MUSIC guy DJ Ian Caram, 21-year-old six-foot three-inch tall with that boy-next-door appeal, is an entirely new level. He has manned the decks at many local festivals and posh bars in Western Visayas since he was 15.
A disk jockey for six years and a music producer for two years, he entered the music industry with great passion for music. Now he has managed to build quite a reputation - of being one of the most sought after DJs in the region. He has performed with legends in the music industry like Elmer Dado, Ace Ramos, Marc Marasigan, Carlo Atendido, Nix Damn P, Inno Naguit, and Kat DJ.
Based in Talisay City, DJ Ian this month is out to perform at Bacolod New Government Center, Manapla, and Valladolid.
Ian fondly recalled how he was led into the music scene fired by a dream to becoming a rockstar. Self-taught at age 15, he remembered picking up the equipment and gear his brother had left, tinkered it and there his love for music grew.
“My best friend got me into my first gig at then Oil Lounge. After that they must have liked my music because they invited me to come back,” he said.
Ian shared that the hardest part in his music career is finding his own sound. There are so many DJs doing music and there is no short cut to building a name.
“I had to sacrifice hanging out with friends and sometimes even lock myself up in my room just to master my craft and produce music that is distinctly mine and would set me apart from the others.”
Having years of experience playing at various venues across the region, Ian has developed his own music which is distinctly his.
When asked what his biggest break was, he credited it to Headrush Productions for discovering him and making him one of their DJs. It was when he started to perform at Love Dance, Dinagyang Love Dance, and Masskara Loudfest sharing stage with the top DJs in the country.
He said, the bigger challenge he is facing now is to constantly innovate by making new songs, new mashups, and new edits.
When asked what life lessons he learned in forging his dreams, he shared 3 things:
1. Self-confidence. You can’t perform if you are not confident, and you get that confidence from mastering your craft.
2. Be unique by being yourself. If you are being yourself you will be different from the rest. So be true and loyal to your own taste in music.
3. Do what you love and love what you do. Passion fuels everything so love your work and be passionate about music.
For those who dream of pursuing a career in music he says one has to be patient. Because gigs don’t usually pour in at the start. “You have to build your name first,” he said.
Indeed DJ Ian Caram loves what he does and is very passionate about his music.