Jaymie Silk: The ‘Shine A Light On’ Mix

Over the years this mission to challenge the conventions of club music has served him well. To date he’s charted music for the likes of Pelican Fly, Fool’s Gold, Frite Nite and Shall Not Fade, the latter of which is the home to his latest future-facing collection of music, a conceptual release titled Rub Music Vol 1.: Artificial Realness.

It’s the first in a series of his deep dive into a sound he coined himself – a fusion of Club and Rave music. The inaugural release, which is the first musical project of its kind, uses AI to produce and mimic the vocals of several well known artists and is a commentary on how the idea of reality is continuously evolving.

There’s plenty more in the pipeline for Jaymie this year, so before his schedule gets busy we drafted him in for a guest mix that compiles the sounds that he loves from baile funk, techno and rave to house and breakbeat. If you need some help charging your inner battery own this fine Monday, don’t worry, Jaymie’s got you…

Please introduce yourself… Who are you, where are you and what are you?

I’m Jaymie Silk, music producer, DJ, artist, thinker, self-taught.

I was introduced to electronic music when I moved from France to Canada in 2013. Coming from the Hip Hop culture it was a revelation for me. For the first time I had representations of people like me, non-white people, in electronic music. I became DJ for the ballroom scene and this sense of community made me want to push myself and to release original music and remixes on different labels (Pelican Fly, Shall Not Fade, Fool’s Gold, Frite Nite and more).

What does your music sound like? Can you draw what you think it sounds like for us (an image from the old internet is acceptable)?

My music sounds like all the souls on the dancefloor can talk. Whether it’s moments of joy, sharing, sweating, or introspection when one needs to search for escape, I see my music as a constant spiritual journey filled with different energies. I released more club, house music in the past, now I blended the term Rave and Club to create what I call “Rub Music”.

This is why I just released a new EP called “Rub Music Vol.1 : Artificial Realness”, with AI generated vocalism, with a remix by Brodinski and Modulaw. Should I mention it’s in the best music of January 2023 by Bandcamp, Mixmag and Resident Advisor ?

Where was the mix recorded?

I recorded it in my apartment in Paris, on a Sunday afternoon.

What would be the ideal setting to listen to the mix?

I consider my mixes as soundtracks you can listen to at the gym, in the subway, on your way to the grocery store. Everywhere at any time when you need to recharge your inner battery.

What should we be wearing?

I’m not here to judge. If you want to go to the grocery store wearing pyjamas and need a good dose of audacity, this is for you.

What would be your dream setting to record a mix: Location/system/format?

I don’t have CDJS, so I use a controller to record my mixes. Ideally it will be on CDJs, with big speakers, in a place where I can blast my tracks at full volume.

Which track in the mix is your current favourite?

I’m not gonna say mine. I love the ‘FASTER HORSES – YOU’RE IN MY SYSTEM (SPORT MIX)’ track and the Dylan Fogarty track. Dylan has pure dancefloor heaters, check him out on soundcloud.

What’s your favourite recorded mix of all time?

I spend more time making music or listening to music than listening to recorded mixes, so I couldn’t say…

What was your first DJ set up at home and what is it now?

This hasn’t really changed since I started in 2015/2016. Traktor Kontrol S2 as controllers and the SONY MDR 7506 I use as headphones… The only things that have changed through the eras are my speakers. I had to give up my big speakers when I came back to France in 2019, now I have small Genelec ones that I use and they are really useful when I’m on the go.

What’s more important, the track you start on or the track you end on?

Each track is important. It’s like a story you’re trying to tell. Each chapter of the book is important. It must be one of the most important things I had to learn as a DJ: Don’t Rush the Process.

What were the first and last records you bought?

The first record was a compilation of Soul Classics from 1966, on a CD, in a tobacco shop when I was like 10 years old. I grew up with this kind of music. In the digital age, the last track is Bad Boombox & MC Yung Lil – Watch Me Do My Dance, from their recent compilation, Bransko Boys Vol.1.

If this mix was an edible thing, what would it taste like?

Good question… it would be a combination of sweet and salty with a little spice. The combo seems a bit strange at first, but when you taste it, you realise how good it is. This kind of gastronomy is for all the curious, open minded, adventure lovers.

If it was an animal what would it be?

A dragon. Some say it never existed, others say that it is one of the greatest creatures of all time…

One record in your collection that is impossible to mix into anything?

As long as it’s music, you can mix it with everything. You can mix it with silence. Silence is music.

Upcoming in the world of …

Another EP is coming soon, on one of my favorite labels. I’m so glad to have the opportunity to work with them. But I can’t say more now… Some guest mixes and I’m trying to develop other things in the meantime. Keep an eye on it.

Anything else we need to discuss?

Let’s discuss together. Follow me, this year is gonna be wild.

Photo credit: Morgan Cardoso.