LABEL LINK
Jan 1, 2001 12:00 PM, Dave Longo
Journees Music - bringing techno-funk culture to the heart of Silicon Valley.
Most businesses established in California's Silicon Valley in 1997 were either Internet startups or computer-chip manufacturers. But one particular business venture took a different route, though it still involved technology and electronics. The Journees Music label, started by Eric Lee (aka DJ Liquid) during Silicon Valley's recent epic expansion period, became a new home for innovative electronic musicians lurking in the underground and brought some badly needed heart and soul to a stressed-out, overmoneyed culture.
Liquid, observing the success of hip-hop labels such as No Limit and Cash Money, decided to take a similar approach, but one that focused instead on house music and electronica. Having marketed a line of street-wear clothing called Remix (no relation to this publication) about seven years earlier, Liquid already knew how to build a buzz about the underground scene. Journees Music, which releases records with a distinctive sound that Liquid describes as "pumpin' progressive tribal-techno-funk," has experienced a level of growth that would make most startups green with envy.
The label first released several mix CDs by DJ Liquid, followed by 12-inch singles from Coppe', Vicious Vic, Subculture, and Jim Hopkins. To date, Journees has released 25 CDs and 14 12-inch singles by the likes of Butter Bomb, Echosphere, and Yakuza. Liquid promoted these releases by helping Journees DJs and artists get booked in clubs and at major events. Recently he licensed several of the label's songs to Sony for use in PlayStation games and placed Beatseed's "Moonbots" on MTV's Real World and USA Network's Farm Club promo spots.
Like any good Silicon Valley entrepreneur, Liquid has expanded his operation by establishing two sublabels to complement Journees. Shotcallers specializes in hip-hop, jungle, and two-step; artists on the label include Xpresso, Muffler, Minista, and DJs Rinse and Flux from the Bass Kru. The Fierce Club series focuses on house anthems, featuring releases by Sandy Rivera, Jesse Saunders, Duane Buford, and Angel. Liquid has also opened a retail store called Remix in San Mateo, California, where he sells house, breakbeat, and techno 12-inch singles; DJ mixers, cases, and cartridges; and club wear from Fresh Jive, Kingsize, and Esdjco.
Liquid is extremely busy operating his labels and retail store, as well as enjoying a packed deejaying schedule, but he is always on the lookout for new talent. He prefers to receive CDs with bios and photos. Submit demos to: Journees Music LLC, 508 E. Third Ave., San Mateo, CA 94401; tel. (650) 344-8060; e-mail liquid@wenet.net; Web www.gst.net/~liquid.
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