jorgejaramillo.net
1. Hello, Jorge Jaramillo (Who Da Funk)! Thank you for coming to this interview. How does look this year for you so far?
Things are going really good, just got back from my summery residency at Es Paradis and Bora Bora in Ibiza, and our new management is lining up a solid tour schedule here in the United States and Europe.
2. You are a very talented house music producer. What`s your distinctive style?
I am currently in the studio banging out the tunes, working long days. I am really into the tech-house style and am experimenting a bit with my Miami Bass roots, trying to find a clever way to merge both genres. There is a lot of good music out there and a lot to draw from for inspiration.
3. I know that you are for a very long time in music industry. How have you survived over time?
I started Djing when I was 14 back in Miami. I became a battle style dj and was part of the group Vicious Bass back in 1988. We scored a hit song titled Shake That Thang, it was one of the first Miami Bass (Booty Music) records to get regular rotation on radio. Power 96 played the hell out of it and we went on tour in the Southern part of the US. We did some big things as that group. We then hooked up with Magic Mike and he produced our album titled Vicious Bass ‘Back To Haunt You’ on Cheetah records. It went ‘gold’ (500.000 physical records sold) out selling most of our peers at the moment. when Miami Bass music died out, as do so many genres which come and go with the time, I was basically out of a job. So I chose to move to New York to attend Audio Engineering school.
Upon graduation, I moved back to Miami and started working in South Beach studios as an assistant Engineer. I got to work on Ricky Martin’s album, worked with Shakira at the beginning of her U.S.A. career, and numerous rock bands. All the time as an assistant engineer in South Beach Studios I felt cheated, because I was once ‘on top of the world’ as an artist and now I was an assistant engineer watching these artists realize their dreams. So I quit south Beach studios and moved to New Jersey. My cousin got me a job at a new label called Subliminal Records. I became an assistant engineer there, but in my mind I knew it would be temporary, I just needed to settle in and find my niche. This was during the time that House music was getting big in Europe, the Daft punk, Bassment Jaxx era.
Then I became Erik Morillo’s road manager when his road manger quit and he needed someone that same day. We got on a flight that same night and flew to Ibiza. It was at Pacha in Ibiza that I realised what real house music was. Erick’s set that night inspired me to start producing and Djing House Music. I envisioned myself one day djing in the Pacha dj booth, 2 years later that became a reality. after that gig while we were at the airport I told Erick I no longer wanted to be his road manager because I was going to make a hit, he looked at me like I was crazy. 5 Months later Erick released a song I wrote and produced titled ‘Shiny Disco Balls’. I did tell him I was going to make a hit
.
4. Have you ever had to take a risk, talking from musical point of you?
Music always came first early on in my career. If i had a job and it got in the way of recording or producing I would quit the job, if my girlfreinds would try to keep me from studio or performing or djing, I would leave them. Nothing was more important than music and so I would take risks quitting jobs and breaking off relationships that where hindering me from realizing my goal of making it big. I would relocate anywhere I needed to if it meant having a closer shot at fame. All my money went to studio equipment or studio sessions. After I reached my goal and made it big my priorities changed a little, I realized life was very short and I had to focus on the ones that love me and focus on my spirituality and getting closer to God. So the risks I took early in my career paid off.
5. Do you have any regrets during your career?
I regret not having learned about publishing and writer’s credit. I regret not having had a good lawyer to sue the hell out of a lot of labels that ripped me off. And I regret that I relied too much on others. Other than that, my career has been really good. I made good money, have good status in the House World, and I feel if I was ever to quit doing music, I would at least have left behind a good legacy.
6. Your favorite producer at the moment.
I don’t have a favorite producer at the moment, I try not to have favorites.
7. Who would you like to remix your music?
It would be interesting to see what an old skool cat like Josh winks, Felix the House Cat, or Armand Van Helden would do with one of my tracks. And on the other hand it would be interesting to see what a new cat would do, Avicii or Umek. Music is interesting in that it comes from the soul, the heart, and your surroundings. Age plays a large role in how a producer translates his or her energy into a song. So any of the people above would do good remixing my music.
8. How would you describe your sets? What are the styles you mix more often? What genre of music would you never mix in your sets?
I like anything that is funky but with good energy, it can be techy but not to hard, I like bootlegs and I like playing some old skool bigger tracks towards the end of my set. I am totally about keeping the girls on the dance floor. My mini documentary on YouTube – youtube.com/jorgemalo – has tons of footage from my performances. The front row is always women. So I play a lot of vocals. I always stayed away from the deep house genre, it never did anything for my sets because I always play peak time hours.
