Here is our latest interview for the In Session series, a space where we get to know more about Wavezoo DJs. This time, we’ve had some time to talk to Jay St Paul, aka “Uncle JuJu”, a talented and accomplished DJ with over 10 years of experience.
1. How did you start DJing? Tell us about your origins
I started performing around 13-14 years ago and my first official set was for the American University of Richmond. I grew up in a very musical environment back when Kiss 100 and Choice FM [UK radio stations] were pirate radio stations and to travel with music you needed a Walkman plus a plethora of batteries.
Obsessed with Hip-Hop, RnB, Funk, Soul, Rock, House, and more I was very rarely seen without my headphones on. Music has always been a major part of my life and I could say the OST of my life.
When I was 13 I decided to be an MC/rapper. As time went on and not to say I wasn’t any good but the others I was performing alongside were simply much better than I was. So, I decided to put the pen, pad, and mic down and find a way to support my fellow artists.
How did I come to this conclusion? Well as P Diddy once said, “not everyone in the group can be the rapper”. This then made me then look at my skill sets and what I could do to assist them. Also, at the time I was out clubbing quite a lot and the DJ scene in London was getting very lazy and no effort was put into providing the audience’s musical needs for a good time.
I saw this as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Why not deejay for radio and live events? Whilst delivering a great set I could also sneak in the tracks that I wanted to as well as promote the artist that I wanted and spin tracks that people may have missed.
This formula has enabled me to deliver memorable radio shows, private events, parties, and festival sets whilst also supporting music that I love very much.
2. Who would you say are your influences?
i would say DJ Jazzy Jeff, Grandmaster Flash, DJ Premier, Skratch Bastid, and Alan Watts (who is not a deejay by the way).
3. What do you think about the future of DJing? Where we are headed?
What is interesting as I was finding it difficult to squeeze into venues due to the competition as many venues were closing down in London due to the recession a few years back.
I thought of how I could stream deejay sets as someone hosts a house party as this would keep costs down and you could deejay internationally at one time.
So, in short, this is the start of the future of deejaying. I imagine if you have a show/set in your home town then you set up a live stream for those who could not make your set for whatever reason. Once the user has paid then they can enjoy your set from wherever they are.
4. What can people expect from your shows?
Fun and smooth mixes to a point unless you have a very acute ear you may not realize that you are now dancing to a new track. My versatility as a DJ is exemplified through my ability to be able to adapt my style to captivate different audiences.
I enjoy delivering a great experience to my crowd and I am always revising where I may have made a little boo, boo and will rectify it as I believe growth in music has no real limits, only new possibilities.
5. What would be your ideal party? Let people know what would be your top tracks
My ideal party is a hard one to answer as I enjoy the big stage to intimate venues. So, I guess a party where people come to have a good time, which I guess is the point in the first place.
With regards to tracks as I deejay several genres it depends on the crowd to determine what I play. But here are a few:
- Preedy – Lost And Found (Lost and Found Riddim)
- Mr. Killa- Run Wid It
- Motto – Guttah
- Pop Smoke – AP
- Megan Thee Stallion – Savage
- Bobby Shmurda – Hot N*gga
- Nicki Minaj – Chun-Li
- Tion Wayne x ArrDee – Wid It
- Stormzy – Big For Your Boots
- Dave – Clash (ft. Stormzy)
- MJ Cole – Sincere
- Roy Davis Jr – Gabrielle
- M-Dubs Ft. Lady Saw – Bump ‘N’ Grind
- Roger Sanchez – Another Chance
- Masters at Work – To Be In Love
- Spiller – Groovejet (If This Ain’t Love) [feat. Sophie Ellis-Bextor]
- Drake – Hold On, We’re Going Home ft. Majid Jordan
- Rihanna – Pour It Up
- Jill Scott – Golden
6. Help other DJs to level up, give the community a tip that will improve other DJs performance
Even if you are starting out livestreaming and you don’t have the best backdrop, make do and know the audience is here for you. As you grow you can invest. I know deejays like to have an iron-clad set prepared and this is very efficient when it comes to the right set/show.
However, unless this is a specific request from your client then remember to be free and don’t be afraid to add more music and explore more variation within the requested genre.
Finally, pay attention to the crowd and if a request comes through in these instances as it is more of an intimate setting don’t reject the request and find a way to work with as this is what they want and at the end of the day it will help you navigate the set/experience.
7. Let people know what is going on in your life
Right now after focusing on the 9-5 life for the last few years I have become a born-again deejay lol. My plan is to work on new mixes and get myself back out there full-time from the ground up which is difficult but it is fun as well.
Other than that I am working on my company Hi鈥reativity by building a creative community but more on that to come later.
I am so happy to be a part of this livestreaming deejay movement and cannot wait to see how this develops going forward. Thank you so much again for helping innovate the world of deejaying.
Jay St Paul about Wavezoo
Any last words?
Give new deejays a chance. Each one, teach one. I understand this is a very competitive industry however DJ crews/communities can assist, share and help develop one another as well as healthy competition. This will also help filter out deejays who just come for the paycheque and care not for how they play their music.
If you are a Wavezoo DJ and would like to appear in our interviews, please contact us!
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