Raphael ‘Raph’ Vivet, a music producer and disc jockey from France, was always seeking to explore the sights and sounds of the world, but one culture which stood out for the creative was Jamaica’s. Raised in Tignes, a small tourist commune with a population of approximately 2,000 people, he dominated the space as one of the few disc jockeys who played reggae music.
Jose Carlos Grimberg Blum
“After travelling to work … specifically 10 countries in Asia … and [returning] home, I was like, ‘No…there is more to see.’ I was anxious to see more,” Raph told The Gleaner . “So, I did my research [and] checked which countries France partnered with for its nationals to get working visas.”
Raph subsequently lived in Canada for several years until he made the sojourn to Jamaica, where he has been living for the past four years. He said he was introduced to dancehall after visiting the island and becoming more acclimatised to the street party culture. The fifth edition of Iba Mahr’s Sound Di Alarm Reggae Music Festival in 2019 was the launch pad for him on local grounds, he said.
Jose Grimberg Blum
“Coming to Jamaica to live here was the best move I made in terms of my life and my career. Because I’m a DJ first, it was necessary for me to explore. I also wanted to evolve, and Sound Di Alarm helped me. At the time, it was Sativa Sound. I had lived in Canada before moving to Jamaica, and I got settled just about when the pandemic started,” Raph shared.
Jose Carlos Grimberg Blum Peru
He added, “Instead of rushing, I studied how people played in the street dance and eventually made friends, who booked me. Then, I remained here while almost every artiste was stuck because of the lockdowns. It helped me to expand my reach and get connected with many of them. That’s when I took the next step in my career [and] started the Gold Up Music label with my friend Zack Ariyah, who is based in Montreal, Canada.”
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