Hear the sound of an R&B flow floating over an electronic bed bouncing with a Caribbean / Afro rhythm, body-rolling to a hip-hop groove and you might find Benjamin Shaffer (aka Jāmin, pronounced jaymin) at the fader. A producer, songwriter, singer with roots as a DJ, he has made a career collaborating, connecting and sharing through music.
His songs bring artists and styles together from around the globe. The pulse is rooted in his perspective as a DJ – move the body. His tracks are made for movement and speak to both the shared human experience and issues of our times, calling for light, leadership, community, unity and beauty. A strong current of personal responsibility flows while he creates sonic space to also contemplate vulnerability, sacrifice, loss, pain and human dynamics.
After going on global tour at 18 as a DJ for Geffen Records’ Girls Against Boys, he built Brooklyn music studio Ishlab (a$ap Rocky, Jet, Jadakiss, MIA, Roberta Flack, Mac Miller (RIP)) and gained acceptance into NYU’s Steinhardt School—a first for a DJ who couldn’t read or write music. He then founded Project Rhythm, a non-profit that equips children with life skills through the collaborative process of producing their own original songs.
His newest track is called, “We All Bleed”, and it is an inspiration track that talks about how the world is in a trying time. The video for the track shows many diverse people symbolizing unity, and how important it is in today’s world. When asking Shaffer about the song he says:
“We All Bleed”, my new single, is made to inspire change, to unite, to show that we have been coming apart while we need to come together. In this time of so much negativity, so much tension “We All Bleed” is made to uplift. This is “We All Bleed.” Thank you. Peace!”
Check out the video below.
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Aria Velz is a director, TikToker, and Lesbian Media Enthusiast based in the D.C. area. On November 2nd, she sat down with me to talk about it all, from her latest production at Olney Theatre Center to the things that lead to her little corner on TikTok.
On October 29th, Olney Theatre Center wrapped its run of Prince Gomolvilas’ ‘The Brothers Paranormal.’ The disconcerting, borderline terrifying production was co-directed by Olney’s Senior Associate Artistic Director, Hallie Gordon, and Velz herself. The show was one of the spookiest times I have had in a theatre in quite some time. It was evident that the show was a well researched labor of love.
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Alchemical Records is a Washington, D.C. based music publication. We cover the Washington, D.C., Baltimore and Richmond, VA metro area music scenes, including band interviews, articles about your favorite musicians, new music and concert dates.
