Page 40 - Zone Magazine Issue 020

featureinterview FEATUREinterview
words by john doyle
pic by matt hass
osh Caffe, U.K. D.J. and vocalist, has reached a new plateau of acclaim over the last few months; collaborating with friend and fellow underground sage Hannah Holland on the lauded Fade to Me, producing his own tense sexual magnum opus Death of Aquarius showcase, with its follow-
up Black Magik Dawn pt. 1 EP about to send taste-buds in hyper tingle mode, not to overlook those wee small hours sets across the equally chilled and sweaty clubs of Europe buoyed by pounding rhythms bouncing off tantalizing carnal energy. Zone caught up with Josh online recently to discuss his musical and aesthetic motivations, his feelings on the past year, and what he hopes to achieve most over the next 12 months
What was your particular inspiration for Night Sheen, and did you face any obstacles at the time?
I’ve always loved the New Dance Show video clips that started to resurface on YouTube a few years ago. That show was amazing and way ahead of its time with the music. I wanted to create a club night that captured that vibe, energy. Essentially a space POC and LGBTI but welcoming to people from all different backgrounds. London’s a tough environment to put on club nights these days, you have so many issues with licences etc. Also people have been force feed so much with big DJ acts that it leaves little room for smaller promoters to book local, upcoming talent and have a successful turnout. I found it hard to try keep this balance but made sure it was something I continued to do.
Of your international appearances, which one stands out for you most, and do you feel that audiences have changed in any way over the years, or is there a particular nuance you notice at a particular venue(s)?
I played a solo gig at Loftus hall in Berlin last year and the crowd were great. Really welcoming and danced with so much energy. It’s always hard to perform at a night with predominantly dj’s playing. Usually I do a live pa during my dj sets but I wanted to something a bit more special as the night was part of an art collective show. When you come on stage people are not always up for seeing a live vocalist for say 30 minutes. You really have to capture their attention especially if you’re performing by yourself. Back in the day when I used to go out and see gigs like this, people were more focused on what was in front of them. No camera phones, going outside to smoke etc to distract you. We enjoyed and absorbed what was going on in the space around us. Some places still manage to keep this, like Panorama bar.
If you had to toss a coin between being solely a DJ or a vocalist, which one would you choose, or is that possible?
Mmm, that’s tough. I experience something different from each one. Djing allows me to take people on a journey through my music knowledge and I love connecting with a crowd in this way. At the same time I like being on stage (I also perform with my band Nostalgia of Mothership) and performing, it gives me a chance to transform my music for live in so many ways plus build an experience visually. I’d have to say both.
J