Rashad Khan aka Rashad Rawkus is busy mixing a tape called life. By day he works in digital advertising and by night he hits the Vancouver nightlife as a DJ. At age 25, he seems to be hitting his stride and has found a pretty magical balance to the “work is play” lifestyle. Rashad took off his headphones to give 604 Now some insight into the life of a DJ.
What connected you to music and how did you pursue becoming a disc jockey?
I would have to give recognition to my siblings for bringing music into my life. At an early age I was introduced to classic rap and R&B albums from the 90’s. By grade 7 I was making mix tapes for my school dances and by grade 10 I was motivated enough to buy my first set of turntables.
Do you consider DJing your hobby, job or just part of your lifestyle?
Can I pick all three? It started off as a hobby that turned into a part-time job while I attended post-secondary. This job eventually evolved into a lifestyle and is well ingrained into who I am. What’s better than getting paid for something you would do for free? Absolutely nothing.
You specialize in hip hop events but what other genres do you personally enjoy?
I love music as a whole, so I enjoy listening to many different genres — R&B, soul, rock, reggae, electronic dance, alternative etc. I have this deep respect for music that I believe has led me to experiment with different types of music.
Where can we find you behind the DJ booth on a typical weekend? What is your favourite past residency and why?
You can find me every Friday at Caprice Nightclub. On Saturdays, I’m currently doing guest spots through out the city. I’ve played at many nightclubs throughout the years and some of them don’t even exist anymore! I would have to say that my first residency at Atlantis/Boss Nightclub would have to be the most memorable. It opened my eyes up to the industry, lifestyle and introduced me to many of my industry friends.
What are some of your more memorable collaborations or celebrity encounters in Vancouver?
I get to participate in some of Vancouver’s coolest events and activities! Another reason why I enjoy this lifestyle is because of the people I get to meet. I’m a people person and I love networking. Building relationships with those I encounter have landed me in some favourable situations to say the least.
One stand out moment was DJ’ing a private party for the rapper Drake inside the Annex Nightclub (2014). I got to play music for his entourage and even the man himself!
Does your BBA in Marketing Management tie into your DJ brand or are they unrelated?
In the last year I really started to apply my learning from University towards my DJ brand and the club nights I promote. I recently rebranded myself from DJ Rawkus to Rashad Rawkus. Alongside this rebrand came a new DJ logo, and a more prominent online presence. Since I’m still in the process of completing my rebrand, I have a few more initiatives such as a photo-shoot, press kit and a website in the works.
How do you manage your advertising job and DJ’ing professionally?
It can be tough trying to progress in both of these areas of my life which are important to me. It’s always been a balancing act and it’s something that I have gotten better at through out the years. It can be a trade off at times since one area will prosper while the other remains stagnant. I try to revaluate my situation often to make sure everything is balanced and growing.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone interested in pursuing the DJ world?
Only pursue the DJ world if you’re passionate about it and have a natural curiosity about music. Like any skill, the more you practice, the better you are. Also, always keep learning and grow your knowledge. Last but not least, be humble.
Take a listen to Rashad Rawkus’s latest mixes here: www.mixcloud.com/rashadrawkus.
Follow Rashad Rawkus and his upcoming events on @rashadrawkus
Interview by Amar Mirchandani @amarmirch
