Jazzuelle chats about Circles his new album on Get Physical

Jazzuelle has a brand new album out and as expected it is something special.

His deep musically layers and eclectic style makes ‘Circles’ a fitting contribution to global label Get Physical’s catalogue.

Mary chatted to this immensely talented and intriguing producer about the process to bring Circles to light…

If my thirteen years in the music industry has taught me anything, it’s be yourself and make the music you feel.”

Your album launches look like they were filled with nothing but love and good vibes. What do you appreciate the most from fans and followers who show up to these events? Is there any single moment that has stood out to you from them?

Jazzuelle: I think, for the most part, I appreciate them showing up and being there with me, there’s so much going on at the moment, the fact that people can get out and decide to come to your party and support you is a privilege.

One of the other surprising things I guess is there are a lot of people chanting some of the songs when I play them. I suppose that’s a sigh of relief, that’s happened once or twice in my whole career, but never at this rate, it’s a breath of fresh and makes me happy.

Circles makes for interesting, conceptual name for your new album. Why did you settle on this one and how does this distinct and concise title fit in with the story of the release?

Jazzuelle: Funny enough, the album had quite a few album name changes.

I got a bit too excited in the beginning, you know, a new album and all, so I had to conjure up something dramatic to sort of suit the music.

For the most part I named it Circles because I was going through a bit of an identity crisis back then, and it happened because I went to Europe and was exposed to so much, so quickly. I wanted to change myself to kind of suit the “European image” if there is such a thing.

So, when I came back and stayed here for longer it sort of wore off, the European thing. I wanted my signature back and we had to scrap the initial album ideas and start over.

In this respect we were working in Circles, thus the term circles, so in reality it wasn’t just about the music.

I also had some personal issues as well that were driving me nuts, so this album, I guess, is an ode to that moment in my life.

This album is of course out on the iconic Get Physical records. Did you find yourself internalising the idea that this release would feed into the European market in a large way due to this? And do you think it has, in some way affected how you approached your production style and artistic message?

Jazzuelle: Hey, yes definitely.

I think for any South African artist, the dream to break free and be relevant outside of South African shores is big, and it comes off as a major milestone because there is honestly only so much you can do locally you know.

So yes, it was a conscious decision to release this with them in Berlin and the response has been amazing from international press.

There have been so many features so I’m really happy as it might be just a stepping stone and a knock on the door to the international industry, it’s a loud one.

As for my production style, I don’t think so, or at least, it never titled it in the end. I stuck to my guns, if anything, it made me work harder, you know.

But in this day and age, you have to hope and pray your music ends up in the right hands and the hype is seen by the right people otherwise it all goes to waste.

I am very intrigued by shapes, geometry and how they play a role in our everyday lives to the role they play in science out in the cosmos.”

What in your opinion do you think South African dance music producers have to offer the global market of electronic dance music and how do you think we could better harness this potential?

Jazzuelle: I am a firm believer of musicianship.

In this era of music in general, we have a lot of fly-by-night hit makers for the sake of an overnight hit record and then it blows off as quickly as it came. A lot of kids have missed out on the element of making music, and you cannot teach that overnight.

I remember Black Coffee saying something along those lines at a RBMA lecture too; you are what you listen to.

If my thirteen years in the music industry has taught me anything, it’s be yourself and make the music you feel.

Be original and try and steer away from trends, the world does not look for the same ingredient that made it last year, it continuously searches for something new, fresh and bold.

I like the mature and deep groove of Music of the Spheres. What state of mind were you when you were working on this sophisticated jam?

Jazzuelle: Thank you Mary.

Music of the Spheres is about my obsession with sacred geometry and circles.

I am very intrigued by shapes, geometry and how they play a role in our everyday lives to the role they play in science out in the cosmos. I find it an interesting subject right now, and somehow, making music about it made sense at that time, still does.

You are currently promoting this beautiful album and you will be in Cape Town in a few weeks. Why should local house fans make the trip out to party with you in this cold weather? How deep is the magic going to take us?

Jazzuelle: They can expect something different and a journey [you know].

I try and give people a taste of the album when touring right now but improvised, so the songs I play out on tour are not exactly the same as the ones on the CD, I change them bit by bit.

Jazzuelle chats about Circles his new album on Get Physical