One of house music’s all time greats gets set to tear up London town
Interview : Dan Prince
DJ, producer and label-head Joe Claussell is a figurehead of the New York dance scene. One third of the legendary Body & Soul house party trio alongside Francois K and Danny Krivit – he is jointly responsible for some of the best house and disco sounds NYC has heard, and some of the most memorable parties. As London prepares for another Need2soul & Birdsong allnighter, DMCWORLD checks in with the main man…
Hey Joe welcome to DMCWORLD. You have the UK licking their lips in anticipation at your arrival in a couple of weeks, a fabulous looking party brought to us by the Need2Soul and Birdsong crews. East London in the house! What are your memories of our capital from back in the day when we were all starting out on this musical journey…?
“I’ve mostly enjoyed my times playing music in London, especially for the Need To Soul events where the music lovers & dancers are second to none when it comes to sharing in the music. But as an unknown when I played for the 1st time for the people of Manchester which really made a first and ever lasting impression on me!”
You always credit growing up in Park Slope in Brooklyn as the best thing that ever happened to you. You acknowledge that being amongst many other cultures enabled you be one with everybody – rather than someone from a certain ethic background. It is very rare Joe that someone can see that environment for what it is and embrace it, rather than it bring so many problems to the table…?
“The way I see it racism is a direct result of isolation from one another. My upbringing was in a multi cultural environment and therefore it was natural for me to look at everyone as being one. That said, I am definitely in tune with the fact that there are many cultural differences.”
What is so refreshing about you is even though you grew up in one of the most wondrous times in New York dance music history dancing to the music supplied by some of our all time legends, you still to this day cite your older brothers – and in particular Larry and his basement band, as the BIGGEST EVER INFLEUNCE! Tell me about those days listening to him and his crew jam…
“Well really the lessons learned were rooted from my mother, then brothers Larry, Jackie and Manuel. Aside from the bombardment of all rock music genres, Larry became the drummer for a Latin rock band. They would rehearse in the basement of our home. The aforementioned was also a heavy influence on my brother Jose Claussell. Jose was the longest rhythm section leader to ever be part of the Son of Latin Music Eddie Palmieri. We had a deep and mystical music journey at home that was so powerful that it would take an entire interview to elaborate. My story of becoming a DJ is whole other story entirely.”
It is a well documented fact that the last DJ to break through the ranks to superstardom without any production behind him was the UK’s Nic Fanciulli. An amazing fact but true. Back in the day a DJ didn’t need to release records, people came to see him because he was a joy to watch. Now you need a big record under your wing to make your mark. Thoughts on that?
“The whole art form associated with being a respected DJ is all but gone. I always despised being made reference to as a DJ, but now I’m almost disgusted by the term. Mainly because everybody is a DJ. Sadly it’s all about hype, who you know and who you are dating. As a result, a hit record is no longer the only option of being a superstar DJ…”
What is the current top 10 you are spinning?
“My sets vary from gig to gig and I prepare accordingly for each and every one so I don’t have a Top 10. I can tell you that include music from producers such as: Ron Trent, Josh Milan, Fred P, Theo Parish and Kuniyuki Takahashi as well as a wide variety of other tunes…”
I love your ethos on music. You see music as an artform, but unfortunately when we look for acceptance we lose that sense of being a true artist. “We create to please” you state. When you look at how electronic music has swamped your home country these past two years, do you see any creativity out there?
“Music for me has always been about tapping into the source of what inspires me. Borrowing from an endless well of harmonic rhythms. I cannot speak on what motivates others because I’m too busy doing my own thing. However, from what I do listen to, bar a few exceptions. It seems that most so-called producers are in it for all the wrong reasons.”
What was the last record that stopped you in your tracks…?
“The unreleased demo produced by Ron Trent feat Tkumah Sadeek titled “In time.” And another record produced by Josh Milan titled ‘Surrounded’.”
A huge thing you once said…”I’m drawn to working with people, no matter what it costs. That’s probably why I’m not a millionaire today.” Discuss…
“For me creating music has always been about bringing to life a vision that mystically comes to me, and at the same time rejoicing in the pure joy I receive from the results.So whether it be a remix that i’m commissioned to produce or that of my own compositions, I spare no expense in doing whatever necessary to bring them to audible form-even to the point of investing my own money into the remixes for example. In addition, as a forever ongoing student of music, I love working with musicians because I learn hands on from them, as well as gravitate to their cosmic energy.”
I was leafing through some of your old press today and chuckled over all the acclaim you were getting one time or another. You are one of the few artists out there who see the press for what they are, one day you are in, the next you are out. Just as long as you have your space to do your thing you’re cool. So tell me Joe, how are you going to fill your canvas in 2014, what have you got for us all…?
“There was a period of time when I used to try and plan ahead my production schedule. But realized that going about things in that fashion was truly against my nature. In fact, I always knew this about myself. In addition, it feeds to what I’m completely against which is pleading for acceptance of what I do. Instead of being a slave to time and schedule, nowadays I create and release music when it’s in sync with my rhythm. I have an insatiable hunger for all things creative, and from it acquired hundreds of concepts that where produced years ago, and have yet to see the light of day. Some of which I released in 2013, they were actually produced between 2009 – 2011. I can imagine that I will continue to perform a similar pattern, along with current inspirations for 2014. My Sacred Rhythm and cosmic Arts record Label will probably be the canvas which the bulk of the productions will be released.”
Do you think modern technology has made it too easy for talentless people to make hits records in 2014 and do you think the same technology has made music stale?
“For sure in my opinion, technology has f*cked up almost everything and way more than the masses realise, especially when it comes to the up and coming DJs and producers influenced by technology. To be honest I too have created interesting concepts myself but I do mean a very limited few.”
What do you do away from music to chill out these days, how do you spend your time away from the tunes
“I’m never away from music, it’s just impossible for me. Whether I’m chilling which I try to do quite a bit these days or what ever else I’m doing, music is always a major part of my life.”
It was Valentine’s Day this week…you believe that music along with love can both unite us as people and heal the world. When was the first time inside a club you truly felt that…?
“It was when I was 15, my first club experience at The Inferno, NYC where I witnessed for the first time one room filled a thousand people of diverse nationalities: Black, White, Latino, some Asians, as well as Straight and Gay people all united under the fabric of one music, in a way that was not apparent on the streets, or even during my infrequent visits to church.”
Okay so it’s your birthday. Who are the 3 DJs you invite to play and what artist dead or alive do you ask to sing you Happy Birthday…?
“I need to be granted a couple more, but I think that my birthday night will be surrounded with the following music masters and for more than just the music that they play…
DJs – Ron Trent, Theo Parish and Funmi Ononaiye. With songstress Nina Simone.”
And finally, what is the 1 piece of advice you can offer to the thousands of aspiring producers and DJs reading this wanting to follow in your footsteps…
“Well I got two, which go hand in hand with one another:
Stay as Far Away from The Hype as possible. And be Humble.”
Joaquin Joe Claussell
Sacred Rhythm Music and Cosmic Arts
http://joaquinjoeclaussell.com
Joe Claussell headlines “A Private Party with…” at a secret London location on Friday 28th February. Tickets can be purchased from…
http://www.tickettailor.com/checkout/view-event/id/13118/chk/0c2f
https://www.facebook.com/events/215725165298812/
