Posted by Gosia Mrugala
Indefatigable bpm:tv blogger Gosia Mrugala has an eye for emerging talent. So when she tipped us to L.A. up-and-comer DJ JOUNCE, we knew he’d be well worth a listen. Check out her interview with him below.
GOSIA - Hey DJ Jounce, what have you been up to?
JOUNCE – Been busy working on new tracks, mixes, remixes & mash-ups. We just shot the music video for one of my latest songs, “Get Your Feet Up.” It’s a high-energy electro house track, so it has some sick choreographed dancing and b-boys. We’ll release it on YouTube and other major channels so stay tuned. I’m also getting ready for upcoming gigs including my Asia tour early next year.
GOSIA – What’s the meaning behind the name ‘Jounce’?
JOUNCE – Some DJs pick names because they’re the coolest or baddest motherf*****s on the planet. I went with a silly sounding word because I try not to take my persona too seriously. Some think I chose it because it happens to rhyme with bounce. No. It’s actually a physics term. I’ll simply say it refers to a jolting movement, which is what I hope you feel when the beat drops.
GOSIA – In three words, describe your musical style?
JOUNCE – Baby making music? Electwerk dance anthems? Nooope. I’d say progressive electro house.
GOSIA - 2013 was a huge year for you! In August you played in Ibiza at Amnesia and Pacha. How was that experience?
JOUNCE - Absolutely unforgettable. I was there for a week and DJ’d the nightclubs as well as a couple of Pukka Up’s sunset boat parties. There’s no other place like Ibiza because it’s going off all week long … there’s NO off night. I connected with a lot of people I still keep in touch with and I hope to see them every year I go back.
GOSIA - Top three tracks at the moment?
JOUNCE – “S.O.T.U.” by Sunnery James & Ryan Marciano / “The Pit” by Michael Woods
And I guess you gotta put one of your own, right? So I’ll say my track “Vs. Doppelganger” featuring Stefni Valencia. It’s a dirty electro house track with some dubstep influences that your mom will even like. The official music video’s also on my YouTube.
GOSIA – Many artists these days have their own radio show or podcast. Any plans on starting one?
JOUNCE - Glad you asked, ’cause I just started one at Podomatic HERE. Every month I do an hour-long mix, which includes of some of my favorite remixes and mash-ups as well as some of my original tracks. Tune in there or on SoundCloud. I just released my newest mix, Episode #05. Check it out!
GOSIA - Would you classify yourself more as a DJ or a Producer?
JOUNCE - Definitely more as a producer, since I started off as a musician. I began playing piano at 5 but didn’t start DJing regularly until after high school. DJs are so commonplace now because the barriers to entry are low enough to trip over. I think the differentiator these days is writing your own music. It’s analogous to being in an original band versus purely a cover band. I really enjoy the songwriting and production since I got this creative passion that I can’t imagine ever going away.
GOSIA - What would be the best advice you can give to an upcoming DJ/Producer?
JOUNCE - Learn some basic music theory or, if you’re tone deaf, study a pitched instrument for a bit. Honestly, I’ve heard some mash-ups or parts of mixes that sound like nails on a chalkboard. I realize in the heat of an inebriated live set, anything can happen. But hopefully that shouldn’t happen in the studio. Finally, I’d say do it ’cause you love music first and foremost. If you’re just trying to get laid, be a porn star. But I suppose you can always do both.
GOSIA – Any collaborations in the works?
JOUNCE – There’s a renowned singer working on a vocal remix of my “Finding Home” track and that should be released early next year. I can’t say her name yet, but she’s huge and I couldn’t be more thrilled about working with her. And I have another collab that’s coming out on Beatport in January. It’s my club remix of “Follow Dreams” with Croatian producers TwoSidez. They’re swell dudes. I’ll have some more collaborations in 2014 as well.
GOSIA - Where do you see yourself in five years?
JOUNCE - I’d love to have a few albums of tracks done and be actively touring year-round to see more of the world and share my music. I’ve worked very hard to get this started and I look forward to growing it over the next few years. I consider it a blessing to able to do what I love. Also, if I get the opportunity to help some schools reinstate their music programs, I’d be thrilled to do that… in any capacity possible.
Follow DJ Jounce on FACEBOOK and TWITTER.
Gosia Mrugala is a Toronto-based blogger and reviewer. You can read more of her blog posts HERE and HERE, and follow her on Twitter HERE.
