It´s been rumored that New York based Artist-Producer-DJ extraordinaire Jaymz Nylon was born with a stack of vinyl in his hands. Whether it´s true or not, his youthful passion for music led his father to compile young Nylon’s favorite tracks on a tape when he was just 3. Even then Nylon exhibited a deep appreciation for funk and soul and the mix included Fela, Santana, Otis Redding, James Brown, Stevie Wonder, Al Green and a little Samba thrown in by his mother.
Fast forward a few years to age 14 where Jaymz’ father is stationed in Germany (aha–the techno connection!) and we find him turned on to electronic music which he then started to mix with early funk and hip-hop. Nylon DJ’ed his first party for young American and German teens in the parking garage beneath his apartment complex. Then at the age of 17 and through university, Nylon went underground, throwing Acid/Chicago House Music parties in basements while parents were away. From here the pace quickens.
In 1993 and we find Nylon fulfilling his musical calling with his debut 12″, Ofunwa´s “It all begins here” on the pioneering house label Tribal America. Thus was begun a prolific career that spans many tracks, DJ sets and creative output. His debut album “Afrotech” on Irma in 2000 was widely appreciated for Nylon has recorded under various pseudonyms throught the years recording music for King Street/ Nite Grooves, Loveslap, Out of the Loop, Captivating, Eightball/Empire, State and his own Nylon imprint. After this long journey of acquiring and sharing knowledge of Nylon is now concentrating on his own Nylon Recordings.
To mark the start of a new phase of his career, Nylon has released the full-length “African Audio Research Program Vol. 1” an electronic album of warmth and soul that works on and off the dancefloor. On this album are epic tracks like “Shine”, “People Still Dream”, “Morning Eyes” & “Skullduggery”, along with stunning vocals of Bobbi Sanders, Sokunthary Svay, Joshua Tree and Nylon. “African Audio Research Program Vol. 1” also features the extremely talented Jay Rodriguez (the man behind the world famous Groove Collective) on sax/flute.
Mundovibes was priviliged to hook up with Jaymz Nylon for a chat about his lengthy career.
Mundovibes: Jaymz, you have been spinning, producing and remixing deep, soulful house for a couple decades now. How does it feel to be a veteran of the house music universe?
Jaymz Nylon: To be exact I have only been in the business for 12 years, releasing my first single in 1993. I really do not feel like a veteran because for me every release is a new beginning with the sound always moving forward.
MV: How important is your African heritage to your music and how do you express it?
No matter how far removed I maybe from my African anscestors I feel them in life’s daily rhythm when I talk, walk & breath and this comes through when I create my music.
MV: What would you say is the thread that ties all of your various projects and efforts together?
JN: There is no thread that ties all my various projects together, it’s a seamless bond that will continue as long as I breath.
MV: What are the key elements to a Jaymz Nylon production?
JN: Hope, happiness & tragedy (not necessarily mine).
MV: Brooklyn is your home but you travel the world. What keeps bringing you back to NYC?
JN: I have not yet found a place that can compare with Brooklyn’s environment where art and urban co-exsist. But who knows maybe one day I will do a complete 360 and end up living in the northern beaches of Australia.
MV: Since the late ’90s the club scene in New York has been under pressure. What are your feelings about the present culture in the city?
JN: It’s difficult but I try to stay positive about the NYC club scene & not give up on her. I just started a weekly Wed. party called Nylon Sessions at Gypsy Tea 33 W.24th St. between 5th & 6th Ave. it has a sick Phazon Sound System…Wish me luck!
MV: Please give us the low-down on your latest project, African Audio Research Program?
JN: Well African Audio Research Program Vol.1 is just one many volumes to come. It provides me with a creative outlet that allows me to unleash all this music inside of me, on my own terms. A2RP is also a sharing experience with me, my collaborators and the listener.
MV: How did you go about putting African Audio Research Program together. What was the inspiration?
JN: The name African Audio Research Program came to me from a dream where I was a part of organization that willingly came over from Africa to a new world and had to find a way to communicate with the native inhabitants but only through music. The amazingly talented people around me inspired me to make this dream a reality.
MV: You also have some new 12” releases, please tell us about these?
JN: Black By Birth Feat. Ronyx “Get It Right” Main Squeeze Co-Produced with Andrew Brown
Jaymz Nylon “Virgin Sand” Perfect Toy Records.
MV: You collaborate with a lot of different artists. Who are you working with lately?
JN: Bobbi Sanders (ex-wife of El DeBarge),Mooney, Kmao, Andrew “AEB” Brown and Jay Rodriguez.
MV: Describe the creative process you employ to create your music.
JN: Go to sleep, wake up from dream and go into studio.
MV: The lyrics in your music are spiritual and uplifting and abstract at times. What do you want to communicate with these lyrics?
JN: That life is designed to be lived through the hardest of times to the most tender.
MV: What keeps you grounded in what must be a pretty hectic schedule and life?
JN: Looking into the eyes of my 14 month old daughter Bianca, the smile of 10 year old daughter Coco & the love and laughter of my wife Ria.
MV: Your knowledge of modern dance music stretches back a few decades. How do you put this knowledge to work with what you do?
JN: What strikes me the most in past decades was Black Music of the 70’s and in particular their arrangements and placement of instruments in the final mix. And with this knowledge I happily apply this to the way I record.
MV: What gives you the most satisfaction from a DJing gig?
JN: Smiley sweaty people.
MV: What, in your opinion, was the golden age of house music?
JN: Yesterday, today and tomorrow.
MV: It has to be difficult to be continually inspired. What do you do outside of the music for this?
JN: Spending as much time as I can with my family & friends which are not in music business.
MV: Dance music is about letting go and releasing and these days there’s a lot to release. What are your feelings on this?
JN: This is nothing new, every generation has had some sort of outlet for release and letting it all go. As long as humans exsit we will always need a means to escape sometimes.
MV: What can we expect from Jaymz Nylon in 2005?
JN: Music, music and more music.
