Jaydan Interview

1. How long have you been involved in the scene – I’ve been Dj’ing now for 14 years but I would say professionally for about 8yrs, ive been producing for just over 4yrs and have also dabbled in promoting in that time as well.

2. What are your plans for the rest of this year? - To make lots more tunes, consistently try to improve and hopefully plenty of dj’ing in the UK and abroad.

3. How did you get into what you’re doing – I have a Brother who is 5yrs older than me and he has always been into dnb so it was something I was around a lot. I remember he started producing with another guy and I would sometimes go along and sit there really wanting to get involved and that’s what initially got me interested.

4. Do you remember your first Rave – Hell yeah, it was an Amnesia House night at a club called rage in Leicester, it was an under 18s thing but I loved it. The first ‘real’ rave I went to though was Dance Planet @ the legendary Sanctuary in MK, It was the baddest. The Prodigy did a live set on stage with fire breathers and as I was only like 16 I was amazed to be in there.

5. Can you remember your first play out? -  My first play out was at a Formation Recs party at a club called the Underground in Leicester, I remember I had Warren G on my set and was bare nervous, I played Splash’s Babylon and he balled for the reload…I reloaded the tune and I swear it took an eternity for the record to start again lol, it was a long silence.

6. Who in the scene inspired you to want to be a part of it? – There are a lot of people who inspired me in many different ways. Mans like hype for his dj skills, Bukem Musically etc but having been a raver I would say the scene itself inspired me.

7. Do you feel the scene is in a healthy state? –  That’s a tough question…I think the scene as in the ravers is healthy but I think that musically its starting to decline due to the massive influx of new labels with no established artists involved. Maybe it’s my age but im a firm believer in the old skool method of learning your craft and attracting the attention of an established label/artist and being invited to join the camp. I just think that it is the music that benefits from this as there is the support and experience to help an artist progress to an accomplished level and also means that the quality control remains higher. The other major problem at the minute is obviously the illegal tune thing, I’m proper tight with who gets sent my tunes so generally its not my stuff floating on these sites but ive recently learnt that people are recording them off ya myspace so im going to have to rethink that aspect of things. As rider recently said on a show, “If you have got no right to the tune then you shouldn’t have it”

8. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? - As a 35 year old geezer lol, nah hopefully as a respected producer with my own label established and a solid camp of artists.

9. What was the first record you bought? -   I think it was Urban Shakedown – Some Justice in about 91-92

10. What other types of music do you listen to? -  I like lots of different music from many different eras. For example I like the beach boys for their unique sound, I like a bit of motown. More recently I quite like a couple of bands like Snow Patrol and coldplay and my current favourite is a guy called Calvin Harris, I’m really into what he’s doing and I think that he is going to be big…

11. What tune are you excited about at the moment? -  Ive got a batch of stuff im happy with but I would say it’s a track I done recently called “Pull Up” as its been going down really well.

12. What did you have for breakfast this morning? -  Sugar Puffs, I love em but they make ya piss smell like them lol.

13. Do you play any sport? -  I tend to like armchair sports like building a spliff or playing the Xbox. I do go to the gym 3 times a week though to try and keep fit.

14. What football team do you support? -  I’m not as into football as I used to be because I don’t seem to find the time to follow it anymore but as they are my home team I do occasionally go and watch Leicester City lose.

15. What’s the most interesting place you have been to? I haven’t travelled that much in my life but I would say it has to be Amsterdam, there is no place like it!!

16. How many pairs of trainers do you own? I have about 7 pairs, I have my nice ones for the daytime and evenings out and I also have black pairs that I buy for when im out on the road because they get bare trod on your way to the dj box.

17. Do you have any pets? - No, not much of a pet person.

18. When you were a raver who was your favourite dj? -  LTJ Bukem.

19. What’s your favourite TV Show? -  Errm… I don’t watch a lot of TV to be honest but I have shamefully found myself getting into Ugly Betty lol.

20. Any shout outs? – Massive shouts My girl Laura, My big Bro Tony, Gdub, Taxman, Hype, Pascal, Hazard and all the Ganja camp and also everyone showing me love and buying my music. Also want to say look out for “Felony” b/w “Crank” Forthcoming on Smokin Riddims very soon…