Welcome to the DJ Academy, we are the interiors boutique DJ & Electronic music education facility and we pride ourselves on being at the cutting edge of musical creation and technology. Having said that, where DJ & Producer culture often goes astray is when it chases the latest greatest without a regard for the foundation that elevated it. This is exactly why you’ll see shelves of vinyl as a constant fixture at the school. We believe it’s the relationship between the past and present that will create the best future and these are exactly the ideas that we try to foreground in our classes.
Our mandate is simple: have fun with records and electronics! We strive to find new ways to teach and creatively express ourselves by playing with sound. This means that all of our instructors are pursuing artistic goals and sharing those past and present experiences with the many students that become part of the DJA family. We get to know everyone personally because we keep our classes small. Our studio is located in the Ninth Lab, which is Kamloops’ largest and most expressive creative studio, something we love as the space is based on creative thought. So, come in, kick your shoes off and enjoy exploring the art of DJing, scratching, and/or producing in a learning environment that we hope you’ll find as comfortable, open, and expansive as home.
Jesse is the founder of Common Sound, Kamloops’ top DJ & AV company for the past 10 years. Jesse has a vast knowledge of not only the technical skills of DJ’ing, but he also has a deep understanding of what it takes to have success within the industry.
Jesse has had a long successful career as a DJ, working alongside the likes of Chris Lake, Steve Aoki, and Jayceeoh. As well as playing for crowds of 12,000+ people. And as a company, Common Sound has had very strong partnerships working for the likes of lululemon, Hockey Canada, Sephora, contracted to play at their events and activations.
Outside of DJ’ing, Jesse is also an event producer, putting on large scale music, art, and sporting events throughout the interior. Some of those events include the Summer League Block Party Series, Hoops in the Loops (3-on-3 Basketball Tournament), and in 2023 – The Mettas.
Monday through Friday he runs the Ninth Lab, which is a Digital Agency, focusing on branding, photography, videography, and website development.
Another branch of Ninth Company is Ninth Records, a recording studio and record label he runs with Emmanuel. Downtown Kamloops’ first Record Label, Recording Studio and Podcast Production House.
Outside of his creative/business endevours he coaches high school football at South Kamloops Secondary School.
Check out Jesse’s other endeavours on his Linktree here.
Travis’ love for music started at a young age when he started playing the alto saxophone and guitar. His passion grew when he attended KISSM (Kamloops Interior Summer School of Music) where he started playing both jazz music and blues music.
Travis took that love for music to DJing when he was 24 years old. And quickly found himself with a residency at the Commodore, and at Heroes Pub (now known as the Den) .
Travis often tries to incorporate both the art of DJing with saxophone in live environments, creating a very unique experience.
Outside of DJing, Travis loves to attend festivals in the US and in Canada. Some of his favorites are EDC LV, Paradiso, and Shambhala.
Travis attended TRU for a BSC in Chemistry, and is presently on his 4th and final level of electrical. Those skills have helped him build speaker systems and bluetooth speakers in his spare time.
Outside of those you can find Travis playing tennis, soccer, or mountain biking.
As a resident DJ who is deeply passionate about his craft, Guille is constantly looking for new sounds, rhythms, and beats to infuse into his sets. His heart beats for electronic music, with its pulsing energy and endless possibilities for experimentation and creativity.
But he also has a deep love for Latin music, with its vibrant melodies and infectious rhythms that never fail to get people moving. He’s always looking for ways to blend these two genres, creating a unique sound that will get any crowd pumped up and dancing.
Whether he’s playing at a club, a festival, or a private event, his goal is always the same: to create an unforgettable experience for his audience that will leave them wanting more. For him, there’s nothing more rewarding than seeing people come together on the dancefloor, united by the power of music.
As a university student studying communications and event management, he constantly seeking new ways to express himself creatively. One of his passions is producing music with Garageband, using his laptop and a variety of digital instruments to create unique and engaging tracks.
Guille is always looking for new musical instruments to learn and master, whether it’s a guitar, a keyboard, or even a set of drums. He believe that learning new instruments not only helps him grow as a musician but also gives me a deeper appreciation for the art of music as a whole.
Ultimately, his love of music and his skills in event management are intertwined – both require a careful balance of creativity, organization, and attention to detail. And as he continue to explore new avenues of expression and learn new skills, he’s excited to see where this passion for music and event management will take him in the future.
Emmanuels passion for music began 15 years ago, when he started experimenting with recording equipment, while playing in a Gospel band. During his time in there, he collaborated with a variety of musicians, from rising talents to well-established stars.
He is well-known among musicians for his meticulous attention to detail and talent for bringing out the best in each recording session. He has experience working on projects in a variety of musical genres, such as rock, hip-hop, and electronic music.
His clients value his originality, professionalism, and commitment to providing the finest sound possible. He spends time getting to know their vision and collaborates closely with them to make it a reality. He always puts his heart and emotion into his job, whether he’s mixing the vocals of a single artist or recording a complete band.
Beyond his love for wine, he’s also a dedicated soccer fan. As a University student studying Philosophy with a passion for life’s many pleasures. With a taste for finer things, he has cultivated the art of wine tasting and the diverse flavours of jazz, blues and rap music.
But it doesn’t stop there, with an eye for design and a knack for engineering. He’s our Web Designer and Audio Engineer, bringing his unique touch to each project. Whether it’s crafting a website that seamlessly blends aesthetics and functionality or engineering sound that transport listeners to another realm, his creativity knows no bounds.
While the art of DJing, scratching, and beat making has often been clouded by gimmicks, competition, and commercialism, we bring forward the school of thought that the DJ & Producer is a musician and the turntable an expansive instrument of personal expression. We would love to help you explore DJing, whether it be with a career goal in mind, or just to explore the art.
