Interview by Alan Ng and Jenkin Au
Words by Michael Ma
Photography by Jenkin Au
The justalilhype! Crew had a chance to talk to Jolin Ras, an upcoming DJ from Vancouver that personally prefers to be labeled as a musician regardless of how many would see him as a DJ. Through having played the saxophone as a child, and being influenced by his father who would often play jazz and funk music to him while growing up, he explains how his past has led him to where he is today. He understands that it is important to be unique in order to stand out while stepping upon the saturated DJ scene that our city embraces. He consistently delivers his own original style as seen through his mixes and appearance throughout b-boy jams. He would always carry a set of records along with him and always play rare self-discovered music to crowds, in hopes to be able to deliver something that no one has been able to offer in Vancity.
Can you please describe yourself to our readers please?
My name is Jolin Ras, aka Ian Jolin-Rasmussen. I am a musician born and raised in Vancouver – trying to spread the word of good music.
Tell us a bit more about your alias.
Ian Jolin-Rasmussen is my full name. Jolin Ras kind of started back in elementary. My best friend decided to just call me Jolin. I don’t know, he thought Ian was a bit nerdy. Ever since then, everyone through out high school just called me Jolin, some people forget that Ian is my real name haha. I just wanted to add Ras to kind of combine the two last names together and not leave the other one out.
A lot of DJs add DJ before their stage name to signify that they are DJ. How come you stayed away from using “DJ” as a prefix?
I don’t know. I found it didn’t flow too well. People would announce DJ Jolin Ras, for me I just wanted to stick with Jolin Ras because it sounds more of a name, like a character. When you are a DJ or a b-boy, a lot of people try to create characters for themselves, and that’s what I want to be when I am up there. Not just Ian, but Jolin Ras.
How did you get involved with DJing and spinning
Well, I originally started playing the saxophone when I was 9, and kept picking up different instruments along the way. I have always been surrounded with music and my dad played funk and jazz music since I was a little kid. I guess to expand my passion for music; I got into DJing. First I started with production with a friend in high school and then we were like “Let’s try DJing.” I saved up my money over that summer and then I got my first set of turntables.
How did your experience of being a musician assist you in becoming a DJ?
It helps a lot, just because when mixing, you kind of have to know your music inside and out. By already being able to read music and write music it has helped me a lot understand mixing with key signatures, different tempos/rhythms – just overall being able to know when the music changes within a song (musicality).
It seems like the musical aspect of DJing isn’t much of a challenge to you due to your background. As the whole DJ culture progresses, what challenges do you see as being an up and coming DJ hailing from Vancouver?
I think DJing is a lot easier to get into these days, so anyone can really pick it up. Just need a laptop with playlists and your good to go. So, from that saying – a lot of people – are getting into djing, which makes it harder to get yourself out there. Way back you had to dig for records and a build a whole library to actually play somewhere, which then made it harder for anyone who wanted to get serious about spinning.
Right now the DJ scene is very saturated in a sense that there are many up and coming DJs, as you are diving into the scene, what advices have you learn from other people. Is there anything to be aware of when starting up as a DJ?
I think just keeping to your own originality. Don’t be the same as everyone. Everybody I find that kind of hops into it, doesn’t really do their history in terms of all the old music. They just play a lot of music that they generally listen to. I think just do your own thing. Pretty much don’t copy anything else. I think it’s the same with anything, you know? If you are being a b-boy or photographer or whatever, it’s boring if you are the same. If you have your own original flavor to it, people will notice you.
Earlier you mentioned that you started off as a musician, and then moved on to producing. As a DJ, what classification would you label yourself as?
When I first started DJing, I was like really hooked into turntablism and scratching. And then after that, it kind of died down. I kind of got more into mixing and what not. I don’t know. For me, I classify the turntables as an actual instrument, you know? It’s probably one of the hardest thing to learn. I wouldn’t know what to classify myself as. I would have to say a pure artist, still learning till the day I die.
Furthermore, what type or genre of music are you most attached to?
I mean, I listen to everything so I can pretty much play everything. I grew up listening to a lot of classic stuff that my dad played funk, jazz, hip-hop – like i said earlier. So really I mainly like to play the soulful stuff with hip-hop a long side of it, since the instrumentals are sampled from the good soul n funk music.
What do vinyl records mean to you?
