BIO & MEDIA
BIOGRAPHY
DJ Karyen is an Ottawa-based open-format DJ and global vibes architect whose Caribbean roots shape a sound that moves across cultures and genres. Blending Soca, Dancehall and Reggae with Afrobeats, Amapiano, Afro House, Baile Funk, Hip Hop, R&B and dance favourites, she brings fluid transitions, thoughtful selections and an instinct for reading the room.
A four-time Stylus DJ Award nominee and the 2024 Recognize Award winner for DJ of the Year, Karyen’s performance experience spans Ottawa Bluesfest, Trinidad Carnival, Toronto Caribbean Carnival, Carivibe, Cranium Festival and House of Paint, alongside corporate and brand events for Nike and TD Bank. She has also opened for Talib Kweli and MC Lyte.
She spent two years mixing on HOT 89.9 FM’s 5 O’Clock Traffic Jam and received a Recognize Award nomination for DJ of the Year in 2023 before winning the following year.
Her work has been featured in the Ottawa Citizen and Metro News and included in the Ottawa Art Gallery’s 83 ’Til Infinity: 40 Years of Hip-Hop in the Ottawa-Gatineau Region exhibition. A JUNO/CARAS Academy Delegate, she is also the founder and host of RekHeard Breakerz, a DJ-driven platform connecting emerging Caribbean artists with music discovery, feedback and rotation.
DJ Karyen is available for festivals, Carnivals, clubs, corporate events and brand activations across Canada and internationally.
