NEW YORK CITY

2005 HOLIDAY BOOT CAMPS
For all of you visiting New York City during the Holidays, Scratch – NYC has the perfect opportunity for you to learn to DJ and/or produce. On December 28th, Scratch – NYC will be kicking off its 2005 Holiday Boot Camps where students can sign up for 3-day DJ crash courses in DJ 101, 151 and 202. All the same skills and techniques will be taught in these 3-day Boot Camps as in our regular 6-week term courses. Scratch – NYC will also be offering a 4-day Boot Camp for BM 101 starting on December 27th.
Click here to register or for more information.

JAHI SUNDANCE

Having been exposed to music his whole life, DJ’ing has always come naturally to Jahi; he has an intense passion for the art form. Jahi is not just your typical DJ, he is a musical collage artist. He has rocked parties and clubs all over the world and performed with such well-known acts as Mos Def, Talib Kweli, and Me’shell N’degeocello. Jahi is also a talented DJ instructor. He started teaching students at Scratch DJ Academy – NYC with Jam Master Jay in 2002 and moved to LA last January to help instruct at the then newly founded Scratch DJ Academy – LA.

Scratch: What is your background as a DJ and musician? How exactly did you get into DJ'ing?
 
JAHI:  I’ve been playing music since I was small, very small. I played in band all through my school years on violin, piano, and eventually saxophone. I grew up as a hip-hop kid always listening to it and trying to figure out in my mind how I was going to be a part of the art form. Eventually, I saw the movie Juice and the DJ character played by Omar Epps was someone with whom I really related. That day I decided to get a job and save up for my first set of turntables.
 
Scratch: At what point did you decide to pursue DJ’ing as a career? What was happening in your life at the time?
 
JAHI: I had DJ’d all through high school, doing house parties and the like. Then I went to Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and that was where DJ’ing became more of a career option for me. I DJ’d on college radio WESU and played so many parties. By the end of my sophomore year I was earning a decent income and decided to give the DJ game a run after I finished college. I became an NYC club DJ.
 
Scratch: Who or what was your main influence? How have your influence(s) changed over the years?
 
JAHI: As a club DJ I’d have to say my main influences were Kid Capri and Stretch Armstrong. Kid Capri was and still is the most amazing party rocker around. Stretch Armstrong used to DJ this weekly party in NYC, which I went to when I was 19 and watched him work a crowd every week. This was my main introduction to that world. As time passed, my DJ focus changed and my major influences are now people like Mr. DJ (Outkast), DJ Logic, Rich Medina, Francois K, and Louie Vega.
 
Scratch: What made you choose Jahi Sundance as your DJ name? Do you have any other DJ names or did you play around with other names before you decided on Jahi Sundance?
 
JAHI: Wow, my first DJ name was DJ Arrow, then Sundance Kid, and finally Jahi Sundance...Ultimately, I decided to use my real name because I feel DJ names should best represent who you are all the time, and what better than my real name?
 
Scratch: As an up and coming DJ, what did you do to practice and improve your skills?
 
JAHI: Mostly, I focused on trying to listen. I listened to the sounds around myself for inspiration to write music and create sounds on the turntable. I also did quite a bit of digging and a lot of listening to records.
 
Scratch: After having learned so much over the years, what advice would you give DJ’s today who are just getting into the art form?
 
JAHI: The most important lesson for me was to maintain my self-employed status. The biggest lesson is hustle; you have to hustle to be your own boss. This is paramount for any young DJ to understand. When you work for yourself you have to create your own opportunities and be able to profit/live from that.
 
Scratch: What kind of opportunities have you experienced through DJ’ing? Do any particular memories come to mind?
 
JAHI: Dj'ing has allowed me to meet many of the people I always wanted know. One of the BIGGEST memories of my career/life was teaching with and knowing Jam Master Jay. Being involved with JMJ and Scratch DJ Academy allowed me to teach DJ classes with JMJ. This is one of the most important experiences I’ve ever had.
 
Scratch: What are you up to right now?
 
JAHI: After a 3 and a half year run with Me’shell N’degeocello I have currently transitioned to DJ’ing for two bands. One is a jazz group named Keystone featuring trumpeter Dave Douglass. The other is Sa-Ra, the newest act from Kanye West’s Good Music label.
 
Scratch: Having lived, DJ’d, and taught at Scratch DJ Academies on both the east and west coast, what do you notice as the major differences between east and west coast DJ’s?
 
JAHI: No difference.

Scratch:  Do you notice any differences in the music and the club/party scenes on the respective coasts?
 
JAHI: Specifically, the music of the New York party scene is predominantly dictated by the radio. The music of the LA party scene is really controlled by social groups of DJ’s and promoters.
 
Scratch:  Do you have any particular venues you really enjoy playing at on either coast?
 
JAHI: My favorite venues to play are: Cielo in NYC, Little Temple in LA, and Jimmy Woo in Amsterdam.
 
Scratch:  What kinds of projects do you see yourself involved with in the future?
 
JAHI: I’m currently producing an album of original material entitled Black Gold. I also want to get into producing music for film and television.
 
Scratch:  What is the most exciting and unforgettable experience you have ever had as a DJ?
 
JAHI: Dj'ing a 4 hour set for 3,700 people on the beach in San Sebastian, Spain, as the sun was rising. All of the people were very cool. The stage was beautiful. The water was clear blue. And the party was on!
 
Scratch:  Do you have a website? How can we get more info about what you are doing?
 
JAHI: www.jahisundance.com. Join the list! Join the msg board!