Sushi Lounge’s superstar spinner talks music, Hoboken
Every now and then, a good DJ comes along to your favorite club or bar and spins music that makes your body groove. For DJ Joe Black, a Hoboken resident, getting a crowd to react is a routine – a part of his job.
With influences by the innovators of the hip-hop movement like Run DMC, LL Cool J, Rakim and Eric B., Black combines grooves, funk, and vocal house to create loud and exciting beats and sounds. He spins weekly in New York City and has made his presence known at many Garden State upscale nightclub and lounge scenes. His residencies include Manhattan’s Chateau and Anju and Hoboken’s Sushi Lounge at 200 Hudson St. (where he plays the first Thursday of every month). What separates Black from other club DJs is his ability to play for a crowd and keep people moving with a wide spectrum of musical styles.
The Current recently talked with Black about his career:
EM – How long have you been spinning?
JB – I started as a bedroom hobby DJ when I was 13 or 14. I loved hip-hop and the commercial dance music at the time, and was always fascinated by the guy behind the scenes. I didn’t really take it seriously until I was 15 or so, when I began working every weekend. I worked for a company that would have me working two gigs a weekend, while still going through high school and playing sports.
EM – What music do you play?
JB – My experience playing every kind of room and every kind of party has given me the versatility to play just about any room. I prefer to play good house music. I like house music like they used to make, with vocals, percussion, live instruments, and bass lines. I like the buildup and breakdown of songs with a catchy hook or chorus. Most of the places I spin, though, require a broader spectrum of music. I spin house, hip hop, R&B, classics, and chill out. Hip-hop is very popular right now, which I don’t mind because I have always loved hip-hop anyway. The key is figuring out that the crowd wants to hear, and being able to give them a mix of different types of music, with classic and anthem tracks, while still playing all of the newest and breaking songs.
EM – Why do you spin?
JB – I love it. Simply. Spinning is one of those things that everybody wants to do or learn how to do it. In most cases, though, people give up for many reasons – once they get the gear and don’t want to buy music, or can’t beat-match, or whatever. For me, and many schooled DJs that have been doing it for years, it’s something that you try and get heavily involved in it to the point that you couldn’t think of not doing it. For me, spinning is a way to escape, express and enjoy myself, and please others all in one.
EM – Where did you get your start?
JB – It all started with a Run DMC tape that my best friend Bob had when we were kids. I instantly fell in love with hip-hop and “rap” music, and with the DJ, Jam Master Jay. From there, my passion for music grew and eventually led me to Radio Shack to buy my first DJ mixer to use with my brothers’ stereo turntables. Hours upon hours were spent in my room with the door closed trying to figure out how to make those scratching sounds and beats match from one song to the next.
EM – What is your impression of Hoboken?
JB – I love Hoboken a lot. It’s a great city. It gets a bad rap sometimes because of all of those Jersey stereotypes, but for the most part it’s a great place to live. It is very much a post-college bar scene, but there are definitely a couple of cool places for those that like the New York City music and vibe. That’s why I spin at the Sushi Lounge. It is one of the gems in Hoboken that has the right mix of restaurant and lounge with a cool staff and good music and a nice New York City vibe, without being pretentious or annoying.
For more information on DJ Joe Black contact Nightlife Productions in New York City at (212) 757-1669 or visit www.nightlife-productions.com. q
pullout:
“I like house music like they used to make, with vocals, percussion, live instruments, and bass lines.” – DJ Joe Black