Q&A - Joe Unknown
This week we caught up with Joe Unknown who has recently been making waves with his club nights & sets.From techno to jungle bass & breaks, Joe’s sound is unique and eclectic; and he has recently been seen to bring some influencal names to Glasgow. We reccomend you listen to his latest show from his Radio Buena Vida residency here while you read the Q&A below:
Can you give some insight into your journey in music so far? What is your process for finding new music?
I guess I’ve always had an interest in music, I played a couple of instruments when I was younger? As I got older, I became really interested in electronic music, DJ’ing and the production side of things. I went to Riverside Music Complex in the Southside for a couple of years studying Sound Production and Engineering. Following that I got my degree in Commercial Music at UWS. Then I started Erosion with my best friend which has been incredibly fulfilling. I’ve also been working as Club Booker in Nice N Sleazy for the past year.
How would you sum up your style & sound?
Quite a tricky one, I try not to limit myself too much! I mostly find myself playing Techno, Dubstep, Jungle, Bass and Breaks. I started really getting into this sound through labels like Hessle, Timedance, Livity Sound, AD 93, Nervous Horizon, Trule and Ilian Tape. Labels like these have probably been some of my biggest influences.
What is your process for finding new music?
I spend a lot of time on Bandcamp, it’s a great tool for discovering new music. I also spend a lot of time digging on discogs, finding music I like and going through the artists catalogue finding tracks and the labels they are on and so on. Also browsing shelves in record shops or looking on their websites.
You're the founder of the club night Erosion which takes place in Stereo. You recently showcased sets from Sully & Pesimist which went down an absolute storm. Can you tell us more about this, the team behind Erosion and your favourite night so far?
Erosion is run by myself and Scales. It had always been the plan that once I graduated, I would start looking at putting on parties; it didn't quite work out when I graduated during Covid but in November 2021 I reached out to Al Wootton, who runs the label Trule. He had been a dream booking of mine, and he hadn't played in Glasgow for a while. That first Erosion was my first actual insight into the world of promotion; I went in blind, and Scales got involved. We also got a lot of support from our friend Sholto - a part of the Shapework crew based in Edinburgh - who was incredibly helpful. From then, it's been a total learning curve for us both; the Sully and Pessimist night was the fifth Erosion, it was also the first event where we invested in lighting with the help of our friend Spike, and it made a massive impact. All of our parties so far have been special, but that one felt different; the visual elements combined with the music created an intense but euphoric atmosphere that's actually hard to describe. Our parties have been so much fun. Also, Scales' artwork has been incredible; it's a pleasure working with my best friend on something that is such a large part of my life and I’m so excited about some things we're working on.
What do you think of the Glasgow/Scottish electronic scene & club culture at the moment ?
Coming out of covid, I was about how the scene here would bounce back, but it seems it’s doing so well now. We’re getting to a point where there are solid line-ups and local bookings across most venues each weekend which is excellent, this coming month, there are so many exciting parties, and for me, that’s how it should be.
What advice would you give to another DJ starting their own club night?
Quality over quantity, focus on a party, spend time planning and putting it on. See how it goes and try to learn from each event. Also be prepared to lose some sleep and probably some money haha.
How do you keep on top of your mental health ?
I love walking; that’s probably my biggest thing. I’ll put on music or a podcast and walk for a couple of hours, and I do this a few times a week. For me, it’s the best escape, and I really engage with music this way. I’ll usually put on the radio, listen back to a mix or listen to an album. I'll stick on a podcast if I want to space out a bit. A walk, a coffee or some food is usually the perfect thing for my mind in check.
Can you reveal any exciting plans for 2023?
Nothing to reveal as of this second; we’ve got some massive ideas for the future of Erosion, but following our next party with Ploy and Jay Duncan, we will be taking a short break. We will return with another series of parties in the Fall with some proper heavy line-ups.