Montreal-based DJ and Producer, Jares’ inspiration comes from a firm belief that deep progressive soundscapes, combined with detailed beats, can produce an inner state of euphoria and mindfulness.
His style blends ethereal, orchestral, and progressive sounds that explore the deeper shades of the musical spectrum. With his dynamic sound and unwavering dedication to his craft, he’s released music on labels such as Katermukke, Einmusika, UV, Beatfreak, UGENIUS, Deep Tales, Steyoyoke, Natura Viva, Harabe, and Freegrant Music.
Now, he debuts on our Prima Lux podcast with a lush live set, recorded for Montreal’s IfWeRave series. Plus, we talk to him about the original-music-only experience, the evolution of his sound, and more. Enjoy!
WWD: Hello Jares, welcome to When We Dip! You recently performed an all-original music set with IfWeRave. What inspired you to take that creative leap, and how did it feel curating your own sound from start to finish?
Honestly, it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve been producing for a while, and I reached a point where I wanted to fully share my own personal musical identity with the crowd. Curating an all-original set was both exciting and terrifying; there’s no fallback, no “comfortable” bangers to rely on, just my own music carrying the room, mostly unreleased IDs. But the connection I felt with the audience was unlike anything else. It’s super personal and I’m really proud of what we accomplished! The collaboration with If We Rave was also very special! Our Youtube Video now has over 215K Views on Youtube!!
WWD: This summer seems big for you musically. Can you share what’s on the horizon in terms of releases?
It’s shaping up to be a special one. I’ve got upcoming originals dropping on labels I admire like Katermukke, Einmusika, and Surrealism! I’m also very excited about a remix I did of a Cirque du Soleil original music, which is coming out on Frooogs Records. It was a unique challenge to reinterpret something so iconic, but I had a lot of fun bringing that theatrical energy into a dancefloor context! I’m also releasing a very special EP for my ‘Sam’s Voyage’ releases series!
WWD: Your sound has clearly evolved over the years. How would you describe your journey, and how do you navigate different styles without boxing yourself in?
At first, I was all about the melodies,that emotional, cinematic feel really drew me in. But over time, I became a bit obsessed with groove and rhythm, that raw energy that gets people moving. More recently, I’ve been really into hypnotic, textured sounds. So now I try to keep things fluid and, when possible, bring all those elements together. It’s not always easy to blend them, but I don’t overthink it. As long as I’m enjoying the process, I’m happy.
WWD: What’s something surprising you’ve learned about your own music from playing it out live?
Playing my own tracks live has given me a new perspective on them. Some moments hit differently in a dancefloor setting, maybe a groove feels deeper, or a subtle detail suddenly becomes the emotional anchor of the track. It’s made me appreciate the layers in my own work more, and it also shows me how the energy of a room can completely transform how a track is received. It’s a reminder that music is a living thing once it’s out there
WWD: You’ve recently been supported by big names like Hernan Cattaneo, Øostil, Henri Bergmann, and even David Guetta. What does that kind of recognition mean to you?
These moments when I learn about new DJ support are honestly the best. I really admire these artists, so knowing that something I made connects with them is incredibly rewarding. It gives me a real boost of energy to keep going and keep creating!
Jares: Instagram // SoundCloud