Cutting Through The Noise: J Victor, Master Of House In Buffalo

Photo by Sam Ray-Johnson.

House music as we know it is designed for all walks of life to be able to partake and enjoy – with roots in disco, it’s a smooth groove, the soundtrack of an all-around good night. The way I usually picture this special sect of Electronic Dance Music (EDM), is the perfect fusion of a Parisian catwalk, but somewhere underground. It blends organic and synthetic, old and new, trendy and edgy. For Jeremy Franklin, known by his DJ name J Victor, the genre is a creative opportunity to remix and create original art at the same time.  

“I think that in the modern age of DJing, now that we’ve gotten away from vinyl and it’s a lot easier to get your hands on songs, that producing and making your own tracks is really important,” Franklin said. “Whether you’re playing your own songs or other people’s songs, [you] see how they react, how they do on the dance floor, and then adjust and just continue to grow as you play more and more parties and shows.”

Franklin’s set felt like the quintessential essence of house I’ve always conceptualized in my head – coming more from a rock or punk heavy background in Reno, it was a breath of fresh air out of what has historically been a stuffy crowd for me to approach. Blending elements of brass and even cowbell with rhythmic beats and seamless transitions, I’ve never experienced a session that almost functioned as a narrative. Beginning with softer tracks and slowly elevating the vibe up to more dynamic drops and basslines, by the end of his show, it was impossible to sit still. 

Not bad for my first jump back into a local music scene since I moved.

Photo by Sam Ray-Johnson.

Franklin says the community in Buffalo for music is what makes it so strong – constantly name dropping artists he knew, it definitely seems like the collective sense of support is a key feature of the City of Good Neighbors. While he says there’s still work to do for hubs and getting the word out when it comes to event calendars, he noted the gathering concerts can be achieved here.

“My buddy Kyle… I played his second show with him at Luna Lounge. He opened for them last night… That room was probably three-quarters of the way full by the time it was halfway through his set,” Franklin said. “And those people were out there to support him. So, I mean that was super cool to see that in the DJ community, that there were people out there supporting somebody playing a massive, massive show like that.”

In today’s world, breaking into successful gigs can be a feat, especially in the digital age. Franklin says he learned a lot from “open format” shows, that while they were strenuous, they acted like a springboard into the house community. 

“I don't want to say that they're soulless because you... you gain a lot of talent figuring out how to read a crowd, how to mix those songs appropriately, how to take requests… those are very, very challenging gigs…. They are exhausting emotionally and physically,” Franklin said, “But meeting other people who were doing the same thing was cool to, you know, be like, ‘Hey, how do we do this? How do we meet the right people?’ How do we throw our own parties to get recognized and, you know, [and] get in with the... the older brothers of the scene, I guess."

Certainly Franklin’s hard work has paid off, and I admired the vocal advocacy he had for his colleagues in music. And it was obvious that the community responds to him too – with a packed venue inside No Fun Lo-Fi Bar that night. It seemed like there was a friend around every corner. 

With the hopes of better weather and summertime coming up, there’s all sorts of fresh events for me to look forward to, being in a new city. One of the big ones, Franklin says, is going to be Porchfest in May, which he will be participating in. 

“I love this place, it's near and dear to my heart. It's just a great place to come and dance.” Franklin said. “I'll be having a lot of up-and-coming DJs who haven't really had an opportunity to play a decent stage in Buffalo… I've got at least four people up my sleeve who you've probably never heard their name and they're great and I can't wait to showcase them.”

To catch J Victor’s next set, visit his Instagram here.

To check out some of J Victor’s music, visit his SoundCloud here.

Video by Sam Ray-Johnson.