community, creative, creativity, DJ, electronic music, experience, hip hop, music, new york city, TOKYO WAS HERE, Tokyo, I AM JESSEMarianna PhillipsApril 06, 2020DJ, techno, acid, house, freestyle, new jack swing, hip hop, club music, rap music, tokyo, japan, tokyo was here, musician, mad decent, shinjuku, harajuku, creativity, creative

Jesse Sharer: On Creativity

Marianna

What are the unexpected turns your life took to lead you to become who you are today?

Jesse

I read the book Rich Dad Poor Dad given to me by a friend in Brooklyn about 20 years (?) ago. That book inspired me and shortly after, my friend Stephen and I opened KOI (King of Investment) Art Gallery on Havemeyer and Grand (in the Ballroom Building) in Williamsburg.

I think there were maybe 2 or 3 galleries in Willy B at that time. That was my intro to the role of Art Curation/Gallerist and it was definitely unexpected. When I moved to Tokyo after running that gallery for 5 years or so, I became a full-time Curator in Tokyo - bringing over artists from NY to Tokyo for their debut exhibitions. Guys like Todd Jordan, Ewok 5MH. COPE 2, Tomokazu Matsuyama, as well as shows for artists residing in Asia like Frank Nitty 3000, Ousmane Bä, and Richard Lee.

*Todd Jordan Exhibition after party flyer.*

*Tokyo Was Here feature in NYLON Magazine.*

Marianna

What creative accomplishments are you most proud of?

Jesse

Tokyo art exhibitions and the above artists mentioned. Also, the sponsors to help fund those shows like Levi’s, Nike SB, Beams, Dave’s Quality Meat, MTV Japan, FRANK 151, etc, etc.

The AfroPunk documentary Japan release on JVC Victor with Fuji Rock Festival. It was distributed nationwide in Tsuya, HVM, Tower Records, and Ganban Records. I am super proud to have had the chance to work with my heroes the Bad Brains, 2 full seasons of Bad Brains X Rude Gallery clothing, etc.

*Afro Punk Japan release (DVD / CD) project.*

Tokyo Was Here Party featuring Sean G from SHABBAAAAA LA. — *Tokyo Was Here Party featuring Sean G from* *SHABBAAAAA LA*.

Also, some parties with international bookings for DJ Sliink, Dirty South Joe with Brick Bandits, and Mad Decent. Another good one was The Paul Devro party with Mad Decent, Mishka and MTV.

And can’t forget working with Japanese legends like Kan Takagi, Tycoon Tosh (RIP), Tokyo #1 Soul Set, SDP, DJ MURO, SK8thing, DJ Watarai, etc. A lot more stuff but I think I will stop there…

*Tokyo Was Here X Mad Decent X Brick Bandits party in Tokyo.*

*Tokyo Was Here party w/ Jet Set Records.*

*I AM JESSE with Chad Hugo (N.E.R.D.) in the B-Boy stance in Singapore for F1 music festival.*

Marianna

What does creativity mean to you?

Jesse

Making things that move people.

Using influences to create yet adding enough to make it your own thing. I think realistically in this day and age the majority of creativity stems from other creators from the past that have moved us, and this in my eyes is absolutely fine but again making it your own is a key point for it to be considered “creative” to me. That’s my 2 yen anyway…

Marianna

Do you have any habits you've built for yourself to foster creativity and/or inventiveness?

Jesse

I listen to a lot of old records. Reggae from the 70s, British Classic Rock, Lot of Blues, 90s “Skaterock” etc. This being said I try to keep up with an eclectic mix of contemporary music for the club as well. The habit is to keep digging.

Marianna

Where do you think ideas come from?

Jesse

I can only speak about where my ideas come from. I would say the majority of my ideas come from the influence my childhood had on me. The era, location, and environment I grew up in. First off -without question - would be my father and the music I overheard, from infant throughout my childhood, which was his band rehearsing in our living room. They played a lot of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Loggins and Messina (well actually especially “Your Mama Don’t Dance”) and a lot of Hard Classic Rock and Southern Blues Rock…

(*note: they were not Beatles or Jim Morrison fans at all, thought I would mention that) - anyhow all of this affected me greatly and continues to lend me ideas and inspiration 45 years later.