9. Regarding the musical creation, what are the main influences? Where are you inspiringfrom when you produce a track?
I watch videos of people dancing while I produce, I listen to the big tracks at the moment for about an hour before I get started, i reference for the sound with other songs, particularly my production, the ones I have tested on the dancefloor and know they work well, I will make sure to use that same blue-print for my new stuff. I include my new production in my one hour mixes and if it fits then i know I have a good song, and if it doesn’t then I forget that project and move on to the next. Most of my great productions happen after I had a great gig and I come back super hyped with tons of ideas still fresh in my head.
10. What do you prefer for mixing: laptop or CDJ’s? Why?
I use Traktor and really like it. There are the 2 sides to the digital djing debate, one side would say I am not a ‘real dj’, the other says ‘you are a real dj’…. who is right or wrong… who knows, who cares. I feel as long as the crowd is jumpin then you are doing something right. It’s all about selection, reading the crowd, and building the night. reaching that peak and keeping it there. It’s all about vibe and feeling good. it’s not about educating people on the dancefloor like I used to try and do early in my career. People want to have fun. They want to enjoy your set. Some of my best gigs have been in small dirty clubs, the people arms length from me and big bass bins thumpin! I enjoy playing a techy set where I can get filthy and dirty, but if the club is VIP then mainstream they get but in a tasteful manner. I can bang out a mainstream set and still keep it ‘real’, I hook the crowd with what they want, and then I slip in what I want it usually works out perfectly. A lot of preparation goes into my set, and traktor allows for me to prepare, it allows for me to create a better set, a more elaborate performance. I have a larger selection to choose from. It feels good and that’s what matters. And I use one cdj to rock out my acapellas, it works out better that way.
11. Between music production and DJ-ing, which one is your priority?
Djing is quick money and so much easier than producing.
12. Which was the most strange or unusual place you’ve been mixing ever?
Sri Lanka, a small city called Hikaduwa. It was about a year after the tsunami. We did the first electronic music festival on the island and there where about 12.000 people there. It was a very big deal for them. The night was incredible and the people were incredible.
13. There is a place where you have not had the opportunity to mix, but you really wanted?
I have done it all, BUT Japan I have not been to, so that would be really cool for me to get booked out there. I like that culture and musically I would go out there and rock out!
14. Please recommend us some ‘must listen’ tracks.
I always keep a top 10 on my website, the best of the best and the tracks that get a solid response – jorgejaramillo.net.
15. Why do you think most of the teenagers nowadays want to become a DJ?
Anyone can be a dj nowadays, it’s not like it was back in the day. But if you find a passion in djing and an escape then go for it, just try and stand out from the rest. Be clever and innovative.
16. What is your advice for young DJ’s that are just at the start of a DJ life?
Productions and big songs are the only way you will make it as a dj, so you need to learn how to produce music. Networking and establishing a good team with like-minded people are very important. Catering to your listeners and being good to everyone you meet. Just be nice and if you are talented it will show. The bigger the mouth, the less talent you have, the humbler you are and the more talent you have. I always avoid the person that talks big and I always make friends with the quiet one. The quiet one is usually the ‘brains’ in the group or team. If you learn one thing from me, stay humble.
17. Have you a favourite quote? Something that inspires you?
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is all one needs for inspiration. And musically I always say ‘Less talk, more rock’ and that gets me motivated to get my butt in the studio.
18. Can you caracterize by a single word:
Miami -
Bass
Ibiza -
Mecca
Russia -
Money
Romania -
Beautiful People
19. What should we expect from you in the near future?
Keep doing what I do best, and a more dirtier, edgy sound, incorporating some miami bass in my production with tech-house and proper old skool electro.
Music is the Drug 003 with Jorge Jaramillo (Who Da Funk)
Jorge Jaramillo – Short Documentary
Jorge Jaramillo feat. Shawnee Taylor – Till I Feel OK
Jorge Jaramillo & Marcos Carnaval – Save Me
Jorge Jaramillo feat. Lindsay Kay – Go Stronger
Jorge Jaramillo – NWO
Jorge Jaramillo – Can`t Let You Go
Interview made by Adriana L.L. © DJs Arena, Music-News Romania. All rights reserved.
