“Loud. Ferocious. Big D energy.”

That’s what you can always expect when Human Kebab is behind the decks. Never afraid to go deep, his self-described alternative bass music has won over audiences across the musical spectrum, from rock to hip-hop.

Fans of USS are already familiar with Jason “Human Kebab” Parsons’ innovative sonic approach as one half of that Juno-nominated Toronto electro-rock duo. Now, with USS officially disbanded, Human Kebab’s full focus is on DJing, and developing the hard-hitting sound he debuted on his 2021 EP Slap That Ask, released via Coalition Music.

The seeds of that sound were planted when Human Kebab discovered Public Enemy during the fifth grade. The sampling, scratching, production and politically infused emceeing on PE’s classic albums took him to a place that completely altered his outlook and still influences Parsons’ musical tastes to this day.

In 2008, Parsons and Ash Buchholz officially launched USS, beginning a run of seven albums and EPs, along with several stand-alone singles. In all, the band racked up 13 Top 30 positions on the Canadian Alternative Rock chart, and nearly a quarter-million Spotify followers. Along the way, USS earned its reputation as a stellar live act, touring with Mother Mother and Classified, and sharing stages with everyone from The Tragically Hip to Rise Against.

In 2011, Parsons collaborated with Canadian synth-pop queen Lights on her album Siberia, and he was again invited to co-write and contribute programming to her 2014 album Little Machines. Other Canadian artists with whom Human Kebab has collaborated include illScarlett, Elise LeGrow, Suzie McNeil and Most Non Heinous. As a DJ, Human Kebab has also performed with the godfather of Canadian hip-hop, Maestro Fresh Wes, and hosted his own radio shows on 102.1 The Edge in Toronto, Sonic 102.9 in Edmonton, KXRN in Laguna Beach, California, 98.9 The Drive in Kingston and The Zone 91.3 in Victoria, BC.

Although further collaborations are likely in Human Kebab’s future, his immediate plan is to continue the busy touring schedule he got used to in USS, something he admits brought many career highlights.

“I’ll never forget headlining Rock ‘N’ Rhum Festival on the French islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon off the coast of Newfoundland,” he says. “I stepped off the plane to discover this untapped fan base of young DJ heads who were shouting my name in the streets. It was really heart warming to be welcomed into their community. Also, opening for Our Lady Peace, Bush and Live on the Summersault 2019 tour was incredible, and performing with Bone Thugs N' Harmony was a huge milestone for me as a DJ.”

It’s safe to say that Human Kebab has firmly established himself as one of Canada’s top DJs, and his status in that genre is sure to grow now that it is his primary creative outlet. “I have always marvelled at the exchange of energy between artist and audience,” he says. “I live for the unknown of what every moment, show and song brings. Seeing people move and pouring out their collective energy has been getting me out of bed every morning for the better part of 20 years, and that’s not going to change.”