“It’s crazy that you’re asking me all this because everything’s always been about Bayonics, but Rojai’s been around for over 10 years.” That’s what Jairo Vargas, also known as Rojai and lead singer of Rojai in The Pocket, said to our Marketing Coordinator, Ava, when she hopped on a phone call to chat about the origins, influences, and community behind Rojai in The Pocket. 

With a music career spanning more than 20 years, Rojai was hella stoked to share and we’re excited to highlight these incredible Bay Area music creatives.

About Rojai

Where funk meets soul and love meets grit, the powerful vocal stylings of Jairo Vargas, aka Rojai (Row-Juh), merge elements to produce a raw soulful sound as distinct and unique as the San Francisco streets that bred him. Rojai is the leader & vocalist for the widely recognized and highly acclaimed San Francisco bands Bayonics, The Pocket (formerly Hot Pocket), and Starship Connection. Rojai, a seasoned artist, does what he does best by channeling a sixth sense that only he holds, to move crowds with consistent passion, energy & emotion. Teaming with some of the best producers locally and worldwide, Rojai puts forth melodies, lyrics and compositions that carry inherent respect for the funk and soul greats that inspired his craft.

About Rojai in The Pocket

What’s the origin story of your crew? How did you come together? Who were the founding members? What inspired your name?

Before we talk about The Pocket, we have to go way back to Jairo’s early days in music to understand how it all came together. The root of their whole camp starts with Loco Bloco, a non-profit drumming and dance ensemble in San Francisco’s Mission District. Jairo started drumming with them when he was 18 years old. There, he met Pedro Gomez, who he started performing with in the salsa band Mala Fama as a backup singer. Jairo and Pedro then started Bayonics, a well-known 12-13 piece Bay Area band from which The Pocket was eventually formed.

When Bayonics was formed two decades ago, they played a range of music – Latin, Funk, Soul, and Hip Hop being heavy on the Latin and Caribbean side. Around 2007-2008, a few members formed Hot Pocket (which eventually became The Pocket) because as a 12-13 piece band, Bayonics was too big to play a lot of venues. Forming Hot Pocket from the rhythm section of Bayonics and focusing on hip hop R&B, funk, and soul, allowed them to play smaller venues and get locked in with the Bay Area music scene. Jairo is the lead singer and Pedro is the main drummer (though he won’t be at MINTED SF this year).

Around 2010-2011 after recording a second album, Pedro and Jairo decided to split genres for Bayonics. They were playing everything and it was tough for promoters to market them and keep Bayonics together. At this point they were about 10 years deep and started doing Reggae, touring with bands like Katchafire and J Boog. With the split, they decided to keep doing Latin and Caribbean sounds, also known as sonido caribe, under Bayonics. The Pocket would focus on Funk, Hip Hop, R&B and Soul.

It was also around this time that Jairo decided to start his solo career as Rojai. Growing up, his friends called him, “Ro,” but “Rojai” (Row-Juh) was inspired by one of his 2nd graders. They read his name badge with the letters mixed up and though he corrected them that it was “Mr. Jairo,” he loved Rojai so much and it stuck. Yes, on top of forming and playing in several bands and touring, Jairo is also a teacher at Glen Park Elementary. As an after school Music Director, he teaches Music Will and West African and Brazilian drumming. He just finished his 18th year with San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD)!

In 2010, saxophone player B. Bravo also went solo in 2010. Rojai and B. Bravo teamed up for a project and after that, he met another producer E. Live. Rojai and E. Live did an album called Hard Pressed, which is where Rojai really got into his 80s boogie sound. He’s done solo soul R&B funk records ever since.

He’s currently doing a second project with B. Bravo and the label Bastard Jazz, out of Brooklyn. At least half of the set at MINTED SF will be from this project called Kool Customer.

Bayonics

How would you describe the Rojai in the Pocket Community? What vibes can people expect coming to one of your parties?

The community is very diverse and the crew is all about good chemistry. They pride themselves on always putting out positive vibes and because the crew is full of funny people, there’s always lots of jokes and laughter. It’s super chill with them.

As for the vibes, you can expect a little bit of late 90s and early 2000s-esque R&B, but the rest is 80s style boogie funk and they always have b-boys & b-girls getting down to their music. The music always has city authentic roots.

Who or what influences your sets the most? Genres, eras, mentors, movements — what shapes your sound?

Oftentimes, Rojai’s sets are influenced by what he’s currently vibing to or who he wants to pay homage to. Two of his sets at recent festivals paid homage to Sly and the Family Stone, another diverse crew that originated in the Bay Area, and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys, who had great influences on Rojai’s career in writing, harmonizing, and arranging. Overall though, a big band sound is what they usually go for.

The Pocket prides themselves on a West Coast sound always resonating especially with the West Coast G-funk sounds with artists like Snoop, Battlecat, Dre, and DJ Quik having huge influences on their sound.

How has the Bay Area shaped your identity as a crew?

Being from Frisco, artists like JT the BIgga Figga, San Quinn, Andre Nickatina, Mac Dre, Mac Dre, E-40, and Too Short definitely had influences on Rojai in The Pocket in how they came up and their take on music specifically to the region. Growing up, it was artists like Sly and the Family Stone and Digital Underground.

Bayonics was also fortunate to have toured with artists like Santana, Lyrics Born, and so many others. Rojai is grateful to continue carrying that torch with The Pocket.

How do you stay connected to your community outside of the booth? Where and when can we catch you outside of MINTED SF?

Follow Rojai on Instagram to stay the most updated on where to catch Rojai in The Pocket. 

They used to have a bunch of regulars as Hot Pocket, playing 5 times a week for 10 years with residencies like Soulful Sundays at Farmerbrown brunch, once a month at Pier 23 for Sunday Funday parties after brunch, and every Friday night at 1300 Fillmore. But when arts & culture in San Francisco took a hit back in 2017-2018 and inflation and overhead costs became too much for venues, live bands weren’t as in demand.

As a solo artist, Rojai has residencies with his DJ which is still dope, but as a group of live music, The Pocket had to tour, be out of San Francisco, or play at events like corporate gigs because the night scene was gone. However, with events like ours and other night markets they’ve done recently, he feels like it’s trying to make a comeback which is why Rojai in the Pocket is stoked to be part of MINTED SF.

RSVP for your FREE tickets to see Rojai in The Pocket at MINTED SF on July 4, 2025!