We recently connected with Loreto Jamlig and have shared our conversation below.
Loreto, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
Since high school and throughout college, I’ve always held jobs. They ranged from food and retail to delivery and security. Sometimes, it would be in the most random environments, like a truck yard near the US/Mexico border or a care facility for the elderly suffering from various stages of dementia. From late overnight shifts to transitioning from one job to another, I’ve always been working.
Fast forward to after college. I climbed my way up from an internship to having a full-time position at a well-known non-profit organization for a few years. Throughout this period, I was still practicing and pushing my artistry. With all that time and experience, two things became clear to me.
First, I found no fulfillment or inspiration in anything I was doing professionally. Second, I was constantly finding fulfillment and more through my creative outlets. With these thoughts in my head, I came to the conclusion that I either had to accept that what I was doing was the end of my story. Or, I could flip the script and chase after my artistic endeavors. So in 2012, I spontaneously bought a one-way ticket, quit my job, and moved to NYC with no plan besides $2k in savings.
Long story short, I decided to give the middle finger to the world after having spent so much time doing things that left me unhappy, and instead start chasing, feeding, and cultivating the things that actually make me happy.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m originally from Sacramento, California, and I’m a multi-disciplinary artist. I’m a DJ, photographer, videographer, and editor, and I’m slowly trying to fit music production somewhere in between.
As a DJ, I’ve always loved Hip Hop and R&B music. Music videos and friends introduced me to dance in my teens, which led me to want to be a B-boy. That didn’t work out quite well, but I fell in love with the DJ element. In 2002, I picked up my first DJ setup: two black Technic 1200s, which I still use to this day, and a Vestax PMC-05 mixer. Initially, I was into scratching and turntablism. But in 2003, I moved to San Diego for college and started spinning for house parties, which transitioned me into the club and nightlife scene.
As a photographer, I first started with disposable cameras in middle school and high school. During college, I transitioned to digital cameras. For the most part, I’ve always enjoyed taking photos of friends and the casual things we’d get into. I always felt there was something special about having a moment or scene eternalized in one image. While in San Diego, my involvement in the Hip Hop and nightlife community grew, and I constantly found myself surrounded by fascinating and talented individuals. Along with that came attending unique or random gatherings and events, which naturally became the focus of my photography. Around 2006, I purchased my first DSLR from a friend, the Canon Rebel XT, to pursue photography more seriously.
Regarding video, I started to develop an affinity for videography and cinematography when technology made it easier to take videos with phones. Having quit my job and moved to NYC in 2012, everything started to feel like a movie. So I started to imagine it that way. With photos, I’m sharing a single image of a specific moment captured in time. With video, I’m the camera person, director, and editor, crafting stories people can watch. In 2016, I upgraded my equipment and started teaching myself how to shoot and edit video.
As for music production, I’ve been a fan of music my entire life and have been playing other people’s music for more than two decades as a DJ. I always daydreamed about making my own music, but the technology was always intimidating or confusing. The push finally came around 2019 when my friend DJ Ruggz gave me a crash course on his process and the equipment he used. So that same year, I took the plunge and have been trying to figure it out ever since.
The experiences and perspectives of having to learn, juggle, and practice all these art forms while having to hold multiple hustles in between essentially provided me the groundwork and inspiration for how I operate and what I’m able to create for myself and others.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Being able to collaborate with my friends and the communities I work with is the most rewarding aspect of what I do. My work has led me to meet all types of individuals from various backgrounds, each bringing their own unique stories. Whether I’m meeting someone for the first time or getting reacquainted, everyone is on a different timeline and place in their journey—whether they are an artist, a business owner, a producer, a doctor, a lawyer, a new mother or father, or whatever they’re striving to be. Sometimes, they might just need a DJ, photographer, videographer, or editor. Being able to play one, two, three, or all those roles to help further their vision and goals is where I find fulfillment in what I do.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
I’ve never really stressed about my social media presence. For me, social media serves as an art gallery or portfolio. Having others share my work on their social media platforms is how I build my presence. Growing through word of mouth, rather than focusing on followers and likes, has always been my approach.
There’s a rap lyric by Black Thought that goes, “I say you ain’t nobody ’til they’re speaking highly of you.” I find a lot of truth in that. The only promotion I’ve ever felt I needed was people speaking highly about the experience and work I’ve done for them. Because of that, I’ve always had more opportunities come to me rather than seeking them out.
When it comes to my personal work, it’s a different story, with a little more black and white. I share my art, and you either like it or you don’t. If you do, then hopefully you continue to follow my journey, and perhaps we’ll collaborate one day. If you don’t, it simply means that what I do isn’t meant for you, and that’s fine too.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.still1.com
- Instagram: @still1
- Other: Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/still1 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5Y62UAd76OoDoEBHdisppU?si=vPfPF-KcQSyoFeRb2zfG3w
Image Credits
All photos by Loreto “Still1” Jamlig 24.3.30_Photo by Lauriane Ogay