Interview with SoSounds DJ Mood AKA Jazzy Eyewear 19/08/2004

The interview

DS3:

Prior to your life as a DJ and producer, you were lead singer and guitarist in flamenco rock band 'Spanish Fly'. Tell us about your experiences in the band?

DJ Mood:

I moved from Buenos Aires strait to Chicago in 1990. I didn't know anybody in the States and started to play guitar in the subway. People's reaction was great, so I called two good friends and excellent musicians from Argentina, they came and joined me and we formed Spanish Fly. A few months later the band became a big sensation and we were playing at the coolest clubs in Chicago. Around 1991-92 we used to play at the VIP room of a club called Shelter, where Mark Farina was starting to develop his Mashroom Jazz style. He would take a break and we would do a live set and then he would keep spinning. Spanish Fly was a fusion of flamenco, funk, jazz and soul. No one was doing anything alike and the sound was totally new. By 1994 we signed a record deal with PolyGram. We opened shows for artists such as Sting, Peter Frampton, Liza Minelli, Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and many more. We travelled all over the world and had so much fun. Later on things got to political and basically I decided to stop.

DS3:

Describe the musical experiences that first attracted you to the house music scene?

DJ Mood:

After I finish with Spanish Fly, around 1997, I took some time off to redefine my self and try to find a music that would give me the chance to communicate with people from all over the world. I made a few trips to the UK and ended up at the Notting Hill Art Centre where I saw Ben Watt at Lazy Dog. It was in the basement, Sunday afternoon and I heard this incredible House music with beautiful musical elements, Ironically, he was playing a lot of cuts from Chicago, where I was coming from. I got a pen and a napkin and he wrote me the names of some tracks... I remember some Guidance, Glasgow Underground and some nice deep stuff.

DS3:

Chicago is well documented as the place where Frankie Knuckles nurtured the House music sound at his legendary Warehouse parties. Tell us what Chicago means to you both musically and spiritually?

DJ Mood:

Chicago is my home! It means so much to me, as I said before, I came to this city without knowing anybody and it opened all the doors to me since day one. It has something extremely inspiring. The people, the architecture, the roots in music and even the weather, it's something people need to experience.

DS3:

Derrick Carter, Johnny Fiasco, Roy Davis Jnr, DJ Heather, Mark Farina - the list of respected Chicago DJ's and producers is endless. Why do you think Chicago has such a vibrant and creative scene?

DJ Mood:

If you acknowledge the history in music here and go all the way back to the migration from the black musicians coming from the Mississippi to Chicago bringing the original roots of African music, the jazz, the blues and so on and realize that most of the soulful legends like Marvin Gaye, Curtis Mayfield, etc. used to walk in these streets, then everything makes sense.

DS3:

What was the main inspiration to set up your label, So Sound Recordings?

DJ Mood:

There's one man that inspired me to do the label and that man was Mark Farina. When I saw him spinning I was like WOW! I like every track he plays! With great musical elements, rich in groove and with that Chicago bumpin? funky sound. Actually many of the artists I signed on the label I got to hear them for the first time from Mark's sets. He is also an incredible human been and is been very supportive to my productions and the label from the very beginning.

DS3:

How would you describe the sound of So Sound?

DJ Mood:

I would say it's a blend of the jazzy Chicago house, mixed up San Francisco style via Nottingham. Dubby house with soulful elements, chunky-funky rhythms, deep and underground with some added oomph!

DS3:

Tell us about the various artists that are part of the So Sound family?

DJ Mood:

Our roster includes artists such as: Inland Knights, To-Ka project, Martin Venetjoki, Spettro, Midas, Brett Johnson, Zoo Brazil, Jazzy Eyewear (my self) and Mood Rotation (my Chicago live house band)

DS3:

Last year you played for us at our party in London alongside your good friends The Rurals. How did you first come to meet Andy and Marie?

DJ Mood:

I meet Andy Compton at the WMC in Miami years ago, he was spinning at the Viva party. In the beginning of his set was just him and me alone in the room, I went to talk to him, got him a beer and had an instant connection. Andy and Marie were the first ones to listen to my first house track and gave me the faith and motivation to keep on doing it. I also want to say that Andy gave me the direction, contacts and advice to start So Sound Recordings, they are more than my real family to me and I visit them in Devon 2 or 3 times a year. Actually I named the label this way because every time he refers to something cool, he says is ?So Sound?

DS3:

You DJ all over the world but also hold down some residencies in Chicago and Miami. What is life like as travelling DJ and where are your favourite places to play?

DJ Mood:

I love what I do and feel bless and fortunate to be travelling, sharing experiences and opening up to new friendships, all through the music. It's like having a family all over the world. There's no political party or religion that could bring people together like music does. I really like spinning in Europe, Belgium is one of my favourite places.

DS3:

What future projects and parties have you got planned for So Sound?

DJ Mood:

There's so much to come, I have some residencies spinning In Chicago and Miami and I'll be back in Europe in October. About future releases there's a new To-Ka project ep, a new Jazzy Eyewear ep, a full Jazzy Eyewear album on CD (all house), and a Midas and Brett Johnson ep, all to be out before the year ends.

DS3:

Describe DJ Mood in 3 words?

DJ Mood:

Gotta be Real.

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