"If you're not inspired, you need to go get inspired. Now. Tonight. Tomorrow. It's what is going to keep you happy and motivated to live a good life." - Jasmine Solano Hey guys! Welcome back to ONKEN RADIO (formerly NION Radio), the podcast where we explore the body, mind, and soul of the creative entrepreneur. It’s my goal to help you take your creativity, business, and life to the next level. I’m so glad you’re joining me on this journey! Today’s guest is my awesome friend Jasmine Solano, an extremely talented DJ. Jasmine and I met a couple of years ago. I saw her spinning at a MILK Gallery party and loved what she was creating. Two days later, she ended up on my set in a Nike shoot. We became fast friends from there and have collaborated on a handful of photoshoots. Jasmine has a great story, deep knowledge, and an appreciation for music. What I love most about Jasmine is her drive — she’s an all-around hustler who’s put in the hours to get to where she is today. She gets the dance floor moving and has spun for some of the top names in the game: Khalifa, Beyonce, Talib Kweli, and many others! In this episode, we'll go behind the scenes of what it takes to become a DJ, what it's like to be a female in the industry, and about the importance of having a passion for music knowledge. We’ll also hear about the time she almost capsized at sea –– it’s a wild story you don’t want to miss. Let’s get into it! Who Is Jasmine Solano? Jasmine is a DJ and founder of Unity In Color, a global photography series and platform showcasing inclusive solidarity for Women's Equality. She hosts a radio show for Radio Lily out of New York on Tuesdays. In 2008, Jasmine partnered with MeLo-X to create a monthly DJ party under the name Electric Punanny. “I do things that involve music, be it deejaying, making music, curating music, touring, all the production that goes into having a musical career and a DJ career –– including blogging and marketing. My hands are in a lot of different pots.” - Jasmine Solano In other words, Jasmine is kind of a big deal. In 2010, she spun on Wiz Khalifa’s Deal or No Deal tour. In 2011, she DJed for Beyonce for her Target album release. Jasmine has DJed for tons of big names in the business, but she’s an amazing artist in her own right. “Even when I was on the Wiz tour, I would DJ a little bit, and then I would come out from behind the turntables and rap, and then I would go back behind the turntables and DJ and intermission for the opener. I really love the stage. I think I always have. I feel really comfortable on the stage, between the deejaying, performing, rapping, hosting and talking to people.” - Jasmine Solano What I love about Jasmine’s story is how hard she worked to get to where she is now. She’s a Creative Alchemist whose craft is a combination of hustle, talent, passion, and more hustle. In our interview, we talked about how Jasmine got her start in music, how she came up through radio, and how travel impacted her creativity and shaped her taste in music. Let’s get started. Jasmine’s Origin Story I always like to hear about a creative entrepreneur’s background –– I think the story behind a person’s vision can be deeply inspirational to other entrepreneurs who are just starting out. It’s also just interesting to hear what influences have shaped Jasmine over the years. It’s clear that Jasmine’s parents played an early role in molding who she is today: “I have an interesting household. My dad is from Indonesia. He grew up on a farm, so he knows how to do everything. He has a gazillion friends and has made a crazy successful life from having very little. He's got this zen-island thing about him –– he's very happy. People love him. He's always laughing.” - Jasmine Solano While her dad is the definition of “chill,” her mother adds her own unique flavor to the family: “My mom is a fourth-generation Russian American Jewish [woman] from Philly. Her dad is from South Philly,