By Dahna Jn Charles
We dare you to attend an event where he’s playing and not move a muscle. We guarantee you will fail. He has what it takes to take you from 0 – 100 at the drop of a beat, played at just the right time and suited to the atmosphere. He’s sharp! Not just with the music but with his wardrobe too. He is always dressed to impress from head to toe in those sleek, dapper outfits which complement his skills.
Born 33 years ago to Gloria John and Joachim Cherubin, Levi ‘DJ Levi Chin’ John of Arundel Hill, Marchand, Castries has evolved into one of St. Lucia’s most popular and most recognized DeeJay’s in the region. As a young boy, Levi was inspired by his father’s DeeJaying skills and developed a deep passion for the art. While a student at the George Charles Secondary School, he started playing along with his father at various events. He was just 12 years old.
Upon graduating from George Charles Secondary Levi held a few positions within the sales industry however Deejaying remained his passion and he was intent on pursuing it full time. With much persistence, practice and focus, he has made this a reality. Levi currently works with Radio Caribbean International in addition to growing and fine-tuning his personal DeeJaying business.
When Dazzle sought to find out the origin of his seemingly Asian moniker, “Levi Chin”, he shut us all the way down with this response; “It’s a mystery and will remain a mystery….” Even after a bit of prying he maintained that element of mystery. It is safe to say that he is like any other master of his craft; some secrets just aren’t meant to be revealed. We however speculate and attribute it to his light complexion, slender frame and slightly slanted eyes. We might be on to something here. What say you?
Fortunately, Levi did not let us suffer too much and was gracious enough to let us into his realm, sharing his experiences, passions and challenges which we present to you, our Dazzlers.
Dazzle: How would describe the persona ‘DJ Levi Chin’?
DJ Levi Chin: Hype, energetic, versatile… I’m the ‘Turn up Kid’
[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/191440807″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”250″ iframe=”true” /]For this DJ, his craft represents ‘life’ to him. He believes music has the power to transform people in ways others may deem impossible. He derives great satisfaction from seeing people enjoying themselves and letting go of everything for just that moment, knowing he contributed to that experience. He is more than capable of achieving this time and time again, which took years of practice and perfecting. What was it like in the beginning though?
Dazzle: What was it like playing your first gig?
DJ Levi Chin: That was a primary school party. I used cassettes back then and records. I was nervous because there were all these people staring and wondering what I was about to do … I did my best to remain calm and just do my thing.
Dazzle: What do you consider the most pivotal experience of your career?
DJ Levi Chin: The opportunities given to me by Wilberforce “Burt” Norville, rest in peace, to play at his parties. This was what led to me getting more recognition on island. He is someone I will be forever grateful to for making a way for me.
Dazzle: What would you say sets you apart from the rest?
DJ Levi Chin: There’s no limit to the genres in my selection. I play it all and transition from genre to genre very smoothly. I am not limited to being a dancehall DeeJay or soca DeeJay. I play pop, EDM, zouk … and when you have diverse crowds, the ability to satisfy everyone is a plus.
Levi’s talents are further enhanced by his ability to penetrate other markets, both regionally and internationally. He has been blessed to be sought after by promoters and fellow DeeJays in Dominica, Grenada, Barbados, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique, the UK and Canada. Such opportunities would not have emerged if not for his persistence and appreciation for his talent, his consummate professionalism and the recognition of his skills by well-known regional DeeJays, sound crews and DeeJay fraternities. He has played with the likes of Tony Matterhorn, Base Odyssey, Black Chiney, Stone Love, Coppershot, Mighty Crown, Walshy Fire and DJ Private Ryan.
So just how professional can one be in such an industry? In addition to his official website, DJ Levi Chin’s social media presence is geared towards promoting his brand and he uses these platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Sound Cloud) to effectively market his talent and services. Levi rightfully considers himself an artist who needs to focus on his craft and put in the amount of time and effort it requires for improving and perfecting it. He has a management team to take care of bookings and logistics, which gives him time to focus on creativity.
Levi also sees himself as an entertainment ambassador for St. Lucia. He says it isn’t just about him and firmly declares, “The world will know our name.
Dazzle: Advances in technology and software have given rise to an increase in the number of DJs on island leading to many frowning upon a DJ’s use of digital technology and programmes during a gig. What are your views on the use of technology in DeeJaying and how do you strike the balance between its use and the art of DJing?
DJ Levi Chin: I appreciate the technology for evolving in a way that makes it easier for me to move around with equipment and the music. But coming from the age of vinyl records, I love the feeling of controlling the music with my fingers. And even though the technology makes it easier to have lots of music available and move freely, DJing still requires skill. It is not as simple as opening up a laptop and pressing ‘Play’. You need to have proper music management; be able to feel the crowd, know what to play and when, and also know how to mix the music.
Dazzle: Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
DJ Levi Chin: Producing music and establishing a local DJ fraternity. In this industry everyone goes through similar struggles and experiences which I believe through a proper fraternity we can all share, in an effort to continuously improve and assist those young DJ’s coming up. I am always on the look out for new talent and I am aware of some good talent out there that I would enjoy working with.
DJ Levi Chin is truly a lover of life. We recognise him as a trendsetter in the DJing industry in St. Lucia and applaud his dedication and the level of professionalism he employs in his work.
Dazzle Magazine would like to thank DJ Levi Chin and wish him nothing but the best in all of his endeavours.
