Joe Claussell

Based in New York, Joaquin “Joe” Claussell has been developing since the early 1990s a house approach shaped by Afro-Caribbean music, jazz and soul. Born into a Puerto Rican family in Brooklyn, Joe Claussell first made his mark as a record seller and booker at Dance Tracks, an important hub of the New York deep house scene, before turning to production, remixing and DJing. He went on to found the labels Spiritual Life Music and Sacred Rhythm Music, through which he releases his own projects and supports artists aligned with a spiritual, organic vision of dance music. His album Language (1999) laid the groundwork for a style that blends extended rhythmic constructions, detailed percussion and harmonies influenced by gospel, Latin music and jazz. Co-founder of the Body & Soul nights with François K and Danny Krivit, Joe Claussell is known for on-stage, extended sets that move between deep house, disco, afrobeat, ambient and more meditative passages. His many remixes and collaborations continue this work, blurring the boundaries between club music, improvised performance and sonic exploration.