Welcome to Magazine Sixty, Josh. Let’s start with the launch of your label: Love Child (along with Jacob Husley). How would you describe the process of setting up and then running a record label in 2020? Have the results been what you hoped for?
Setting up Love Child was challenging and still is in some ways. Finding the right space, working with the right security etc. We initially wanted to do a a queer Sunday tea dance but this changed slightly for various reasons. People don’t go out the way they used to in London and also there’s so much more queer parties during the weekend. By the time you get to Sunday you’re probably broke or in recovery mode. We wanted to collaborate with other queer nights as well so this was an organic thing that followed. It’s important that we support each other in the LGBTQ+ community especially in night life as scenes can tend to separate quite easily. Setting up the label was a natural progression for us this year. With Love Child we always want to keep supporting and showcasing all the amazing talent we have. Whether it be musicians, artists whatever through our parties or panel discussions. The feedback and support from press and dj’s has been amazing so far. As soon as we put out our first release, a lot of great demos gravitated towards us and it seemed shocking they hadn’t been signed yet. I’m happy we can give them a home. The label is also about giving back to our community and we donate a percentage of the sales to a different LGBTQ+ charity with each release.
Can you talk us through how you produced one of the tacks from Box Of Talk, including any go to software/ hardware you always like to use?
I worked on the EP with Quinn Whalley and used Ableton. When we made Box of Talk (track) we started off with an 808 bass, high hat and kick. Quinn played around on the keys and came up with a slightly off beat pattern which worked well against the track. It was sounding pretty good as a striped back track but I felt it needed a little lift.. We added a breakbeat underneath and another key pattern and it really transformed together with the lyrics.
buy Box Of Talk https://lovechild2.bandcamp.com/album/lc001-josh-caff-box-of-talk-ep
Where do you take your inspiration from: A single sound or a series of ideas?
It’s usually a series of ideas. Could be film, a piece of art, my personal experiences. Recently I watched Mandy which is a totally messed up, twisted film but I bloody loved it. The cinematography, music and plot is disturbingly good. It gave me something to think about musically.
How do you feel about the overall strength of song writing in 2020? Are songs as important today as they were, say in the Disco era of 1970’s?
For me it really depends on the genre. I would love to see more vocalists in dance albums, there’s so many amazing people out there. With the 70’s & 80’s there was a lot to say through lyrics/music especially in house and disco. Race, sexuality, political environment, AIDS crisis all played a huge part. Fast forward to now and we’re still dealing with these issues, in some cases even more so. It’s great to see artists still channelling this through their music, especially in dance music and making songs still as important today.
I think with neo soul/RnB, songwriting is going from strength to strength. Artists like Celeste, Steve Lacy, Syd, Frank Ocean and Kendrick Lamar have really upped the ante with lyrics and productions and I’m so happy to see them get the recognition they deserve for it.
Is there too much emphasis on nostalgia in Dance Music? Does it stifle creativity, and how do you see music moving forwards in terms of what says and how it functions in culture?
Nostalgia is needed. Even when someone is doing something new and groundbreaking, let’s be honest there will still be elements from the past that would have inspired them even if they didn’t realise it. It encourages creativity, and to do it in your own way. Personally I like to look back at things because that’s inspired my sound, vocals and that’s the kind of music I want to make. Early house, techno and acid is timeless. Don’t get me wrong though, there will always be artists who want to push boundaries of music and do something that’s never been done, music will continue to evolve.
Your series of discussions: Love Child Talks form an invaluable conversation. What are the most significant things you have learned from them so far? And tell us about the forthcoming event: Queer Women In Music?
People in the queer community really want to talk to the sources and do want they can to initiate change. All in a very positive and constructive way. Whether it’s how we support and nurture our own or how we are seen in the world in general. They want to take action.
The talk we did on celebrating queer women in music was so moving, inspiring and profound. But honestly I get this from all the previous talks. Women in music have faced so many challenges being in a traditionally male dominated field but also factor in a queer woman in music, who is also a POC or Trans, the experiences are heightened. We also wanted to celebrate our queer women too as their work and positive experiences really do inspire people and should be spoken about more publicly in the mainstream.
Outside of the world of electronic music which writers, artists, thinkers etc are your most important influences?
God too many to mention. Toni Morrison, Wong Ping, Faith Ringgold, Malcolm x, Marsha P. Johnson. Also my dad. He was vice president and minister of Defence of Uganda at a difficult time in the country’s history, from 1985 to 1986. Before that he was general manager of Uganda Airlines, director general of East African Airways and commander of the Uganda Air Force. He was exiled to the UK in 1983. He served Uganda and East Africa honestly and selflessly and was someone who wanted to bring peace to a country that was fighting internally. After he passed away in 2002 he was often overlooked for the hard work that he did and honestly I felt the same way with being in music especially being a black queer artist. He inspires me daily.
And finally. Can you tell us about your forthcoming plans for working with Paranoid London, Love Child, life in general?
With Paranoid London, we’re back on the road doing live shows so come and catch us somewhere along the way. Maybe a new free track download at some point this year…
With Love Child, we want to keep growing the club night and we have a couple of special collaborations coming up. The talks will continue and hopefully the label will grow and people will keep supporting our releases. I have new music coming out with Honey Dijon, Baldo and Lupe so I’m pretty psyched about that.
https://www.facebook.com/joshcaffemusic
https://soundcloud.com/lovechildldn
https://www.instagram.com/lovechildldn/?hl=en
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