How did you start?
I sorta got two starts. The first would be in ‘88 when I started djing high school dances and house parties. I would tape music from the radio and I used a makeshift setup of tape players, a record player, and a cd player to fade in and out between songs. While I think I learned a thing or two during this time about keeping a dance floor it was in ‘93 when I started to go to raves in Toronto and NYC, maxed my first credit card buying technic 1200s and vinyl, and started djing and promoting parties.
Where are you based?
San Francisco.
Please give an example of your music writing process?
I often start with an idea of something I want to try…a new technique or a melody or bassline in my head or maybe just a style I want to try out. I often alternate between styles. So if I make something that I think is dark the next track I will generally try to make lighter and happier.
What are you working on right now?
I’ve got several new projects in the works from a cosmic disco track to a heavy techno remix. I’ve just released a lot of music on Nein, Logical, and Emerald & Doreen and have something coming soon on La Dame Noir and of course Roam. So now I’m trying to build up a catalogue of new music. I like to have several things finished before I start looking for labels to release them.
What is your gear setup?
I have a lot of analog gear and outboard synths (Juno 60, Sub Phatty, Prophet 6, Mother 32, Korg MS20 Mini, DSI Poly Evolver, Analog Rtym, etc.) a Midus Venus mixer, all controlled, recorded, and arranged with Ableton.
What do you like to do outside of music and does it affect your music?
I like to travel a lot and that helps as I get to meet a lot of people in the music world.
How would you describe your music genre?
A mix of disco, techno, chug, ebm, post techno, and acid – a bit left of center and always for the dance floor.
Do you know any music theory?
Yes, I’ve taken piano lessons for years and also play a bit of drums and bass. I also played trumpet as a kid.
What are your plans for the future?
My record label – Roam Recordings – has a big schedule ahead with releases coming out every 2-3 weeks for the rest of 2017 with artists such as Emperor Machine, Zombies in Miami, Jonathan Kusuma, Rodion, Manfredas, AIMES, Curses, Markus Gibb, Pardon Moi, Iñigo Vontier, Damon Jee, Autarkic, Tronik Youth, Pin Up Club, Amevicious, and many more and I’m focusing a lot of energy into that.
While that is going on I continue to spend a lot of time in the studio on my own projects along with a collaboration with my label partner Jeniluv under our name JP & Vulinej.
I’m also going on tour in Europe for the month of September.
How did you get into music?
My father was a musician and music was always a part of my life but I would say my love for dancing is really what got me into it.
What are you listening to at the moment?
As I’m writing this I’m listening to DJ Rocca’s new mix he’s done for our Roam Recordings Mix Series. Disco, balearic, and beautiful.
Who are your top 5 influences and icons?
I’ve always found this a difficult question to answer. I think because it changes all the time and to be honest my friends generally influence me the most. I love to hear the new sounds that they are making and it’s the music I relate to the most. You can take a look at the artists on my label to get an idea of who I’m talking about. That said for the bigger Icons I’d go with Prince, David Burn, Kraftwerk, P-Funk, Led Zeppelin, and many of the usual suspects but again it’s the people I work with that inspire me the most.
When and where are you playing next?
At an underground party in LA in a couple of weeks with Vulinej, SONNS, and Dirty Dave for Better Late.
https://www.facebook.com/JP-Soul-108925209196487
http://www.discogs.com/artist/28834-JP-Soul
http://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/jpsoul
More on the web for Roam Recordings:
https://www.facebook.com/roamrecordings
https://soundcloud.com/roam-recordings
http://www.discogs.com/label/2249-Roam-Recordings
http://www.residentadvisor.net/record-label.aspx?id=8607
https://roamrecordings.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/roamrecordings/
Featured Photo Credit : Krescent Carasso Photography.
