DJ Timmy HMV talks career, love for the craft

From Kingston’s streets to stages across the globe, Timmy Bedasse, better known as DJ Timmy HMV, has spent more than three decades contributing to the sound of Jamaican music. His sound system, HMV Soundz, is listed on the sound system wall of fame at Rock House, Negril, and he has influenced the next generation of talent, including his brother Abishi Hoilett, who won a Grammy with Kabaka Pyramid in 2023.

Over the years, he has played at major events like GenX Carnival, across Jamaica, Miami, and Trinidad. With family ties deeply rooted in the country’s musical history, Bedasse has long seen his role as more than just a deejay; he considers himself an ambassador for Jamaican music.

Bedasse’s passion for music runs deep in his family, and his love for entertaining people has kept him dedicated for decades.

“My father was into music. He was a producer, and his great-grandfather was one of the inventors of mento, so the love of music comes from far. As a child, I would go to a lot of reggae stage shows– those days it was Reggae Sunsplash. So I would see bands and artistes on the stage, and that caught my attention,” Bedasse shared. Although he was pushed into playing instruments, particularly the guitar, his eyes were set on spinning.

Beyond his role as a deejay, Bedasse considers himself an ambassador for Jamaican music, shaping his career around showcasing local talent to the world. He felt a particular drive to promote the music of Kingston’s inner-city artistes.

“When I got to travel the world, I saw people who used to have dem likkle one song pon the corner inna tear up clothes, now performing on big stages, and that’s when you realise that our music can transcend somebody from poverty to a great life, and the music is very powerful. So being an ambassador to that was very important to me, helping the growth of music, helping our own people recognise the strength of it, and supporting it,” he explained.

As more than just an advocate, Bedasse sees deejaying as more than just spinning tracks. He focuses on every aspect of a performance, from reading the crowd to shaping the environment, ensuring the audience experiences more than just the music.

“As a result, when you hear of DJ Timmy HMV, you must think of versatility. So you’ll hear a little bit of everything, and experience the best of it, always,” he added.

Patrons can expect the full DJ Timmy HMV experience next Saturday at the Guinness-sponsored Mello Vibes. Looking ahead to his first time playing the event, Bedasse promised a high-energy set.

“Mello Vibes has the best set of music [of] any event in Jamaica right now. It’s going to be a musical journey, and it is an opportunity to be on one of the greatest events in Jamaica. I’m bringing out what our music [is] all about: vibes, energy, dancing, [and] memories,” he said.

While Bedasse has earned acclaim on international stages, his journey hasn’t been without hurdles closer to home. He pointed to a lack of unity within the local music industry as a major challenge.

“The unity amongst Jamaican musicians on all aspects is awful, and that’s what’s stunting our growth. We could have been two million per cent better if we didn’t have this ‘crab-in-a-barrel’ mentality. That is the killer for us right there. That mentality causes us to be putting out music. We shouldn’t be putting out, and historically, there is no loyalty amongst each other in this business. Because of this, we rob ourselves of growth, and the wealth of the music.”

For the next generation of deejays, Bedasse offers this guidance: “Build great relationships and be loyal, and build together with a thought process of wealth with [in] the music, not [just] being rich.”

entertainment@gleanerjm.com