EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
EARMILK EARMILK
EARMILK EARMILK
  • NEW MUSIC
    • DANCE
    • ELECTRONIC
    • EXPERIMENTAL
    • HIP-HOP
    • INDIE
    • POP
    • ROCK
  • INDUSTRY NEWS
    • DOCUMENTARIES
    • EVENTS
    • FASHION
    • LIFESTYLE
    • MUSIC GEAR
    • MUSIC INDUSTRY
    • TECHNOLOGY
  • OPINION
  • ALBUM REVIEWS
  • GEAR REVIEWS
  • INTERVIEWS
  • FEATURES
    • FESTIVALS
    • EXCLUSIVES
    • LISTS
    • CONTESTS
    • Photo Journals
  • SERIES
    • Artist to Watch
    • Under The Crust
    • Flashback Friday
    • Suicide Sundaes
    • Daily 2%
    • The Club
    • Weekend Selector
    • Mashup Mondays
    • Artist Remixed
    • Wobble Wednesday
    • Night Rumours
    • Indie Sabbath
    • Straight No Chase
    • Straight From the Teet
  • R&B

Jo Def – Steps [EP]

  • November 19, 2013
  • Liz Choi
Total
0
Shares
0
0

Jo Def is undoubtedly one of Soulection's fastest rising producers–he's mastered a Boiler Room set, has skillfully tinkered with what we thought were untouchable classics (check this out) and continues to innovate his sound with not only ease but humility. The Oxnard, California native first grabbed hold of our ears with his inimitably pressed re-work of Sade's "Lover's Rock" and we're okay if he never lets us go. We're sure you've heard many remixes of the vocal soulstress but you haven't heard it quite like this.

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/117061695" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

Today Jo Def drops his first EP, Steps, a masterpiece clearly raised by the West Coast but borne of many sources of inspiration, including juke notes from Chi-Town and wavy 80s vibes, all imbued by the best of those bedroom-ready jams from the 90s. We have a lot to say about this multi-faceted beatmaker but prefer to let him speak for himself. Here he shares a look at what he has on wax, how he got his start and where he's headed next. Support Jo Def's utter defness by purchasing Steps here.

EARMILK: Congrats on the first official album! Is there anything you would like us as listeners to know about Steps?

Jo Def: Thank you. Steps is a dance album. Steps is my offering to get y'all moving. A lot of love and a lot of energy was put into Steps. Hopefully those vibes are felt and projected from this project.    

EM: What/who are some of your favorite records/artists? What would we find if we browsed your vinyl selection?

JD: My favorite artists at the moment are the SmashTales & Soulection homies. Abjo, Esgar, FuzzOne (RIP), Lakim, Sango – to list a few. Of all time? That can range from Brenton Wood to De La, Jaylib to Toro y Moi, Erykah Badu to Rashad, the list goes. If you browsed my vinyl collection you'd dig up 70's & 80's soul & jazz records. Some Kashif, Blackbyrds, Skyy, George Duke, some Intruders, you'd find a gang of Lootpack & Madlib joints, as well.

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/119818671" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

EM: Being from Cali, can you tell us a bit about being influenced by juke and footwork from Chicago? Can you share the inspiration behind "Swim"?
JD: For me, It was like listening to your favorite song or genre for the first time, all over again. The drums, the soul, the energy, the rawness, the movements, it all caught my ear. Those dance/party vibes are inspiring. "Swim" came about because of the Soulection x Sade remix compilation. It was one of the tunes I created for that concept. My boy DJ Bojo suggested flipping "Lovers Rock" after showing him a few other ideas I had worked on. I wanted to create something with a bounce, yet smooth, and meaningful in the way I would lay out and chop her lyrics. Pay homage. I didn't realize 'til after, the filters that I added gave it an "under water" feel. Sade's voice tho. Beautiful. I hope it translated well.

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/109219194" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

EM: What are you looking forward to working on musically this year? Any themes or ideas?
JD: Musically, to keep creating and growing as an artist. Collaborating. Performing. All that. This is my first step. I have an idea of what I want my next project to be and sound like, but don't want to give it away until it's more developed. Soon.
EM: As a rising producer who is getting a lot of love from music lovers and beatmakers alike, do you have any advice for anyone who wants to be a producer?
JD: Do it. Do you. Do what you feel. Love your sound. 