When I first started, I learned off the records. There wasn’t Serato. Then it came out. For me, just having at least a few records in a set is just a good thing to have because you haven’t forgotten what DJing was. You play records and that’s what turntables do. It’s not meant for digital or whatever. It’s not a bad thing with Serato, since I do use it too, it’s just because I do a lot of digging in terms of finding that one song like you would find in the internet. Being able to share something that no one has ever heard of, it’s just a big thing to me.
DJs today like to brand themselves with certain traits and characteristics. If you were to depict your brand, what would it be?
I would have to say just spreading the word of good music. Not just sticking with one thing, but play anything that works well in the moment, and just sharing it with other people. I don’t really want to brand myself as something, but just being original that’s all and stick to the roots of music and djing overall.
They say turntablism is one of the main elements of hip-hop. Other than that interest, is there a next element that interests you?
I mean I have been always interested in b-boying but never really got a chance to express myself through that when I was growing up because none of my friends was into that. Then I slowly transitioned into the b-boy scene, and that kind of sparked my interest in that genre. I can express myself that way. With b-boying, it helps me expand my musicality. Like knowing the music, where certain things go. For me, b-boying is another element of hip-hop that has a connection with me.
A lot of DJs today create mixtapes or music collaboratively or individually, is there any project that you are working on currently?
I’ve always liked working on little mixes here and there. Recently, I did a couple based on instrumental hip-hop, like Mad Lib, J.Dilla, Shadow, Cut Chemist and all that. I definitely dig that type of stuff. It’s really good and different. Right now I m working on a blog that’s dedicated to vinyl called better on wax (www.betteronwax.com). I wanted to start that just because I have a love for vinyl and always will, and I just wanted to share it with other people who are unfamiliar with vinyl or is already has a thing for it. It will include vinyl finds with uploaded songs from those finds, as well as videos, photos, mixes, everything that has to do with music really, but still keeping the main focus on vinyl. Since, vinyl always sounds better – hence better on wax.
Growing up with a background and interest in music, there must be many artists that have inspired you one way or another. What is one of the most inspiring artists out that have directly influenced you?
I would say, not to be cliché, but James Brown. He was the hardest workingman in show business. I read his autobiography and he’s gone through so much and he would always keep going no matter what. That’s a big influence on me. Just keep on going no matter what, being focused on your vision and doing your own thing. I would have say dj wise j rocc from the beat junkies is definitely a big influence, the guy is on another level. When i first started I was really into D-Styles stuff , ricky rucker, gunkhole, etc. Madlib is another influence, just his attitude towards music – always keeping an open mind and working always on his beats anywhere he goes.
What was your most memorable gig as a DJ, and why?
I would say this most recent jam, “Just For Kicks” because I haven’t been able to play out too much and just feeding off all the energy of people jam and dance to the stuff I liked, I could share similar emotions with the participants of the event.
Did this most recent jam satisfy what you were expecting as an experience for DJing for a jam?
Definitely. For me I didn’t know what to expect, just with me spinning records and what not. It was really satisfying.
There are many discussion today about how new technology are replacing older mediums, but then there are still vinyl stores around and even the newer albums out today, also have vinyl copies. What do you think it’ll take to take vinyl back?
Just with all the new DJs. Try to direct them into digging. It’s a good thing just because it keeps the culture alive for DJing. Along time ago, that was the biggest element. Digging for records, and building your library. Now, it’s just about finding the craziest mp3. I am not saying that it’s a bad thing, but you got to stick to the roots.
What do you see happening in the future of the whole DJing culture?
It’s definitely growing and becoming big, in terms of different ways of playing live. People have been DJing and doing production work at the same time so they are making a whole new beat when they are DJing, which is really cool.
Speaking of your music career, do you have a set goal in mind that you would like to reach as a DJ?
Just spreading the love and word of good music. Reminding people not to forget about where music came from and that the classics need to be heard once in a while.
How do you plan on achieving that?
Just working hard and meeting the right people I guess. Keep on doing my own thing with the records and what not and just keep pushing. Not stopping and being focused, while keeping the originality coming.
What’s the most HYPEd up record that you have found?
I would say, Incredible Bongo Band on 45 apache/bongo rock it is a re-issue from while back, but I do have the original album from 1973 12″.
What is HYPE?
HYPE to me is spending good amount of time in a record store and just digging and when you find that one record that you have been digging all day for, you are super excited and so HYPED to play it out and show people.