Joseph Salvador
By: Dream Chimney
The following interview was conducted on February 1, 2025
Joseph Salvador is no stranger to the music industry. Having been a promoter of parties on the underground scene in Amsterdam during the nineties, and running various recording studios with many significant artists over the years, his new label - Universo Positivo is also not his first label adventure. As he drops his next offering on this essential new imprint by South Bay Jams entitled ‘Ordinary Things,’ we get the chance to sit down with the founder of this rising new label and for him to tell us a little more about his background, his thoughts, and his tastes.
Thanks for talking to us today. Where are you at this moment and how are you spending the day?
In Lisbon, Portugal. It rains cats and dogs, so I don't leave the studio much and use the time to work on new music for Universo Positivo.
Where were you born and where are you based these days?
I was born in Portugal. I lived most of my adult life in Amsterdam. I am based in Lisbon to enjoy the blue skies, white sandy shores, and organic food.
What do you love most about where you are living?
The Nature, open horizons, the blue sea, cork trees, starry skies.
How is the health of the music scene where you are?
Portugal is rich in musical diversity. From traditional forms to modern urban music with African and Brazilian influences, there is a broad spectrum. There are many good musicians for such a small population. Lisbon and Oporto areas are the centers for modern music where the real action is, and the scene thrives most.
What's the top night spot in your location?
In Lisbon is Club Lux. In the summertime there are nice open-air locations on the coast across the bridge, south of the city.
Is there a good place to dig for records that you can share?
Yes, it has always been a nice place to find good old records. There are many stores, old and new ones. I like Flur Discos for its unique offers (they have their own labels), the keen curation and very extensive offer of obscure releases from all over the world.
What was your first step into the music scene?
In Amsterdam I rented a place, it used to be the old penitentiary, right next to Paradiso (an old church turned concert venue). It was an artist's breeding nest where people rented prison cells to do their thing. I had the jail preacher's headquarters and turned it into my first recording studio. From there I started what I would do in the years to come in different locations, having recording studios and music labels.
Tell us about the club nights you used to run. What was the party ethos, vibe?
Amsterdam always has had great clubs and parties, and I have known quite a few in my lifetime. Alex Salvador and I did the Tomorrow Is Now Kid! club nights with names such as Jack To The Future, Club 909, Transistor Rhythm at venues like The Sugar Factory, Club UP, Studio 80 and across the country. These were well attended by joyous and crazy crowds, who knew the music well and the DJ's they came for, the response was always euphoric and intense. They were really good times to party.
Who did you have playing at these parties?
We always had our local heroes and a main international act like
Boo Williams, Jovonn, Underground Paris, Mike Huckaby, Rich Medina, Jamie 3:26, Marcellus Pittman, Rick Wilhite, Scott Grooves, Todd Edwards, Point G, and others.
How long have you been making music?
Since I was a young teenager in my hometown, with some of my best friends. We even at times managed to play with the equipment of a local band without them knowing, we sneaked into the rehearsal room when they were at work and we used it, as we did not have money to buy a PA and electric instruments.
Are you a DJ too?
Only at my birthday party. :)
What was your first release?
Black Tulip featuring Wendell Morrison - Jam On It (TINK001) on TINK! Records, 1990. This record got me a label licensing deal with EMI records at the time.
Tell us about TINK! Records. What were some of the releases you had on the label? Who was involved in the label.
We started in 1989 and released until 1994. We were one of the very first labels in the Netherlands to release House music. With our early release of Black Tulip - Jam On It, a run of five hundred white labels, we got quite a few majors chasing us to work with them. We ended up striking a 2-year deal with EMI as their dance division in the Netherlands.
- Black Tulip featuring Wendell Morrison - Jam On It
- Black Tulip featuring Wendell Morrison - A Song Of Love
- Thyone Girls - Keep on Pumpin' (released on Tribal America US, Well Equipped, UK)
- Thyone Girls - More Pumpin'
- EDC - No Pills
- RJ's Rule - Rave This Nation
- Anthony Brooklyn - Somethin' About You
- Anil Aras - 1994 / You & I
- Malin Genie - Pushin' On
- DJ Steaw - Aquarius
Is TINK! Records still active?
Our catalogue lives on, most releases are online, in shops, streaming, and on Bandcamp as well but we have no new releases.
What are all the labels you've had previously then?
TINK! Records, TINK! Music and Tomorrow Is Now Kid!
What was the catalyst for the new label?
After a couple of years without releasing music, I felt the urge to start a new chapter, it is like a virus that never dies and lives forever in you. I began talking about it, letting it grow inside of me, awaking the monster within. Then one day talking to Orlando Voorn he told me he made a song with Amp Fiddler (this was before his death) and asked if I wanted to release it. This became UP001.
What is the ethos of Universo Positivo?
Rooted in the timeless sounds of house, funk, disco, and soulful electronica, we are a home for artists who channel soul, groove, and positivity into their music.
We are driven by the belief that music should inspire and connect people across cultures and social breed. In each release we strive to commit to high-quality production, free creative expression, and an organic fusion of vintage and modern sounds.
We want the dance floor to become a space for joy, unity, and positive vibrations. The world needs it now more than ever.
How do you go about choosing the music for the label? What are the elements of an essential UP release?
Very simply, I have to like the artist and feel good about the music. I need to feel its vibe and what it gives you, what it makes you feel and if this is good. When it feels good, it is good.
You are working a lot with Orlando Voorn. Tell us about this relationship?
Orlando and I know each other from Amsterdam way back in 1991. We met for the first time when he came to my studio (Portland Studios) to work on a release with one of the artists on TINK! Records, EDC (Eddy De Clercq) DJ and owner of Club Roxy in Amsterdam. Orlando left in the early days to the US, and we kept in touch.
I like to work with professional people, those who know well what it is like to be in the music industry and what to expect of it. People who got the groove, the soul can communicate direct and easy.
Tell us about the current release - Ordinary Things.
Actually this release is co-written with Orlando. We sent each other tracks, beats and ideas and in the meantime this resulted in a couple of releases that we did together. Some became collaborations that I am going to release in the months ahead.
Who are the artists that you follow right now outside of your label?
A few like Dabeull, Jafunk, Smoove, Baltra, Helder Russo, Soichi Terada, Towa Tei, Yumi Matsutoya and Japanese City Pop legends.
What is the most recent record you purchased?
Vick Lavender - The Time Traveller
What are you working on next that you can share?
Yes, underground salsa, Latin vibes, Brazil moods, it feels like exorcism to make the Summer come earlier this year. And electronic Italo drenched Euro disco. And always on old school deep house. Non- stop.
Check out the latest release from Joseph Salvador.