Metronome #077: Jayceeoh

Insomniac’s Metronome series features mixes from some of today’s fastest-rising electronic stars, as well as championed legends. It takes listeners deep across a wide range of genres, movements, cultures, producers, artists and sounds that make up the diverse world of electronic music.

From his widely popular DJ mixtape series, Super 7, to his new side project, 1000volts with hip-hop legend Redman, Jayceeoh embodies the kind of success that results from keeping on the grind—relentlessly. Many electronic fans first caught wind of him a few short years ago via his first releases on Fool’s Gold, “DAMN,” alongside DJ Scene. By then, Jayceeoh, real name Jake Osher, had already toured the world with former high school classmate Wiz Khalifa; held multiple titles in the battle DJ circuit; and was crowned the winner of VH1’s reality TV DJ competition show, Master of the Mix. Bored with playing generic Top 40 jams to bottle service crowds, Jayceeoh switched his focus to producing and playing music he was passionate about while flexing the skills he’s attained from nearly two decades of DJ experience.

In just under an hour, Jayceeoh’s Metronome mix serves up the heat with a killer combo of heavy 808s, dirty bass, and uplifting future vibes that epitomizes the flawless transitions and expert programming that got him noticed so many years ago.

You started off in the hip-hop world, and now you’re collaborating with Redman as 1000volts. How does it feel to be working so closely with such a legend in the scene?
It’s a crazy feeling when I really think about what’s actually happening right now. Hip-hop is what ultimately turned me on to music and DJing when I was growing up. At that time, Redman was, and still is, considered to be one of the greatest rappers of all time. For me to be working with Redman now on a group side project, it’s pretty surreal.

How did the collaboration come about in the first place?
We actually first met in Croatia in 2015, where we were both performing at the Fresh Island Music Festival. At the time, I had an unreleased record, “Turn Me Up Some,” where I sampled Redman’s vocals. When I met Red, I told him about the song and asked if he wanted to hear it. He was game, so I played it off my iPhone at a pool party in the middle of the day.

I could tell he was feeling it, so I asked if he wanted to get down and record new vocals to make it official. Without hesitation, he gave me his info, and it was off to the races. After we finished that song and he saw the reaction that it was getting in the hip-hop and electronic worlds, it really opened his eyes to the possibilities. We continued writing new music together, giving birth to 1000volts.

One thing that comes across in your DJ sets is that you never stop moving. How do you feel about the “press play” and mixing drop-to-drop nature of today’s DJ world?
[Laughs] True! Well, I’m a DJ who actually DJs while I DJ. It sounds funny saying that, but it’s something that should actually be noted. Real DJing has been camouflaged by stage production and other various distractions. For me, when I’m up there, I need to be moving and doing something at all times. Otherwise, I’m like, “Wait—why am I here?” The culture of “press play” DJing is not something I’m particularly a fan of, though I do understand why people do it for their live shows—and to each their own, of course. I’m not hating. You can play a “perfect” set, which is great. Tons of work and preparation goes into my sets as well, but for me, it’s more exciting to play live and off the cuff.

What role do you think turntablism will play in the future?
I’m really not too sure about the fate of turntablism. It’s sad to say, because turntablism and battling is what got me into DJing in the first place. I still continuously add flavor to my sets with scratching and juggling when it can be tastefully done within the music. As long as you keep it musical and tasteful, turntablism can be incorporated in any DJ set.

Was there a particular moment that made you realize you wanted to transition into electronic music?
I’ve always been into all genres of music. Once I started playing club shows early in my career, I realized it wasn’t about any specific genre to get people moving. It’s all about raw energy and creating moments through music and taking people on a journey. Over time, more and more EDM snuck its way into my sets and received great crowd reaction. Then, once trap music really started to bubble, I knew that was my calling: heavy electronic sounds with hip-hop drum programming. It was a match made in crossover heaven.

The model for your mix series, Super 7, is pretty innovative. Do you think it could translate as a live show?
Most definitely! Since the inception of the Super 7 mix series, that’s something I’ve always thought about putting together. It would be like one massive b2b. I think we could sell some tickets for a Volume 6 party—what do you think?

You’ve collaborated with a number of other producers. Is there something in particular about the process that makes it so appealing to you?
Collaborating is my favorite way to work. Every producer has different strong suits that feed well into each other. I love starting a new idea and then sending it to someone else to add their own flavor and having it spark even more ideas to build off. It’s an endless, beautiful cycle. I love it! Get ready for some major collabs to top off 2016!

Track List:: TJR “Fuck Me Up” (Jayceeoh Remix)
Muhammad Ali Interlude
ETC!ETC! “Trompa” (Jayceeoh Back to the Trap Edit)
Enschway “Bring It Back”
Jorgen Odegard “Back”
Waka Flocka vs. Kill the Noise & Dillon Francis “Dolphin on Wheels” (Rickyxsan Remix)
Kanye West ft. Desiigner “Champions” (Clips & Ahoy Remix)
ITSUFO & G-Buck - ID
AraabMuzik & Riot Ten ft. Mikey Casear “Try Me”
Kandy - ID
Kill the Noise “Kill It 4 the Kids” (Slander Remix)
Knife Party “Kill Them With Lasers” (HeRobust Remix)
Nero “Promises” (Skrillex Remix) (QUIX Flip)
LAXX vs. Lookas “Lemme Get That” (Jayceeoh Edit)
Milo & Otis & Henry Fong “Bring the Riot”
Slander “Dead” (SAYMYNAME Remix)
BARE & BRAZZABELLE “Addicted” (Dibs & MGM Remix)
Doctor P & Flux Pavilion “Party, Drink, Smoke” (Ricky Remedy Edit)
Antiserum & Diamond Pistols “Swervin” (Jayceeoh Like a Boss Edit)
Jack Ü “I’m the Shit” vs. “Gangsta’s Paradise” (NGHTMRE EDIT)
Flosstradamus “Roll Up” (Baauer Remix) (Infuse Re-Roll)
Dawn Penn “No No No” (BARE Remix)
Gents & Jawns “Collecta”
Ricky Remedy “Take It” (Jayceeoh Edit)
Jayceeoh & Señor Roar “Raptor”
SAYMYNAME “Get Yo Handz Up”
Brillz & Habstrakt “Off the Wall”
Tropkillaz “Put It on Me”
4B “Bring in the Drums”
4B ft. Bunji Garlin “Carnival”
Le Boy & Boaz Van De Beatz “Mami Chupa”
Jayceeoh & Riot Ten “Drop Bass”
Galantis “No Money” (Wuki Remix)
Jayceeoh ft. Nevve “Elevate”
Nicky Romero “The Moment” (Jayceeoh Remix)
Martin Solveig “+1” (Jayceeoh Remix)
Markus Schulz “Summer Dream” (Jayceeoh Remix)
Kanye vs. Sigma & Getter “Nobody to Love” (Benzi Edit)
1000volts (Redman & Jayceeoh) “Lights Out”