Future Glitterati - Jaro

Photo courtesy of Katherine Kerr Photography

This interview was originally intended to be part of a project that I started late last year but got too busy to complete. Doing a Masters, working full time and taking on client work has taken over my life and is kicking my independent projects in the nuts right now. The project isn’t dead but I’ve finally accepted that I’m only human and can only do so much. That being said, I feel obligated to share this dope interview I did with my man Jaro. He released a crazy mixtape called Cherubim around the time the interview took place that you need to check out. The man has a bright future ahead of him.

How would you describe your music?
A combination of Jesus turning water into wine with H.I.M Haile Selassie I handing out free blunts while Buddah DJ’s at a million angel march in the lower Eastside of heaven, that has a strip club where the 70 virgins that radical muslims get after they kill themselves work. Only at this strip club they take of their clothes in a comfortable mind expanding environment… All that, for your ears. Ha ha jokes. On the real, as far as the type of instrumentations and genres I draw from, I would say at its core is hip hop and reggae, but I draw inspiration from anywhere for production and voicing. I love electronic, rock, dub, dancehall, dubstep, folk and music native to old countries such as China, Australia and India to name a few. I love having a world sound. Lyrical content is just a reflection of life and all aspects of it. I’m a very spiritual person with a real love for mystery so that’s reflected as well. Hope I didn’t offend anybody.

You got your start in music as a rapper/vocalist for a band called The Chronicles. Were you always into genre blending?
Man, I miss The Chronicles. We had some REALLY good times. *sidebar* I won’t say that The Chronicles are done. Our core members are still together for the most part. We have just evolved our whole scope of who we are, so look out for an evolution of ‘The Chronicles’ in the future! As far as the question, that’s hard to say one way or the other. I grew up in Bermuda listening to old school reggae, old school gospel, soul and African songs such as the South African National Anthem. So I have always had an appreciation for different types of music. But I first fell in love with blending music when Busta dropped ‘When Disaster Strikes’. The song ‘Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Can See’ was huge in Bermy. That instrumental was so deadly. Every major dancehall and reggae artist jumped on it and tore it up. That’s what exposed me to blending music and it being hotter than if each artist stayed on their respective genre’s beats and riddims. When I moved to Canada back in the day, I was exposed to so many other types of music in large part thanks to my band members and close friends. When we came together we just said lets just all play what we bring to the table and don’t call it anything. As long as it grooves together we were happy. So rock, reggae, hip hop, jazz all made into our sound. Good times… That’s where I realized music is music. And I should embrace all types of music for my own sound.



How much were the Roots, more specifically Black Thought influential to you? 
The Roots! That reminds me I have to go get the new album. Ha ha. Man, The Roots are a huge part of my inspiration. They aren’t afraid to push the boarders of hip hop. To try and push it is one thing. To pull off the sound with great execution is another. The Roots always did both. My favourite Roots album is probably everyone’s favourite… ‘Things Fall Apart’. Everyone just brought it on that album. Black Thought is a genius. He is an MC for real for real. Lyrical, rhythmic, and I like his vocal presence. Top 5 mc’s in my book. I don’t try to emulate him or anything, but his drive, and consistency is inspirational in itself. “On these 73 keys of ebony and ivory, I swear solemnly that I’ll forever rock steadily.” - B. Thought

What made you decide to leave Nova Scotia and head to BC? 
Yo! I love Scotia. I had a LOT of good times there. Met a lot of good people. I still have family there and visit when I get a chance. But the decision to leave Scotia is a pretty funny story actually. We had just won Battle of The Bands for Nova Scotia and as a result many of the Eastern universities sponsored a tour across Canada for us. So towards the end of the fall we packed up six men, a full drum kit, a huge bass amp and head, two guitar amps, a keyboard, two guitars, a bass guitar, effects pedals, tents, sleeping bags, a couple loaves of bread, peanut butter and jelly, 2 36 packs of Pepsi, toiletries and a few changes of clothes in two tiny cars and left to travel across Canada to play music. Packed isn’t even close to the word. Looking back we are like, how the hell and why the hell did we do that. Seriously. But we managed. Yo, from sleeping in the cars in a shady Ontario truck stop, to setting up the tents in the prairies and thinking we were gonna get slaughtered by whatever was making the craziest sounds just down wind from us, to freezing at night, showering at YMCA’s, sneaking in to camp sites and leaving early so we didn’t have to pay, to crashing on floors and couches in Alberta… It was just a crazy experience with video to prove it. Don’t ask for the footage. It’s in a secret bunker somewhere. LOL. Shady… Anyways, after all that, we landed in BC, exhausted. But, driving through the mountains I felt like Frodo or something. And for the first time in like a month it was warm. Almost hot. We landed and sat off on my boys porch with shorts and wife beaters on doing what we do when we chill. Started reflecting on what we had been through, looked at each other and said, ya, this is it. So we made it official.

