Philadelphia-native Jasmine Solano has established herself as a versatile and captivating sound selector throughout her career. Now based in Los Angeles, this DJ and creative powerhouse has teamed up with DJ Jyoty to present an electrifying mix on Rinse FM that seamlessly blends rggaeton, Haitian roots, pop, hip hop and Latin beats.
Known for her unwavering support of female artists, Solano has curated a lineup that showcases some of her favorite producers, including UNIIQU3, Bianca Oblivion, Coco & Breezy, Roxi J. Summers, and Bianca Maieli. Additionally, the mix features incredible women vocalists such as Pamé, METTE, Spice, Tierra Whack, Rihanna and Lil Mo.
We had the opportunity to speak with Solano about the evolving role of DJs in 2023, the vibrant nightlife scene, and her unique sense of style.
Snobette: Looking back on a decade as a music curator and DJ, what are some things in the industry that have changed in a positive way?
Jasmine Solano: “One major change that’s great to see is the increase in women DJs. DJing has historically been male dominated, but with technology advancing so much in the past decade and social media educating and exposing more women to the possibilities of DJing, it’s much more commonplace.”
“Another positive note is that DJing is now widely accepted as a career. When I first started out, it wasn’t looked highly upon to be a full time DJ. Now with festival opportunities, corporate and branded gigs, and local residencies, a lot of artists have found a way to make DJing their full time career.”
Snobette: Post-pandemic, how has nightlife changed?
“Nightlife is interesting in that it is ever changing but the core elements (when set up for success) remain the same: culture, community, transcendence. However there’s a few differences I’ve noticed. For one, the joy of gathering was so intense as we began to return to live events. People were beyond ready to party, let loose, live outside. Including myself. I fell back in love with DJing as an artform, excited to see any new DJ that came across my path.
“Second, the digital era of documenting events has shifted how we interact in nightlife completely. From the fans point of view, they are spending much more time filming than being present. The thought of how you’re going to present your current environment online always lingers in your head. You’re a nonstop director, filming and showcasing the movie that is your life. From the DJs point of view, an entirely new digital standard has developed. Documenting and filming your DJ sets while promoting them consistently is the new bar. Which is a second job in and of itself.
“The evolution of documenting the party has been an interesting one to watch. In 2010, we were barely on our phones in the club. Maybe to send an occasional text, but there were no illuminous phone screens present in the crowd. This is also when the rise of the party photographer began. If you wanted to be seen, you had the official photographer snap a shot of you. And the blog and Tumblr era helped promote those photos and give you a glimpse into who was DJing and what you missed.
“Fast forward a decade to TikTok. You are now responsible for being your own videographer, photographer, editor and producer. As daunting as that sounds, this proved promising for some. For example the DJs that put in the time and effort to post short form videos daily in 2020 are now touring and selling out shows worldwide.
“The biggest lesson I learned through building my social-impact livestream platform Club House Global, with my partners Patrick Struys and Anjali Ramasunder in 2020, is this: You can’t ignore the digital community. They are powerful when fostered.
“But documenting your life can be a lot of work and pressure for artists who don’t naturally enjoy filming, editing and posting. I’ve found DJs like Jyoty master this balance, having a hand in both worlds and essentially in both generations. She’s been documenting and filming for YouTube and TikTok for years now, and it really paid off during the pandemic. However she uses her platform to be super transparent and educate fans on what’s really important in DJ culture. I’m really excited that this mix will live on her RinseFM show!”
Snobette: Looking at your personal style, has it changed over the years?
Jasmine Solano: “My style really depends on the day, and I feel that goes for most women these days. Catch me on an errands and tennis day and I look like a hippie farmer. Catch me at a business meeting, and I look like a Chloé ad. Catch me DJing and I look like a dancehall queen at Carnival. I’ve become more comfortable with all the different modes that exist within me. I often feel like five women in one. And audiences today want a glimpse into it all. They want to see you as a whole person, rather than an unattainable fantasy. I appreciate that.”
Snobette:DJs speak through music, with this mix on Rinse FM, what did you want to communicate to the listeners?
Jasmine Solano:“Mixes are time capsules for me, filled with emotion, momentum and story. They encapsulate songs that speak the most to me from the past year or so. Mixes have always been dear to my heart, and are projects that I don’t release often or haphazardly. I haven’t released one since late 2021 when I DJing for Deadfellaz alongside Steve Aoki.”
“Mixes are also opportunities for me to feature my favorite artists & producers, especially women. Just like any piece of art, I hope the listener finds what they need personally through this mix. However it speaks to you, I hope it brings you joy & growth.”
Creative Director: Andrea Keeble and The State of Green; Producer: Alicia Becker and 68 Charles.
