That cosmic sound

>> Joe Claussell makes a world of difference for dance music

by PETER LIGHTBURN

Joaquin "Joe" Claussell of Park Slope in Brooklyn, NYC, is one of the most sought-after DJ/producers in the world of club music, and a leading importer of world music to the clubs. His legendary Friday night jam safaris at the Dance Tracks record emporium, where he once worked and later part-owned, are still fondly remembered to this day. Alongside veterans François Kevorkian and Danny Krivit, Claussell currently helps New Yorkers work off that Sunday brunch in the popular weekly throwdown Body & Soul, and as a studio svengali he has cranked out a heady arsenal of quadracep-busting Afro/Latin tropical housers. Next week he'll be giving Jingxi a jolt to kick off Bal en Blanc.

Mirror: Larry Levan at the Paradise Garage and David Mancuso at the Loft are two cornerstones of NYC DJ culture. What aspects of their work do you draw on? Does your spinning style pay homage to them?

Joe Claussell: Although I was much more of a fan of Larry Levan than I was of David, my style and music education come from home. My family inspired me to do what I am doing today, and that I am incredibly proud of.

M: You run Spiritual Life Music. What type of acts does the label look for?

JC: Artist-driven music, artists that have a story to tell, organic, electronic, spiritual. If I might add, we are launching a new label called Natural Resource. This label will be a home for all kinds of interesting, cutting-edge music--lots of electronic grooves, as well.

M: What hot, new acts is Spiritual Life itself developing right now?

JC: We have lots of things coming. We at Spiritual Life are very excited about the artist that we're working with at the moment. Just to name a few, there's Slam Mode--these guys, in my opinion, are two of the most talented producers of their time. They currently have a single out called "Clouds," which is a work of art and will also be featured on their full-length release titled Uhuru, to be released in two parts. Part one will come out early fall. Equally talented are a group called 3 Generations Working, with producers MKL and Soy Sos--we also have a full-length LP coming out with them. They have a promo single that is circulating at the moment with a huge--I mean a huge--buzz on it called "Slavery Days." It's a beautifully respectful cover of a classic Burning Spear song.

M: What popular black music acts would you like to remix?

JC: Maxwell, Sade, D'Angelo, Stevie Wonder--and last but not least, Prince!

M: You've stated that you want to change the way world music is looked at. Is there a particular culture that you want draw more attention to?

JC: Music from North Africa and South America.

M: What's the most unusual percussive instrument you've ever worked with?

JC: A water drum--it looks similar to a cooking pot. You fill it with water, move it in a circular motion and it creates a cosmic sound. Beautiful.

With Fred Everything at Jingxi on Thursday, April 12, 9:30pm, $15 (special-permit show, ends at 6am)