Secondly, the general atmosphere of the early 80’s commercials and television. Late 80’s would-be DJs on radio shows like DJ Red Alert on Kiss FM (we use to record every show on cassette and play them over and over). Moving into the early 90s it was definitely Hip Hop mixtape culture. Buying and selling tapes by DJs like Ron G, DJ Rei Double R / G-Bo The Pro and Action Pac, etc...

Last but not least, skateboarding. I was a serious skateboarder from 1985 to 1998 and after that, I still skated but it hurt more. If I claim anything in life it’s not an Art Curator, not a DJ, but a skateboarder.

It’s for life - even when not actively skating. Sounds cliche but it’s absolutely no question a way of life. It’s NOT a sport.

So in conclusion, I would say generally the mid 80’s-mid-90s and what I was into had a great impact on me so I often draw ideas from then.

Jesse Sharer with a “Judo Air” in “UNFIT 4 SOCIETY” Skate Zine in 1987 w/ Jesse Martinez — *Jesse Sharer with a “Judo Air” in “UNFIT 4 SOCIETY” Skate Zine in 1987 w/* *Jesse Martinez*

*Jesse Sharer as MJ in 1982 for a dance contest.*

Marianna

What do you think is something that the most creative people in the world have in common?

Jesse

A drive to move people.

Some say they create only for themselves but I believe art, in general, is meant to be presented to others whether sold or free. Once it is passed on the creator has done their part and where that creation goes or how it’s perceived by others is not in the creator’s hands anymore.

Marianna

How do you make sense of chaos in your life?

Jesse

Breathing exercises, watching calming films, jogging, stopping to think about how blessed and lucky I am, and making sure to have plenty of gratitude. If I move to Cal ever, all the above may very well be replaced by sacraments.

Marianna

When do your best ideas hit you?

Jesse

On the toilet / in the shower ...

Marianna

Why do you think people get stuck on problems?

Jesse

I think most are too worried about perfection. I myself am guilty of this sometimes.

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About Jesse Sharer:

Jesse Sharer (I AM JESSE, TOKYO WAS HERE) grew up in NY musically submerged in soulful classic rock from Zeppelin to Hendrix influenced heavily by his father a 60s rock drummer for The Balloon Farm. Like most born in the early 1970s, the 1980s were actually the time when the music started to really register in his brain. From New Wave to Rap and Club music alike (which at the time often shared the same bed) Jesse's teenage soundtrack was very colorful. Most recently the music he plays falls on the border of where Funk meets Techno. You may also hear him getting into 80/90s Club, Techno, Acid, House, Freestyle, New Jack Swing, Hip Hop, etc.

SELECT EVENTS PLAYED: A very very MAD DECENT party (Australia), Fuji Rock Festival, Outlook Festival Japan, Laforet Harajuku Tokyo (Top Shop private party), Body Glove (private party), Top Shop/Top Man (Shinjuku, Tokyo in-store), Laforet Harajuku Fashion Week, etc

SELECT ARTISTS PLAYED WITH: DEANTONI PARKS (Stones Throw), PAUL DEVRO (Mad Decent), DJ SLIINK (Brick Bandits) DIRTY SOUTH JOE, (Mad Decent), CRYSTAL CASTLES, DIE ANTWOORD, MANI (Stone Roses, Primal Scream), KINGDOM (Fools Gold), SOUTH RAKKAS CREW (Mad Decent), BRANKO, DJ KENTARO, SKREAM & BENGA, etc...

Connect with Jesse Sharer on his Instagram, all projects are posted at @tokyowashere, and his Tokyo Was Here artist agency website. For artists and friends passing through Tokyo, check out Jesse’s ongoing artist/residential spot for short or long term lease ( 1 night - 6 months) @private_tokyo_loft.

MIXTAPES /////////

Marianna Phillips