The Thaisoul experience …. Born in Thailand and raised in the US, Jask has lit a new torch in the world dance community, bringing forth his unique blend of deep, spiritual, jazzphonic and soulful sounds to the map.

Taking some time out of his busy schedule, Jask talks to the JjazproJect about his musical experience, his inspirations and his imminent arrival in the UK . The Thaisoul Orchestra will debut in London at the new & super cool ‘Neighbourhood' club on 31 st January. A date for your diary which has been a long time coming and an event definitely not to be missed!

Read on ….

MC: Hi Jask, a very belated Happy New Year to you! Thanks for taking the time to speak to the JjazproJect.

MC: So Jask, I'd like to start by asking where you are from originally and where you are based now?

J: Well, I was born in Thailand , but lived in the U.S. most of my life and now reside in Tampa , Florida …

MC: Can we ask – is Jask your real name?

J: No, but if I told you my real name, the name issue would get kind of confusing… J

MC: When did you first get into the scene and what was it attracted you?

J: Back in the days, Starting out as a hiphop, soul, & r&b dj My introduction to House(in 1988) was instant…Then going out to clubs hearing it and dancing to it helped me feed my passion for it…

MC: Are you a trained musician? Were you a DJ before you went into production?

J: Not really a trained musician. I took 2 years of piano classes and that's all. I've basically taught myself how to play the keyboards. Yes, I was a DJ before diving into music production. It was the next logical step for me.

MC: Did you hold down a job before getting into the scene?

J: I held down a corporate job while still in highschool and 2 years after graduating, then took the leap in 1994 to pursue music full time….

MC: When did you first start djing and what music were you playing? Can you share some of your most memorable experiences from those early days?

J: 1987 was the year and the music that got me doing it was hiphop and soul. I was really into all the tricks and scratching. Most of the gigs back then were house parties, gigs and parties in youth centers for li'l kids…

MC: Your first production for Soulfuric Records was for ‘The Latin Vision', released in 2000. Can you tell us how you managed to hook up with Brian and Marc?

J: My hook up with Brian and Marc was due to me asking Brian to play for my local Tuesday night party here in Tampa years ago. Then everything grew from there. I gave them a demo one day and they said it had potential and were willing to help me on the project.

MC: Amongst numerous remix productions, last year saw the release of ‘Surrender Your Love' on Soulfuric Deep, the follow up to ‘Beautiful'. Can you tell us what you have in store for 2004 and the type of sound we can expect from you?

J: Well the follow up to ‘Surrender Your Love' is still being decided. I've done a few remixes here and there and I'm working on one this month as well. I'm also working on an album with Jocie. There are a few labels interested in my original material, but my loyalty to Soulfuric is 2 nd to none…

MC: Typically, how much time do you spend in the studio working on your own projects or remix productions?

J: I spend more time on originals. If a remix need to be done, then of course I take time out from my other duties to get it done. What comes first in terms of production? .… mostly music then vocals…

MC: How would you say your sound has developed over the years? How does your sound in the studio compare to your DJ sets?

J: I think it's evolved with the help of new technology…

My sound compared to my DJ sets is similar in a way. It just depends on the vibe of where I'm at basically…Inspiration comes from my mother….

MC: If you could work with any Artist of your choosing who might that be and why?

J: Sade…Beautiful singer and a talented one at that….

MC: Outside of the studio and the DJing – what do you do to relax?

J: Movies, basketball, spending time with my girlfriend, lounging at local cafes, bars, clubs...