Dreaming of Diamonds with Jewel Kid

After following his dreams for so many years, Jewel Kid follows up with SIX AM to chat about living life on Malta, music production, international DJ gigs, and of course following said dreams.

Hey there Jewel Kid, it’s our pleasure to welcome you to SIX AM! How’s everything going right now?

Not so good at this very moment because my studio A/C just died and summer is already kicking in here in Malta! On the other hand, music is in full swing and I’m ecstatic with everything that we have coming up. Just need to go buy a new A/C now!

You’re from Malta, a small Mediterranean island famous for its warm climate and breathtaking landscapes, but not exactly famous for electronic music. Growing up there, how did you get exposed to the rave scene? When did you start mixing?

Well the electronic scene in Malta has been going from strength to strength every year for quite some time now with multiple first-class events happening every weekend. I have seen this steady non-stop climb for the past 22 years and it seems that it’s only getting bigger, with world renowned festivals happening all throughout the whole summer. I got exposed to the rave scene at a very early age. It’s crazy to say but I was around 8 years old when I used to go with my parents to this very famous big club in Malta. The owner was very good friends with my parents and the law was much more laid back at that time here in Malta. I remember that we used to go there on weekends, after eating dinner at some restaurant. I can still hear “The Outhere Brothers – Boom Boom Boom” playing while we got closer to the entrance of the club. This scene always mesmerized me so when my biggest brother got into DJing when I was around 13, I took the opportunity to jump on his bandwagon and a year later I was DJing all around Malta, with club owners signing a kind of parental guidance permit so I could play in their club at the age of 14.

You’ve won plenty of awards for music production and have had your fair share of tracks on Beatport’s top 10 charts, when did you decide to make the transition from just mixing music to producing it as well?

It was only after about 2 years of DJing that I started to get interested in making my own music. Back then it was much harder because I didn’t have a clue where to start. There was no YouTube or any kind of tutorials 20 years ago, and I didn’t know anyone that was producing on the Island. Then one Sunday afternoon,  I remember I saw this “Future Music” Magazine in a shop in my town and I instantly got hooked on it. That magazine introduced me to the digital studio, which was something new at the time. Then one day it came with a small red book called “Cubase 101” which was a small walkthrough of how to use this DAW. I instantly fell in love with Cubase and have been using it ever since.

Your music has been released on Class-A labels such as Toolroom, Nervous, Tronic, and even dropped an EP recently on Abode. You also have a single coming out soon on Glasgow Underground, what does it take for you to keep releasing a steady flow of tracks on such highly touted labels?

I basically live in the studio… haha! But honestly, I come here 5 days a week. Always pushing my own boundaries to better my sound while trying to maintain a creative workflow. I always said that this is a very tough job. You have to bring your A-game every single day to deliver quality music constantly. But with that said, it’s what I live for. Making music for me is a way of life. It’s who I am and who I will probably be for the rest of my life.

Jewel Kid “Release Inside” (Extended Mix) – Glasgow Underground

Your work producing doesn’t take anything away from your talent on the decks as your career as a DJ has gone international, playing at famous venues like Space in Ibiza, Womb in Tokyo, and Cielo in New York just to name a few. Which place has been your favorite so far? And where’s a venue you haven’t been to yet that you dream of playing at?

Well Space Ibiza will always have a special place in my heart since it was my first international gig. It was very daunting that what was one day considered as the best club in the world was my first gig outside Malta. This experience was and still is very special to me and now that the club does not exist anymore, makes it even more special knowing that I somehow was part of its legacy. I now look forward to playing in some of these really cool festivals that are happening all around the globe, especially during the day as they tend to capture a very particular vibe which is really grabbing my attention.

Your career has had tons of success in the last few years and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Where do you see yourself in 5 years, and what’s your ultimate goal as a DJ/producer in the industry?

My primary goal has always been and still is to deliver the best quality music that I possibly can. Both in the studio and in the DJ booth. Even in the next 5 years,  that’s what I strive to keep improving and delivering to my audience.

Thanks so much for your time Jewel Kid! Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I always tend to tell everybody to never give up if you really want to chase your dreams. Your big shot could be just around the corner and you only need to give that one final push for your dream to start its journey. Till then, buckle up, enjoy the ride and get ready to kick some mothaf*ckin ass!

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