FaizeMusic.com //Joe Claussell Interview\\

Can you describe your music to us?
Tuff one that, well I would really say that it's a combination of many different things Organic, Uplifting and Spiritual.

You run Spiritual life Music, are there any particular ideas behind the label?
Just simply to put out music that gives freedom and allows each artist the opportunity to express him or herself musically.

Are there any upcoming releases we can look forward to during this year?
Yes there are some good ones to come but the ones to be noted at the moment will be on our new compilation album, which is called 'New Birth'.

I heard that you like to play outdoor events, what is it that appeals to you about playing outside rather than in a club?
Well I love to play anywhere where there is a great party going on firstly, and secondly there's something special about outdoors you know, people are more free, its the music along with nature, there's so much clubbing going on in same venues that when people get the opportunity to go outside and party it brings on a totally different and free atmosphere.

You recently came over to the UK to play at the Ministry of Sound, was that your first time there?
That was my first time playing there.
What did you think to it?
Well I love the venue, you know, in terms of size and the sound system, it was great, and I was very impressed with it.

How would you perceive the UK scene, I often hear about American DJ's talking about how things are here in the UK, what are your views on what's going on here from your experiences?
I don't really have many experiences of being over in the UK, but I can pretty much give you a view of my experiences from playing in Manchester of which I had nothing but an incredible time, you know, its like very comparable to many places I've played at all over the world. I think the people in the UK are always up for a good party and are very educated with the music and are a lovely bunch of people.

You have been booked to play at the next Southport Weekender haven't you, have you heard much about that event?
Yes I have, I have heard a lot about it and am very excited about being there, I hear that the people there are very much up for the music and love to have a good party.

What do you see happening within the music and club culture throughout 2004 and do you think that things need to change much?
I definitely think there needs to be a change to the music, I feel that we're currently between stages at the moment, between styles, there seems to be a void and there's a need for a freshness in the music but um, I think that 2004 will bring a new positive change to all aspects of the music but most importantly in the sound of the music.

How are things with the New York scene at the moment, there seems to be a lot of talk on various message boards on the internet that house music is dead which I completely disagree with and there's people saying that the NY scene isn't like what it used to be, do you agree with that statement?
Well I do, um I mean at the moment when it comes to New York City because were so vibrant here and years ago there were so many different parties, its really nothing to do with the music and the scene of House Music, it more to do with the politics.

I still travel over to NYC as often as I can and have found nothing wrong myself, attending parties like 'Bang The Party', 'The Shelter' and Body & Soul' when that was still going so I could never see where these people were coming from, but I guess that if you look as far back to the days of the Paradise Garage and places like that, its very different knower days.
Yeah well not even as far back as that, there used to be so many other things going on all the time that I think again it all to do with the Mayor and the politics here have just put a real dampener on things. I think it was just before Mayor Julianne; about 4 years ago or so it was just so much more vibrant.

Sure, I actually only managed to make it to one of the Body & Soul parties that was back in 1998 and that was the first time I heard you play and to me it was a very different experience, The clubs over there seemed different in the way they are set up to over here in the UK, one of the main things to me that there was no alcohol served at the bar and the sound systems are so much better than over here, what did you think to the system at the Ministry?
I think its a great system, I've hung out there a few times in its hay-day and it has always been a good system, I think in comparison to what's going on especially in Europe its definitely a happening sound system.

Tell me about the body and soul party (re-union)
It was announced something like last week and already the response has been going crazy people are really excited about it.
(at time of interview the event had not happened)

What's it like then playing alongside Françoise K and Danny Krivit?
Well you know, we've been doing it so long now we have been playing together for over six years now and its very pleasant to be able to play with them, any time that your involved with something like the Body & Soul parties and work with these people that play from the heart its certainly something special.

Do you find that you have leant much from these guys?
I find I learn a lot from everything in music that I'm involved with, I most definitely leant some things from them so yes.

Is there any one record that is always in your box?
Oh man.... Well I'm the kind of DJ to put it one way that always has different things in my boxes, I like to try to work that way so that I don't always sound the same each time I go on and I'm a really spontaneous also, you know, I'll never have a set plan or a set worked out or anything, I like to go with the flow and the crowd, we create the vibe together. but I think if I was to to say anything about having one record in my box it would be a Frankie Knuckles Remix, that guy has done some beautiful music for various artists and I always find myself with at least one of his productions in my box. I think though if you were to call me back in say an hour or so its probably one of those questions that I would be able to give a totally different answer too, it kind of' puts you on the spot and you go blank!

You have done a lot of remixing yourself over the years, what's it like working with artists like Cassandra Wilson?
Oh it's incredible to be able to work with an artist such as Cassandra, they speak from the heart when it comes to music and they do it because they love the music.

Have you got anyone that you would put down as a major influence in your music?
I would say Miles Davis, Prince, Parrish Coletrain... there's too many really too many.

What would you say is the best thing about being Joe Claussell?
The best thing about being Joe Claussell is that you can draw energy create energy.
And the worst?
I would say the attention. I'm a very simple guy you know, he gives all he can within his music and its getting all the credit for things, he understand and pleases but what he gives is much greater than who he is so yes I would say honestly, that its the attention, it can feel a little weird at times.

There has been a lot of talk about an organ track you have done isn't it called Obatala? The organ track? Is that going to due for a release at some point?
Yes that is due out for release I think sometime next month? (March04)

Are there any releases coming out on Spiritual Life around the time of Southport?
Yes I think Obatala at that point there should be some other things from artists on my label that I can't quite pin-point right now, but there's also things like I'm working with Louie Vega actually so that should be out around that time as well.

And finally you have been working on some remixes for the Elements Of Life LP haven't you?
Yes I have produced a song with Louie called 'Let The Children Play', that should be on there, it was supposed to be on the official album the Studio album, but we did it late, there was no room left on that album so its going to be put onto his remix album instead.