Your Cherubim mixtape is dope but you have an album in the works. Do you think any of the songs from the mixtape will make the album? 
Thanx yo! Nah. Those songs were just to get the ball rolling. Truth be told I didn’t expect the reception I got from it mainly because I wrote the project for me. I needed those songs in my life from that perspective before I could dive into music for myself and other people and I didn’t expect many to relate. But it was well received so I’m grateful. But it’s onward and upward from here on out. The album is sounding nice and I’m excited to share with everyone. Early 2012 for sure!

I understand that you might be working with SonReal in the future. Do you have plans to collaborate with any East Coast MCs? 
Yeah, me and SonReal have recently met. He’s a cool guy. He didn’t know I rapped at first, so when he saw me grip the mic at a freestyle session put on by the Vancity legend Chin Injeti. He was shocked. Ha ha. So we may have something in the works. Nothing official yet. As far as East Coast MC’s, Spesh and I recorded a song years ago that will come out soon. I’m looking forward to that and the video. One of my oldest Canadian friends Boyill and I will definitely do something in the future, same with Markit. But I’m willing to work with anyone if I think they are talented. And there are a lot of talented MC’s on the East Coast. Shout out to all East Coast MC’s doing their thing. Too many to mention. A true reflection of the talent out there.

How do you feel about the hip hop scene in Bermuda and where you fit? 
Hmmm, hip hop in Bermuda is getting better. I think hip hop is still fairly new on the island. We are a reggae culture, and reggae will always be king. But I know of a lot of talented MC’s doing their thing on the rock. Right now I’d say hip hop in Bermuda is still a teenager, trying to find its own way, its own voice in the world. As far as myself, I never really thought about where I fit. I just know who I am, what I represent and people can fit me into where ever it suits them. People’s opinion has its place in my life but I don’t put a lot of emphasis on what people think. Everyone has an opinion and you’ll never get anywhere putting importance on everyones opinions. I just hope people realize I’m real, genuine and I work hard to make good music.

Hip hop in Bermuda has often felt the need to sound like hip hop from America but I find that yours sounds very authentically Bermudian. Was that conscious move by you? Or did it happen organically?
It was both. I was one of those Bermudians sounding American. But that goes back to what I said in the last question. Hip hop in Bermuda is still trying to find out who it is. So when that happens, like in life, you look up to a role model, which for us is the States. But I found I couldn’t be real while using an American accent. I didn’t feel myself. Nothing felt like it was me. So I just evolved. I think it is important that Bermudians know that who we are, our style, the way we talk, walk, act, is a style that the world loves. It’s rare. Everywhere I go I get that vibe from people. They know I’m different and they wanna know more. That’s men and women. But u know girls love the Bermy swag all over the world. We just have it like that. Ha ha. Don’t be selfish. Share your style. Be yourself cause everyone else is already taken…

You have a real talent for video direction. Do you plan on working with other artists in that capacity as well?
 I think in the future definitely. Right now I’m just concentrating on my career, my company and our projects. I take all forms of art as both art and science. So I have a lot to learn in that aspect. I’m willing to put in the work and once that work is truly reflected in my projects then I will expand and take on more outside clients. But you never know. I have a couple of underground pornos that may go viral so ya boy maybe in high demand soon! lol. Jokes. On the real, there are a ton of talented directors out there and I know I have the eye and imagination to be one of them. So I’m just gonna keep working hard.

What’s next for Jaro? 
Same thing we do every night Pinky! Try and take over the world!! Ha ha. Damn, I really wanna see that cartoon now. Nah, next up is a series of EP’s and videos for the EP’s. Music from here on out is for myself and for the people. So I’m looking forward to that. I have a few surprises up my sleeve so everyone will have to stay tuned in to see what’s up! Callabos with other talented artist are also a must! So if you want to link or just stay in touch hit me up on Twitter @TypeHunDread and we’ll see what we can do. BANG