mouth advertising is still one of the most effective ways for new artists and creatives to get their name and brand out there. For example, if your favorite artist/DJ dropped a new song, mixtape or EP the best thing you can do outside of purchasing their project is to share it. Let all your friends and family know how much you love the new piece of work that they released.

2. Streaming & Purchasing

One of the ways I rose to success was my fan’s abilities to stream and listen to my work. In order to be heard/discovered you need a core audience that supports your projects consistently. Currently, I have over 15 million streams across various platforms and that helps tremendously when agents and talent managers are looking to book new talent for shows.

3. Supporting LIVE in-person shows

Outside of the digital world, in-person interactions and patronizing your favorite artist concerts or shows is one of the most impactful things any fan or supporter can do. We all know the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, now more than ever it’s important to support those who would have lost up to three years worth of revenue due to this.

For a lot of creatives and entertainers, their creative abilities is how they survive. There’s no back up plan or a 9-5 to run to. This is the way they make their honest living and contribute to the creative arts, tourism and entertainment sectors in their prospective markets. Most times, we are the forgotten stakeholders that are influential in impacting a country’s gross domestic product (GDP), year over year.

Contact Info:

• Website: Jelinthemix.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/jelinthemix
• Facebook: facebook.com/jelinthemix
• Twitter: twitter.com/jelinthemix
• Youtube: youtube.com/jelinthemix
• Other: tiktok.com/@jelinthemix

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Kevin Shah The World Is Rich Photography Jivanta Roberts LEHWEGO Tribal Carnival