Meet January Roan | Graphic Designer & DJ

We had the good fortune of connecting with January Roan and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi January, let’s start by talking about what inspires you?
I’m inspired by creativity in all forms: music, art, and cultural expression. Live music and deep conversations about albums fuel my passion, while exploring my heritage and different artistic mediums enriches my DJing and design work.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a Graphic/Motion Designer and DJ, and I’m grateful to have both of these creative fields complement each other in my work. Design and DJing go hand in hand. They both require discipline, muscle memory, and an understanding of interface and functionality.

Maybe that’s why I picked up DJing so quickly; the same creative instincts I use in design translate into mixing, scratching, and turntablism. I honestly think any graphic designer could be a DJ too!

I earned my BFA from CSULB and have worked in various areas of design, but music has always been part of my life. I started collecting records in high school but never learned to DJ until the pandemic, when a short lesson with ET from Mass Movement Crew changed everything. He taught me how to beat juggle two 7” records, and I was instantly hooked.

That led me to the Beat Junkie Institute of Sound, where I initially just wanted to mix my records but ended up falling in love with turntablism and the culture behind it. BJIOS taught me everything I know about DJing, and beyond the technical skills, I found a supportive community that continues to inspire me. What sets me apart is how I bridge both worlds, bringing a designer’s eye to DJing and a DJ’s rhythm to design. Both disciplines have given me the tools to be adaptable, embrace feedback, and stay creative, whether I’m behind the decks or designing in front of a screen.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend was visiting, I’d make sure they got a true LA experience: exploring different neighborhoods, eating good food, and catching as much music and art as possible.

Since they love art, we’d hit up galleries like CAAM, LACMA, MOCA, Jeffrey Deitch, and smaller galleries scattered around LA. Depending on what’s showing, we’d also check out The Broad or The Getty.

At night, we’d see which of our DJ friends are playing and pull up whether it’s General Lee’s in Chinatown, Short Stop in Echo Park, or other dope bars with great music. If it’s spring or summer, we’d take advantage of free shows at Grand Park or Levitt Pavilion for some outdoor events.

I’m not too into sports, but a Dodger game is a must!

There’s always something going on in the DJ and music scene, so we’d hit up events and maybe catch a show at Lodge Room in Highland Park. Go to Gold Line, get a drink and see who’s spinning records. I’d also keep an eye on any underground parties or record fairs happening that week. If we’re in the mood for breweries, Monkish in Torrance is one of my favorites.

For food, I would take them to SGV for Chinese food, Gardena for Japanese and Korean food (my neighborhood). And different pockets like Indian food in Artesia, or to Garden Grove for Phó. Coffee dates, I would take them to Jameson Brown, my favorite coffee spot in Pasadena. Then we would head up to Octavia’s Bookshelf to support a local business.

If we needed a break, we’d do a beach day in Malibu, a cute walk at Kenneth Hahn Park, or just cruise through different neighborhoods, digging for records and finding hidden gems along the way. Basically, it’d be a week of nonstop music, food, and good company. Everything that makes LA special.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to give a huge shoutout to the people and communities who have inspired and supported me throughout my journey.

The entire Beat Junkie community: my teachers Rhettmatic, Babu, Mr. Choc, Maricel, and Ladies of Sound, as well as the Beat Junkie staff C-Los, Analog, Deadloop, and Flip Flop, have been a huge part of my journey. Shoutout to the Mass Movement crew, my homies Eric and Jedi, who have always welcomed my DJing career with excitement. My Manila Sound crew helped me connect deeper with my Filipino roots, and my close friends and family have been my constant support system. A special thank you to my design mentor, Korissa, who has always advocated for me in the design world. I wouldn’t be here without all of you!

And I have to give a shoutout to my younger self. Curious, relentless, and obsessed with music. I was all over music blogs and message boards, reading liner notes like they were gospel, getting in trouble for talking to strangers about music, and sneaking out just to catch a show. I was a sponge, soaking up everything I could, and that same passion still drives me today.

Website: https://januaryroan.com

Instagram: @_januarrrry

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/january-roan

Other: https://www.mixcloud.com/enerrrro/

Image Credits
Grant Lee, Maricel Sison