Today we’d like to introduce you to Jask.
Hi Jask, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Bio:
With over 3 decades of djing experience under his belt, Jask has touched the world dance community with his unique blend of deep, melodic, jazzphonic and soulful sounds. In 1986 Jask began djing at the age of 12. Music Influences consisted of soul, jazz, funk, r&b, hip hop, rock, new wave, disco, early electro & freestyle. A year later he would soon discover and quickly embrace a passion for the music that was coming out of Chicago & New York, known as House Music. Jask was one of the major players to introduce the acid jazz sound to Tampa & most of central Florida in the early 90’s. He held a acid jazz lounge night in Tampa called, “Martini Jazz”. It took place every Thursday night at a club called the Castle in Ybor which ran from ’94 to ’96. The “Martini Jazz” night brought some notoriety to Jask, which eventually led him to assist in the promotions of Giant Step’s artist “The Groove Collective’s (NYC) first ever performance in the Tampa area. In December of 1995, Jask started Tampa’s first weekly soulful underground house night called, “Jacks House” at the Hyde Park Cafe. During its 27 year run it led to another night called Paradise in 2003 which is still active only for special one-off events in the Tampa Bay Area. Jask held his residency at Hyde Park Cafe for 28 years in the Tampa Bay area. Jask has played alongside various worldwide djs such as: Mark Farina, Dj Disciple, Benji Candelario, Marques Wyatt, Doug Smith, Brian Tappert , Miguel Migs, King Britt, Tedd Patterson, Tommy Musto, Kaskade, Pete Moss, David Harness, Franky Boissy, Rasoul, Julius Papp, Matthias Heilbronn, Jay-J, Louie Vega, Frankie Feliciano, Karizma, Mark Grant, Johnny Fiasco, Diz, Colette, Dj Heather, Tortured Soul, Cevin Fisher, Harry Romero, Cajmere aka Green Velvet, Lisa Shaw, JJK, Chuck Love, Mr. V., Alix Alvarez, JT Donaldson, Samantha James, Delano Smith, Derrick Carter, Josh Wink, Sandy Rivera, Osunlade, Fred Everything, Dennis Ferrer, Dj Meme, Danny Krivit, Ian Pooley, Jimpster, Junior Sanchez, Hector Romero, Oveous, Ron Carroll, Terry Hunter, Kenny Dope, Halo, Grant Nelson, Copyright, Jamie Lewis, Dj Fudge, Alton Miller, Roy Davis Jr., Kerri Chandler, Todd Terry, Dj Spinna, Sonny Fodera, Kevin Yost, Doc Martin, Dj Three, Rafa Barrios, Behrouz, Kream, Ferric Dawn, Jellybean Benitez, Tony Touch, Dombresky, Stephan Jolk, Franck Roger, and many other luminaries in the dance music industry.
On the production and remix side of the musical pendulum, Jask has appeared on such notable records labels as: Vega, King Street/NiteGrooves, I!Records, Swanky, Metaphor, K2/Vinylicious, Step Ahead, Erotic City, DeepTouch, Harlequin, SoulGroove, Soulfuric Deep, Soulfuric, Soufuric Trax, Catch 22, Deeplay, Solu, Om, Vino, Defected, Undo, Large Music, Salted, Sole Channel, Ultra, Hermosa, Delecto, Seamless, Rhythm & Culture, Guesthouse, Transport, NeoDisco, TSTC Records, Antho Records, SoulHeat, Simma Black & Strictly Rhythm. His most successful project to date is his release on Soulfuric Deep called Jask featuring Jocie “Beautiful”. It was released at the end of 2001. This was Jask’s first original vocal track in which he wrote everything from the music to the lyrics with melodic lush deep vocals from Jocie. It is a special release in which Jask has dedicated it to his late mother who passed away July 31, 2001.
Due to the successful Jack’s House & Paradise nights in Tampa and his music productions, Jask has had the luxury of performing/djing across the United States and beyond. Such destinations include, San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Atlanta, Denver, St. Louis, Atlantic City, Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Orlando, Manchester, Boston, Seattle, Chicago, Sante Fe, Albuquerque, Cleveland, San Antonio, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Ottawa, Paris, Lyon, Athens, Laussane, Oslo, London, Santiago, Santo Domingo, San Jose, San Diego, San Juan, Naples, Dallas, Minneapolis, Baltimore, Honolulu, Kauai, Maui and many more
Unique in his own way, Jask brings an Asiatic essence that emanates patience and the Far East ideals of love and togetherness. With Jask’s contributions to music, he hopes to effect people in the most positive ways of life
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Its been a long journey. The road was never easy going all the way, but you keep going. Stay hungry, staying positive experiencing life, the ups, the downs, the successes, the losses, you get back up and never quit. And still having the same passion of what you love to do since the beginning of the journey. What started out as a hobby djing in my junior high school era became a passion after graduating high school. The corporate 9 to 5 job wasn’t meant for me after 4 years of doing it. I quit my day job in 1994 and pursued music and djing full time and have never looked back since. Also in the early 90’s I was coming out of the rave scene looking for more of the nightclub experience that I wanted to be apart of. Looking for a dj residency. Getting turned down at times, but that never kept me down. I kept myself involved djing in the underground electronic music scene and I met alot of connections, friends and industry people. One thing led to another, a friend of a friend and boom you land a gig that you dont know it yet, but its gonna change your life forever. Sometimes I played to empty rooms or a few people on slow nights. But you had to start somewhere. I was coming from doing events for hundreds to thousands of people (rave scene) to smaller venues with just a few people you could count on your hands.
Anyways, that experience came and went and I kept in touch with the same owner till he opened a new spot. The fall of 1995 would begin a long journey.
Having a local residency at a club for 28 years at hyde park cafe was one of the biggest achievements in my life. Its kind of unheard of in this industry. I was apart of a family. Working with an owner who believed in me and the music we wanted to play. Most owners want quick numbers and how much business you can bring to their venues. We had someone who believed in what a club experience should be…from the moment you walked in.
Coming to the tail end of my residency, Covid happened and it changed everything. Nothing was ever the same again. The business side of things took a major hit. I was already seeing the signs for myself and something told me I needed a major change in my life or a shift in a different direction. I had been through the highs and lows of a club that meant alot to me for 28 years, it was home. But something told the inner me it was time to go. Time for a new challenge. As of today, I play at various venues in the bay area and abroad. And getting back to producing my own music which I had taken a long break from for many years. I am busy every weekend djing and doing what I love to do.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a dj first and foremost. Been doing it since I was 12 years old. Been making music since high school to finally release music in the late 90’s. I love all kinds of music. What music do I specialize in? I would say “House Music”. Its like a melting pot for dance music. Brings people together, its a feeling.
What am I most proud of? Spreading love through the music that I play and create. And in today’s world we need a lot of Love. What sets me apart from other djs? When I play my sets, I make my own remixes, edits, reworks. Telling my story and taking people on a journey through music the way in my style. I love playing long sets, because you have time to express yourself through the songs and tracks you play.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I know alot of people would be surprised to know that in my teens I used to love breakdancing. Hip hop was a huge soundtrack to my teen years. I also was really big into graffiti art. I wanted to be a commercial artist early on in my youth. I would draw and paint alot. Some day I would like to get back into it.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://Instagram.com/djjask
- Facebook: https://Facebook.com/jaskthaisoul
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thaisoul
- Soundcloud: https://Soundcloud.com/jask-thaisoul
