Interviews

Fresh new label Universo Positivo is firing out new releases and showcasing new artists at a rate of speed. Its next offering comes from Tokyo Joe Orchestra ‘I Release You’ that features Detroit vocalist and songwriter, the brilliant Angel-A. We get a chance to catch up with TJO for a chimney side chat.

Thanks for stopping by. How are you spending your day?

I am in Lisbon and working on the new releases for Universo Positivo Records. Every now and then having a break, take a dive in the pool to cool off, refresh the ideas, and get back in the studio.

Where are you from, where were you born?

Portugal, but I lived most of my life in Amsterdam. I am also in a mysterious love affair with Japan, I feel like I have a double existence and have always lived there.

What do you love most about where you live?

The tranquility, I live in the countryside with Lisbon on the horizon. The peace of a natural environment with the big city at hand's reach.

How is the health of the club scene where you are?

At present not a big offering but the chosen few that are here offer a good night out.

You used to run parties in Amsterdam in the 90s. Tell us a little about that time?

Amsterdam in the 90's was, how can I say it in just a few words, 'gekkenhuis' (madhouse). Amsterdam was always a very special place but when house came, and it started to happen, the whole country was under a groove. Raves, warehouse parties, legal and illegal, new clubs, labels, festivals, all started to appear, and it moved a lot of energy, it was amazing. And it never stopped.

We had the Portland recording studio and TINK! Records and lived a very rich and tumultuous time. In the second decade of this century with my sons Joachim and Alex Salvador we started a new recording studio, and the label Tomorrow Is Now Kid!. We had a fantastic time, we organized our own parties, like Jack To The Future, had regular club nights in Studio 80, and stages at several festivals. We put out a dozen great records, made many friends and raved like mad.

What guests did you have at these parties?

Boo Williams, Jovonn, Underground Paris, Mike Huckaby, Rich Medina, Jamie 3:26, Marcellus Pittman, Rick Wilhite, Scott Grooves, Todd Edwards, Point G.

How long have you been making music?

Since I bought my first guitar at 14

What was the first release that you made?

Black Tulip featuring Wendell Morrison - Jam On It (TINK! RECORDS 1990)

Which do you think of your releases, made the biggest impact?

With Black Tulip - Jam On It and Black Tulip - A Song Of Love, with Thyone Girls - Keep on Pumpin' (released on Tribal America) and Thyone Girls - More Pumpin,’ RJ's Rule - Rave This Nation, with Malin Genie - Pushin' On and Philou Louzolo - Marlene.

Tell us when the Tokyo Joe Orchestra moniker was born?

This Spring while I was in Tokyo, enjoying the city and friends to the utmost. I am so happy there, every time I am in Japan, I am relaxed and feel free, maybe I was Japanese in a previous life. And my wife is Japanese, naturally.

I always visit the record stores and buy as many records as possible I can bring home. I am in love with City Pop and one night walking in Ginza I was taken by the idea of Tokyo Joe Orchestra and creating some Funky Disco tracks. When I meet a Japanese singer I will make some City Pop too.

Describe the vibe of TJO…

Modern Disco and Funky grooves with pianos, strings, synths, and Latin percussion. This record is with Angel-A from Detroit, she has such a beautiful voice and gave the songs the soulful atmosphere I was looking for.

Who are the other artists that you follow right now? Who do you think is making great music?

My friend Orlando Voorn is the most prolific producer I know, he can make such groovy tracks in different genres, everyday!

I enjoy the music by Hurlee, Ziggy Phunk, Stephane Deschezeaux, Art Of Tones, Soulista, Al Kent, Dego & 2000 Black, and a soon to be released artist Helder Russo.

Tell us a little about Universo Positivo and your relationship with them?

Universo Positivo is the spirit of Tomorrow Is Now Kid! back on Earth, a new life in a new time, bringing back what it was and making new experiments, meeting new people, discovering new music, doing what was left to do and adding new chapters to the story. Free to do what you want to do, that is the motto in our lives. Who does not want to be a part of that?

Give us some insight into - I Release You.

I met Angel-A through Orlando Voorn. I had the song and was looking for a singer and Orlando came up with the idea to send the track to Angel-A, she liked it and wanted to work on it. She recorded the vocals in Chicago, and it was later mixed in my Lisbon studio.

Tell us a little about Angel-A. What has she done before? Did she write the lyrics on the track?

Yes Angel-A wrote the lyrics, I really like the projects she did with Rahaan, Kai-Alcé, Soulista, Wez Whynt, Yooks, etc

Orlando Voorn is a pretty cool remixer to have on board. Tell us a little about how you brought him on to the project?

I know Orlando from Amsterdam in the TINK! Records days, he remixed the track 'NO PILLS' for my label. When last year I told him about Universo Positivo and my plans he joined the label and was on the first release with his EP with Amp Fiddler - Back To Basic. We started working on it one year ago, months before Amp died, it took a while to complete as we asked Soul Clap and Wade Teo to make the remixes.

Orlando and I keep in touch very often and he is close to the label, remixing and releasing, he will soon have a new EP out and more releases are on the pipeline.

Reece Johnson, I know from Tomorrow Is Now Kid! days and have been following his work already for quite some time, all his great Disco records on such nice labels. This is the first work we did together but sure more is to come.

What are you working on next that you can share?

Yes, working on the follow-up for this record, more pianos, more strings, and soulful vocals, I don't know yet where it will bring us, it is always a surprise, but I am sure some beautiful adventures will unfold.

When you’re not in the studio making music, what do you like to do to kick back?

Traveling, going places I love or have never been before. This year I spent 6 weeks in Japan.

Mexico, Amsterdam, Paris, maybe Brazil for carnival next year. Places that inspire you to make music.