[soundcloud url="https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/97252300" width="100%" height="166" iframe="true" /]

EM: Are you aware children will be born because of "Swim"?
JD: (Laughs) Thats love. Um, Soulection made me do it. 

 -Photo By: Omar Oseguera

Jo Def Steps Album Artwork

Jo Def

Steps

  • Soulection
  • Nov. 19, 2013
  • Jo Def on Facebook
  • Jo Def on Soundcloud
  • Jo Def on Twitter
Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Share 0
Share 0
Related Topics
  • jo def
  • sade
  • Soulection
Liz Choi

Previous Article
  • Dance
  • Experimental

Robin Thicke – "Give It 2 U" (Trippy Turtle Remix)

  • November 19, 2013
  • Aaron Thomas
View Article
Next Article
  • Dance
  • Dance Bass
  • Dubstep
  • Electronic
  • Exclusive
  • Trap

Feral – Haymaker EP [Exclusive Stream]

  • November 19, 2013
  • Alyce Currier
View Article
You May Also Like
View Article
  • Alt-Pop
  • Electro Pop
  • Electronic
  • Hip-Hop
  • Indie
  • Music Videos
  • Pop
  • R&B
  • Rap
  • Rock

Artists to put on your playlist for Summer 2025

  • May 30, 2025
View Article
  • Indie
  • New Music
  • R&B

Toronto Artist Khadijah Lopez Taps In Sheldon Sabastian For a Sweet 'Promise'

  • May 28, 2025
Maya Unagi
View Article
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • New Music
  • R&B

Maya Unagi returns with a new single, ‘Stumbling'

  • May 27, 2025
Campana
View Article
  • Hip-Hop
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • New Music
  • R&B

Campana is back with "ROPE," featuring Dave Shanaé and Dave B

  • May 27, 2025
Jaylon
View Article
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • Music Industry
  • New Music
  • R&B
  • Singer/songwriter

Jaylon has officially released his new EP, "Baby Boy"

  • May 27, 2025
Mimi’s Revenge
View Article
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • New Music
  • R&B

Mimi’s Revenge plunges deep with ‘Dire’

  • May 27, 2025
Niki Dawson
View Article
  • Indie
  • Mainstage
  • R&B

Niki Dawson parks the drama and cruises into cool with alt-R&B jam “No Car”

  • May 27, 2025
View Article
  • Music Videos
  • R&B

Celebrate who you are with "Walk Yo Walk" by Brei Carter [Video]

  • May 23, 2025
Popular Music
  • Artists to put on your playlist for Summer 2025
    • May 30, 2025
  • Hoodtrophy Bino and Lefty Gunplay prove you should never underestimate them on “123” [Video]
    • May 30, 2025
  • Cory Cullinan, Riley Max and Sidney Cullinan collaborate for riveting "2025 Alive" [Video]
    • May 30, 2025
  • House Of Hustle releases a collection of dance-floor ready tracks in May
    • May 30, 2025
  • Imogen Clark finds strength in new single “The Art of Getting Through” [Video]
    • May 30, 2025
Recent Scoops
  • Matt Oakley is redefining country music with heart, soul and modernity
    • May 5, 2025
  • Texas’ Blacktop Mojo does rock music the way it should be done
    • April 29, 2025
  • Tha Rapper Haiti blends authentic style with musical passion
    • April 28, 2025
  • Glorybots redefines rock with latest album 'mad.end'
    • April 10, 2025
Community Voices
  • From Machismo To Mujeres: Women As The Face Of Reggaeton
    • July 14, 2022
  • Tyler the creator
    4 things I learned on the 'Call Me If You Get Lost' tour
    • March 31, 2022
  • 4 things every artist needs to think about in 2022
    • January 27, 2022
  • The TikTok Takeover of Hip-Hop
    • January 11, 2022

EARMILK EARMILK
  • Jobs
  • About EARMILK
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Submit Music
All Milk. No Duds.

Input your search keywords and press Enter.