by Jennifer Finjan
Have you had your Jainism experience yet?
There is only one DJ in Toronto whose talent and escapades have led to his showmanship being called ‘an experience’. This includes the audience being witness to a happy-go-lucky guy with an infectious smile, unique sound, who has an energetic, animated presence behind the decks. The Jainism Experience is that promise and Simon Jain is that DJ. When Simon was asked to describe his music he explained it as “”dance-floor friendly beats that make you weak”. He loves all genres of music, including electronic music – and it shows. When he’s entertaining the masses he gets down with the music and enjoys it – every second of it!
Simon first appeared in our fine city in 2001 from London, Ontario. While in London, he was a part of the early rave scene. Once Simon arrived in Toronto, he was fortunate to land a residency at the coveted underground Film Lounge by 2003. By 2005 Simon held residencies in bigger venues, playing to larger audiences at clubs such as Boa-Redux, The Guvernment, and Comfort Zone.
Today, Simon has turned his attention to sharing his music globally. He sets his sights on playing world-renowned clubs and electronic music festivals on a global scale— but his plans don’t end there. He hopes to also work with music artists outside the electronic music realm through songwriting and musical collaboration.
Simon is playing: Friday @ Suba Lounge, and Sunday @ Overtime, and Sunday afternoon @ Zu Bar
Stay tuned for his releases which are all on the way out the door. You can catch him all over Canada at a hot-spot near you. Check, myspace.com/simonjain or hit him on facebook – Facebook.com/simon.jain for details.
What music did you listen to when you were a young lad?
That’s a tough one, lol. When I was around ten, my Dad and my cousin Mark influenced me a lot. So I had an amazing record and tape (gasp) collection. My favourites were a continued staple of Depeche Mode, Strange Advance, The Fixx, A-Ha, The Cramps, Bauhaus, Jackson Browne, Gerry Rafferty, even some Duran Duran, and U2. Tears for Fears and The Cure really stood out for me too. My father was pretty insistent on acts like Ten Years After, CCR, Hendrix, Zeppelin and Black Sabbath as well…so I was immersed in it you could say. In high school, I was running the spectrum of every rock band from so-cal punk to grunge rock-to classic…I was working in a music store…so…lol.
Do you remember where you were the first time you heard house music? How old were you?
Well technically, I was about fifteen. Getting mix tapes from my family overseas, and of course tapping into the ‘techno’ that was drifting into Canada. But I really did not become involved with the sub-cultures and various outlets until I was about ninteen years old.
How did you first get in the electronic music business?
By accident really. I started DJing as a hobby; it was not as readily practiced then as it is now. Even in 1999/2000, not that many people were spinning in Toronto and London, not on the scale as it stands now. So, when you are mixing at basement parties, and people start showing up in droves, other people start asking you to play their parties and events, and pretty soon, you’re running around in the circuit; you get almost injected into the scene. It becomes a major part of your artistry and in some aspect a pulse to your connection with the music. It was easier then, when DJ’s were DJ’s and promoters were promoters. People would come because they heard you had something to offer them. That you brought something different to the table. You lent yourself to them, opened up for them…and in turn, they would listen.
Are there artists you admire and who have had a strong influence on you?
The defining artists for me, at least in terms of how I would see myself having been influenced b them, are Peter Gabriel, Depeche Mode, The Beatles, and artists like Tamara de Lempicka, Alberto Vargas, Jim Henson. The list gets longer as I think about it. There are so many powerful voices out there. So many wonderfully written words about love, hate and life. Seeing the world through other artists’ eyes has always had a profound influence on me and in truth gives you the courage and the guff to shape your art in a way that reflects you.
What’s in your iPod right now?
Well for one, my iPod is sitting at the bottom of the ocean in the Bahamas. Long story. But at the time of its misfortune there were only three play-lists on it: Grrrrr – my rock playlist, with such acts Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, The Strokes, Keane and White Rabbits. Cosmo – my crooner playlist, with such acts as Sinatra, Dean Martin, Nat King Cole, Harry Connick Jr., Bobby Darin etc etc. and I had an old-school hip hop playlist going too – Kwame, Redhead Kingpin and The FBI, LONS, Tribe called Quest, Special Ed, EPMD…it was nice. At the time of its death, there was no electronic on my iPod.
Can you recall a particularly memorable set/night?
Many. Memorable nights always come from a combination of an amazing crowd and an amazing vibe. The rest, we do. So I can recall, simply being awed by the people in front of me at places like Footwork, Circus (Montréal), the Nocturnal 10 Year @ Docks (played with Richard Dinsdale, uk…phenomenal night) the first time I played at This Is London…incredible. A few nights in Guv were quite rawkous as well, that building is electric on a good night. Some of the Till The Am events I was a part of also stand out. Some fresh talent erupted from those nights. It’s the people that make the venue feel right, it makes playing so easy…to be inspired is a wonderfully wicked feeling.
Are there DJ artists you admire and who have had a strong influence on you?
For sure. A lot of the guys I had the pleasure of playing with and who continue to influence me with their work include Dinsdale, Rene Amesz, and Funkagenda. All of whom I consider my friends now. Other DJ’s that have always inspired me are Sander Kleinenberg and Steve Lawler. Mark Knight is someone that I think has truly worked hard to be where he is right now. I think I hear something once a month or more, that floors me now.
Where would you like to spin that you haven’t already?
Wow. Loaded question. Can I say the world at large? Ok, it’s probably easier to give you my top 5. In no particular order: Womb – Tokyo; Warrung Beach – Brazil; Amnesia – Ibiza; Ministry of Sound – London; and Pacha – El Sadiq – Egypt. There are also a billion festivals I would love to be a part of. As far as Canada, I wouldn’t mind playing the west coast a bit more, but…I have been blessed to play in the majority of relevant EDM venues in my beloved Canada.
What do you think the future holds for electronic music in Toronto?
That’s tough. I really would think that, sadly…it has more to do with how the city and government continue to deal with the club culture here, which right now is piss poor. I am beginning to see a resurgence in clubbing, less focus on drug culture, more focus on music appreciation. I hope that we continue to run with that feeling.
Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?
Well, there is like 20 DJs worldwide that I would jump at a chance to work with, but I would like to work with some people not in the DJ culture. I would like to write something for Tom Yorke, Peter Gabriel, singers and songwriters, more then electronic artists.
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Not work. I am fairly active. I am a snowboarding/soccer fanatic. I do those both quite a bit. I like to be around, enjoying people, places and such. I would say I am wickedly social at heart.
What are the pros/cons of playing after-hours clubs vs. regular clubs?
Bottle service naturally is better in a ‘regular’ club. But keep in mind most after-hours are open from 10 pm on, so you get the best of both worlds. Adversely, at times people I care a great deal about end up in terrible situations and scenarios. Drug culture often interferes with a good party. I’ll just leave it at that.
What are your future plans?
Music in all its forms. I am training myself to be able to create – plain and simple. I want to create and be able to exorcise my own demons, and express my own desires and wants. Music is the actualization of these things. A family would be a welcome addition in the coming years as well, at some point 