Friends - Jammz

Professional Optimist. London

We first met Jama (aka Jammz) at Run Dem Crew. He used to come running with his dad and it was really enjoyable to see them interact, helping each other out. Jama made a big effort to network and step outside of his comfort zone, talking to everyone no matter what their background, age or running speed! He ended up working with us for a season supporting us on some of our projects, while we supported him in some of his. Our shared time was great and it has been enjoyable watching him carving out his career in music.

How would you describe yourself, and what drives you?

If I had to describe myself, I’d say I’m a daydreamer, to the highest degree.  There’s never a moment where I’m not consumed by new ideas and curiosities that I feel a strong urge to explore.  It’s very easy or me to end up in a rabbit hole trying to find out how something works or how to execute something. Career aside, if there’s anything I love to do, it’s to create, and I find a lot of fun and joy in it.  In terms of what drives me, I’d say family, legacy, and the fun of the hustle.  It’s hard sometimes but the truth is I love it, and if it were to all stop tomorrow, I’d be bored as hell.

What pivotal moments have shaped your journey so far?

There’ve been a few.  The first and arguably most impactful one would be my mum bringing me to a music showcase at Stratford Circus when I was like 8 or 9.  I was already into music, but seeing DJ’s playing garage (and what at the time was early Grime) in the flesh as opposed to listening over the airwaves, done something to me.  Originally I wanted to be a DJ but the 1210’s never materialised in my house as my mum didnt like noise, so I picked up a pen instead, and that’s how I got started as an MC.

The next pivotal moment was probably the first time I went to Run Dem Crew.  I remember my dad’s good friend had floated the idea for months (I was around 14), but I wasn’t keen on the idea.  I was just interested in making music all the time, but taking the plunge to go was probably one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.  It introduced me to running, and introduced me to community of amazing people I’d never otherwise have come across at that time in my life.  It’s also how I met Chop & Russell, which eventually led to me interning at Rosie Lee, which was a very special time for me.

Third pivotal moment was the first time I went to Fabric.  I wasn’t really making music at this time and was more focussed on design and web projects.  One day I got to work on a website for P Money, and he invited me to his show at Fabric.  He brought me on the stage with him.  I watched him perform and I decided there and then that a career in music was something I seriously wanted to pursue.

What is your relationship with Rosie Lee?

I first met Mark and Russell in 2008 via Charlie Dark & Run Dem Crew.  The cool thing about Running is that you get to know people and develop friendships with people.  I was studying graphic design at college at the time, and after building a relationship they invited me into the Rosie Lee Studio once, and I ended up interning there for a few summers after.  

What has come out of any relationship and collaborations?

I’ve been lucky enough to work on so many projects with Rosie Lee. Kit launches, Uniqlo Campaigns, Nike Campaigns, Joe’s wall to name a few. Something which exists today as a result of my relationship with Mark & Russell is a project I run today called Run The Track.  It’s a creative development programme for young musicians in Hackney trying to build sustainable careers in music. I initially came up with the idea in 2018, and Mark & a good friend of ours Corey basically helped me to develop the concept and get it off the ground - connecting me with Hackney Empire & Nike to run our first pilot. Today we’ve raised over 40k and mentored over 30 young people, partnering with local venue EartH to facilitate the programme.

What does being unorthodox mean to you in your work?

Staying curious, always looking for alternative perspectives and crossovers. Nothing is original, but you can always give it a new twist.

What beliefs have guided you through tough decisions?

The best compass you’ve got is your gut feeling. Never doubt it. Be comfortable with the fact that you might not always get things right, but getting things wrong is part of growing and learning.  Fail forward.

What challenge in your field of work is often overlooked?

Scaling - Building a proof of concept is easy, but once it gets going it can get hard to scale the idea if you don’t have the right idea, resource and guidance around you, especially if you’re in the middle of the operation. It becomes hard to oversee everything.

How do you balance creativity with structure / order with chaos?

I balance creativity with structure by giving myself hard deadlines. It’s easy for me to get carried away and fall into a rabbit hole, so I give myself time limits. Whatever’s done is done, and I have to move on.  Perfection can be your enemy if you let it.  

I balance order with chaos by remaining open. Sometimes planning too much makes things less exciting/passionate.  You can plan as much as you want, but it might go to plan, so then what? Sometimes you just have to be receptive and agile when it comes to making decisions. Some of the best decisions I’ve made in life have been split second decisions. What is life without spontaneity?

What cultural shifts are you noticing in your field of work?

In music there’s a big cultural shift happening which is seeing creators turn away from larger institutions/corporations in favour of more intimate connections with their audiences. The social media revolution has a lot to answer for in terms of democratising creation, but now everything feels oversaturated, and I’m noticing creators looking into ways to exist and build communities offline.

If you could master any skill instantly, what would it be?

Dancing.

What’s one experience everyone should have at least once?

Live in another country for a year. Highly recommend.

What has inspired you lately?

DJ Super - Boiler Room

Really into Brazilian music at the moment, particularly Baile Funk.  The way the songs are constructed is sonically crazy to me.  It’s like chaos with just the right amount of order to bring everything together - Which is like my career to be fair, probably why I like it so much. One of my favourite DJ’s to listen to live at the moment is Super, from Sao Paulo 

Naval Ravikant - How to Get Rich

I was shown this by a close friend not too long ago - Despite what the title implies, it actually talks a lot about the process of creating and how to get the most out of it.  For me it was less about the money aspect, and more about how to hone your skills and to utilise your creativity for the betterment of yourself and others.

Burnermunde - 6 til 6
Two creatives head out in east London and keep the cameras rolling for 24 hours, with no plan or goal.  Normally documentaries document specific events or something dramatic, but what I appreciate about this is that the two have managed to find important stories and narratives in the seemingly mundane everyday happenings of East London.  Very raw and honest account of what the city looks like today, with equal amounts of humour and harsh reality.

Watch the film here.

What advice would you give to young people starting out in their career?

Follow your curiosity/gut. If something scares you, you should probably do it.  

How can people connect with you, get involved or take part in any of the projects you’ve highlighted above?

The best place to find me is on Instagram @jammzthemyth - I post all of my work on here and interact, come say hi!

Find Jammz here:

Instagram: @jammzthemyth
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jamalittle
Website: www.jamalittle.com
Email: Jammz@iamgrime.com