Jarrod Dean aka Don’t Look

Jarrod Dean aka Don’t Look, is a 17 year old DJ/Producer based in Hastings/Bexhill. He is currently studying Level 2 Music Production at Dv8 Sussex. He describes the music he makes at home as experimental and shares all of his tracks through Soundcloud and Bandcamp.

Through the Music Industry Mentoring Programme , Dv8 has enabled Jarrod to work closely with renowned music journalist Gary Mulholland. The programme is a small project funded by Youth Music, through which Dv8 Sussex is matching 10 music industry professionals to talented 14-19 year olds for a 6-month period of mentoring. Through this, the young people are given access to recording studios, vocal coaches, international producers and professional equipment.

 

What’s he been up to?

• Jarrod was the DJ at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill as part of the Dv8 Takeover in May.

• Worked with Paul Hartnoll from Orbital to record sound in the depths of Newhaven fort as part of our Music Industry Mentoring Programme.

• Made a mix for record company, Anti-Ghost Moon Ray, and received a shining review on their website.

   

What are people saying about him?

“Don’t Look creates a throbbing mix of industrialism and ambience. The sounds are dark, heavy, and hypnotic. Samples of house flies and de-tuned pianos introduce a chasm of audio space” – Anti-Ghost Moon Ray Records

 

“A captivatingly unsettling twist on Glitch and Ambient that’ll leave your hairs standing on end” – Paul Hartnoll, Orbital

 

“An impressive and uniquely talented producer” – Grasscut 

 

Dv8 chats with Jarrod

What were you doing before you started at Dv8?

Not a lot, I went to Bexhill college for a couple of months where I briefly studied IT and Computing before I realised that I hated it and had no idea what I was going to do as a career. I’d always been a huge music lover and decided that doing something I love should take priority in my life, so I contacted Connexions who referred me to Dv8.

 

What are you currently working on?

Right now I’m studying, producing music and performing. At Dv8 I work towards qualifications through working on my own music, learning about music production software and how to start a career within the music industry as well as performing at end-of-term gigs with the whole class. Outside of Dv8 I’m working as a DJ, producing music at home and looking at starting up my own record label.

 

What do you like about Dv8?

Everything! But if I had to give just one thing I love about it, it’d be the teachers. The way the Dv8 courses operate, they’re so personal and fine-tuned to the individual students. All my education beforehand had been ‘sit down, pay attention and hope you learned something’. With Dv8, it’s completely the opposite, the teachers help you one-to-one and help you to further yourself as a professional artist, manager, singer, dancer, performer, etc.

 

What do you think of the Music Industry Mentoring Programme and why?

It’s incredible, I’ve learned so much about the music industry through it. Garry Mulholland, my Music Industry Mentor, has been very helpful and informative, he’s given me music-related goals to work towards, such as working on collaborations and performing a live show. He’s also introduced me to many of my favourite artists, including Orbital, Gazelle Twin, Grasscut and Moony.

 

What’s next for you?

I hope to continue my career as a DJ/producer, but I’m also considering doing some studio work at some point, or maybe even  be a sound engineer for a venue. I’m still not entirely sure, but with the qualifications and help I’ve gained from Dv8, there’s a lot of jobs within the music industry that I’ll be able to work towards now. I’m still looking to set up my new label and working on an original live show, something involving a level of performance art, I hope to work on it with my friend who also goes to Dv8, but it’s still in early stages at the moment.

To find out more about our Level 2 Music Production course, click here.