JoJo De Freq

JoJo De Freq can truly be called a maverick. The Bugged Out resident is as unique and talented behind the decks as she is in the studio. JoJo has been at the forefront of the electro-techno scene in the UK since 2001. Her original approach to djing and self taught production skills have earned her the respect of forward thinking clubbers and promoters alike. With considered programming and plenty of risk taking, her energetic taste-making DJ sets are packed with suspense, style and surprises, and her sound is synthetic and acid-tinged, with quirky electronics as well as futurist percussion, riotous riffs and wonky basslines.



JoJo developed her DJ skills during her six year tenure as resident and co-founder of the legendary London club night Nag Nag Nag, one of the most important and exciting club nights to hit the capital this century. In March 2008 JoJo decided it was time to part with the club in order to make time for her growing passion for studio production. In May she returned to help close its doors and organize the last ever Nag, which was a huge success, resulting in a poignant mix of nostalgia and celebration of its legacy for JoJo and many of London’s most adventurous clubbers.



JoJo has also been London resident at highly respected UK techno night, and one of the longest running clubs in the country, Bugged Out at London’s The End since 2003. She has built up a loyal following with her energetic and taste-making dj sets. It’s no surprise that JoJo is in demand across the UK and internationally.



Despite her demanding djing schedule, JoJo has been determined to learn and produce music herself rather than rely on engineers or programmers. Using vintage analogue synths together with new advances in software her skills first came to fruition in the Summer of 2006 with two tracks for the Bugged Out label. ‘Make Some Noise/Ghost In The Machine’ was featured in Mixmag’s Top 100 tracks of 2006 and was licensed to Simian Mobile Disco’s highly acclaimed Bugged Out, ‘Suck My Deck’ mix compilation in April 2007.



JoJo launched her own record label, MYTHIC, for which she produced its first release ‘Saturn Returns/Pop This Reverie’ in March 2007. In Early 2008 the track was licensed to Felix Da Housecat’s Global Underground mix CD. However, just under a year later, one of the UK's biggest 12" dance distributors, and JoJo's distribution for MYTHIC, Amato Distribution, collapsed. The results of this event placed pressures on the label that meant JoJo had to to re-think the future of her vision for MYTHIC Records.



In the meantime JoJo got busy working on her first remix, for which she composed an original piece of music for Miss Kittin's Kittin Is High. It's full release was in January 2008 and it created a genuine buzz, gradually hitting the charts and dj boxes of people like Tiga, Proxy, Brodinski, Mr Oizo, Erol Alkan and many more. With the success of her first remix, and the rise of digital culture through MySpace, music blogs and download sites, JoJo's vision for MYTHIC was revitalized and she decided to continue the label without the constraints of manufacturing and distributing of vinyl. Choosing not rely on any major distribution company, but to just distribute MYTHIC to just a select group of digital outlets, like Beatport, iTunes and Juno, has allowed JoJo to release more prolifically and with more creative freedom.



Hence 2008 has been JoJo’s busiest yet heralded by her remix for Miss Kittin in January, then in March she released ‘Feel Your Mind’ her second single for MYTHIC. It featured her own vocal, sampled and cut-up across a hypnotic acid-like riff. In May she produced two mixes of a track called Brutality, Religion & A Beat, the ‘a-side’ showcasing JoJo's peak-time abilities and on ‘b-side’, the Bring Back Magic mix, her deeper, more melancholic approach. Over the summer JoJo readied two tracks; her remix of Carny for London's budding rude-boy pop act Man Like Me, which she chopped up and intricately rearranged giving it a glitchy techno edge without losing its carnivalistic spirit. Then the third release on MYTHIC this year, Welcome to Dalston, it's been JoJo’s most sophisticated outing yet, released in August, the promo has so far already been supported by Diplo, Tiga, Miss Kittin, Tomboy, Paul Epworth and Twitch from Optimo and many more, the track also became a bit of a hit at this years Bestival, spotted being played by three different dj's during the festival. Timed perfectly for the indian summer, it is a homage to her area of residence for the past four years in East London, it features African gospel choir samples, ecstatic strings and epic vintage synths chords and summery percussion. And there’s more to come with JoJo busy with an E.P of three tracks to release before the year’s out.



As a fresh producer, as well as an experienced DJ, JoJo is definitely one to watch, as she continues to push forward her sound, enrapturing dance-floors and beyond. You can keep up with JoJo’s releases and thoughts on her new blog De Frequencies.



For bookings inquiries and press info contact martje@decked-out.co.uk



Contact at JoJo's label MYTHIC info@mythicrecordsuk.co.uk



JoJo Live @ Bugged Out, The End, London 15 Dec 2008



Miss Kittin Playing JoJo De Freq production "Feel Your Mind" @ Fuse, Brussels



JoJo playing Bugged Out NYE 2008 @ Canvas, London



JoJo @ FIB, Benicassim 2007



JoJo @ Il Muretto, Venice for Carnival 2007