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The Bassment is a weekly article bringing you coverage of the best in Hip Hop and Electronic music from around Vancouver. Weekly interviews, event coverage, album and concert reviews that show how awesome our city's electronic and hip hop scene really is. |
We've featured Jaykin before on VIA but here is his appropriate debut in The Bassment. Just back from a trip to Japan, Jaykin released Sneakers & Video Games II some months back this year. A continuation of Sneakers & Videogames I, it contains no less than 5 songs that are part 2's to songs on S&VG I. In a world of a million MCs, Jaykin calls himself Vancity's Nicest, raps about Galaga, Capcom, Nippon, and V.A.N. life over synthy beats and scapes and aims to be more than an MC.
Sneakers & Video Games II stream
Sneakers & Video Games II download
Photo: Ian Azariah
Re-introduce yourself for The Bassment
JayKin real name is Jaakan. Van is my home and l love God, Sneakers, Video Games and obsessed with Japan. I've been doing this on a serious note for 4 years.
Your latest album is Sneakers & Video Games 2 and there are also 5 songs that are part 2's to songs that were in Sneakers & Video Games 1. Tell us about the the part 2’s.
I really wanted to keep it all connected since there was a part 1 and part 2. A lot of artists have sequel albums but never really have sequel songs continued from the last. I find it keeps the listeners interested to check back on whatever song it is. Back to the future effect.
Capcom is definitely a departure from most of the songs on Sneakers and Video Games 1, how did that track come about?
Well I'm a fan of Japan brands & companies and that is one company that pioneered in the video game world. Already had the name for the song before and then found the music. It was a continuation from "8 bit" from Sneakers & Video Ganes 1. Abstract, raw and carried a lot of visuals.
http://vimeo.com/27882221
What does V.A.N. stand for? (V.A.N. I appears on S&VG I, V.A.N. II is on S&VG II)
I never planned on telling, haha...
U-Tern (producer of V.A.N. II) is mostly known for his 80’s synth boogie type dance tracks. With V.A.N. II, he seems to have laid out a perfect hip hop version of his signature sound. Tell us about your relationship with him as an MC and how he mentioned he wanted you to be “more than an MC,” how he’s influenced you.
I heard his name come up a lot and officially met him while working at Alife Vancouver thru Niña Mendoza. I had just came back from Japan and had the Sneakers and Video Games idea in my head but needed a new angle of production. At the studio, he told me straight up "don't be a rappers rapper" and I didn't get it at first but on the next session it just grew in to something cool. How V.A.N. II came about was I ran in to U-TERN at a Onra show in Van and he mentioned this new track I should hear and 1 week later it was recorded.
I definitely give him credit and respect for pushing a rap artist out of a comfort sound zone haha.
http://vimeo.com/28432563
How was that trip to Japan recently? You were visiting DJ Wataru who used to live here, right? How did you guys meet?
Japan is just getting better every time I go back. Got a chance to explore the towns, cities, venues, shops and everything I missed out on when I was living in Tokyo only. Also met with a good friend, Dj Wataru who I first met at Alife in Van. Was cool to see his home city Kobe.
Jaykin most likely on the right, Wataru 2nd from right / Photo: Hiroto Yorifuji
You guys played a gig out in Kobe, right? You’ve appeared on Japanese TV (link) before but how was it performing at an actual gig there down in the clubs?
It was a huge blessing to perform songs like Japan Love in Nippon. The show in Kobe went really well. Only thing that's different from Van is that venues there shut down at 5am so me and Wataru were on at 2:30am. I've performed in Tokyo before but this one was a solid show. It was a lot of love. I performed in Kobe with Dj Wataru, in Kyoto was with the Bong Bros crew and in Fukuoka I also linked up with French producer Onra on stage for the last show of his tour. Got some things in the works with Onra in the future but won't speak on it much yet. Go check his new album Chinoiseries 2. Much respect to every one in Japan ... Japan Love.
Jaykin performing in Kobe with Wataru / photo: Hiroto Yorifuji
Why Vancouver?
That's where the inspiration started for me. It's home to a lot of people from all over so I just get motivated to find out what's going on in the world musically, culturally and just meeting the people. It's a small city so it's not hard to meet especially working at Alife.
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No Shame in Pat Lok's Game - Pat Lok's First iTunes Release
Since we last checked in with DJ Pat Lok in the Fred Falke review, Pat just successfully released his first EP on iTunes. The EP is called No Shame. So what's the story with it?
Pat said: "Not sure exactly what the story is... I was classically trained musically in another life but as I'm basically allergic to technology was always limited to messing with Fruity Loops like most people in uni(versity).
A couple years ago I made the best investment of my life and purchased Ableton and started figuring it out, from making simply horrible mashups to club edits to finally writing some tunes.
I always knew musically I could write, it was more about getting my head around the production aspect which is really a pursuit that takes years if not decades. I've had some really helpful pointers from knowledgable cats (shouts to Justin, Sean, Mark, Steve to name a couple) and just reached a point where I put in the work. Like anything, what people may not realize is you have to make so much bad music just to end up with something that isn't horrible. Call it the creative process.
I started doing a few bootlegs of my favorite artists (PNAU, Arcade Fire, Bonobo) and really enjoyed turning some classic tracks on their head, and got my first taste of 'blog coverage.' After that the logical progression, I went to writing "new" music which is actually much harder (my first original Running for Love dropped on Homebreakin in February).
Anyway, the No Shame EP came about when I was stuck on another track and started noodling around a melody for jokes... the rest of it quickly got sketched out almost entirely on the same day. You have to seize inspiration when it's there and dial in. The b-side "Yes Game" took much much longer and had countless rewrites.
Ever since I started doing bootlegs, I think I actually enjoy writing and finishing music more than your standard DJ gig, although they go hand in hand. Playing dancefloors (after 11 years still) is awesome to see people's reactions but this other thing is like trying to capture a piece of your soul in time, something you can call your own... not even just club bangers, but just any kind of music."
Pat Lok vs Cyclist Daft Funk III mix download
Cover by Cristina Massieu
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First, he took Vancity,
Then, he just took Canada,
In December, can he take the World?
Hedspin Wins Red Bull 3Style National Title
We just covered Hedspin in October as he busted up the Redbull 3Style regional competition in Vancouver. Dude just repped Vancity again in Toronto on Nov. 12 and came away with the national title. He ended up duelling with his own EH! Team DJs crewmate Drastik from Ottawa in the final.
Hedspin takes on the world in the Red Bull 3Style World Finals Night 3 right here at Fortune Sound Club on Thursday, Dec. 15.
Accolades, Hedspin. National accolades.
Audiolink of Hedspin's national set
Video of Hedspin's Vancouver set
L: Hedpin, R: Drastik / photo courtesy of Hedspin
