cuttyspot: Jónó Mí Ló Interview Today I had a...

Jónó Mí Ló Interview

Today I had a chance to interview Jónó Mí Ló, an experimentalist of several mediums, half of Teamm Jordann, and advocate of the power of the inter-webs.

He and Sean Bowie – aka Teams – as Teamm Jordann, create something like “lo-fi” beat music, nostalgic for the 80’s, psychedelic R & B, evoking images of dazed-out dancing and foggy rooms. Dreamy. Minimalistic.

Check out their new single! “I Need a Moment”: http://teammjordann.bandcamp.com/track/i-need-a-moment

***

Cutty Spot: For those who may not know, you make music as well as experiment with videography…Can you explain these two different processes, and do you connect with one medium more than the other?

Jónó Mí Ló: I went into making videos with less knowledge than I do about making music, so my knowledge is very limited; it makes making videos that much more fun. So, I really do enjoy making videos more. I love making music, but it seems like almost every song has a video attached to it, which I think is awesome.

Cutty Spot: Very interesting. Yeah, I experiment with both too and, like you seem to be, am always thinking about images while experiencing the music. So, you said that your lack of knowledge toward videography actually makes the process more exhilarating. What does your process usually look like when constructing a video?

Or does it change from project to project?

Jónó Mí Ló: I will listen to the song over and over again for days, then try to work with clips that fit the video, then give it a certain look or idea based on the title.

CS: Right, are these sampled clips or original footage?

JML: For the “World Series” video, I made some original footage, but yes mostly samples.

CS: Cool, I’m fascinated by how both the music and videos from the internet music culture (and the music culture at large) use samples. It seems to be this circular project of digging things out of the past and keeping it present, making it fresh, manipulating it. Would you say your music is sample-based as well?

JML: Definitely, during these past two years - way more sampling - it’s sort of the bar on how we judge other acts too.

CS: So, when listening to other artists’ music, you’re drawn to how they use samples?

JML: Well what to do with them intrigues me more - can’t always play ‘guess the sample’ with a song and expect it to stay topical, and keep people interested.

CS: Right, so what type of samples are the most engaging to work with, for you?

Sound samples, I mean.

JML: I love when people work with soul and boogie. R&B.

CS: Nice, so tell those who don’t know about Teamm Jordann.

JML: That’s what me and Sean brought together to work on.

I send him older tracks all the time; he’s always re-working them; it’s like I’m the DJ and he’s the remix artist.

CS: Interesting! So, how long have you been working with Sean?

JML: A few months now; I’ll say since last winter. I put together the dxys xff album art [http://teeeams.bandcamp.com/album/dxys-xff] for him. Then we did “Stadium” for Teamm Jordann and I went on tour with him.

And we just did a new TJ track called “I Need a Moment.”

It’s more of sound collage than “Stadium” was, but still killer.

CS: Yes, that track is fantastic! Which artists inspire you these days? Are there any particular artists that have influenced this sound-collage aesthetic?

JML: Man all the peeps in Dior Nights.

They make some of the best music in the world right now.

All of them have been a huge influence on what I’m doing now.

So many killer styles coming out of that group.

CS: Yes! Tell us about Dior Nights!

JML: I just thought all of these Facebook groups needed a dot com: Sewer Greats, witchbook. So many great artists with no serious representation other than their bandcamps. It kind of bummed me out; I just wanted people to support each other in newer ways, so I got with my friends who made scannerjammer and they helped make Dior Nights.

CS: Oh, that’s beautiful. So how do you see the internet affecting music culture today?

JML: Oh man, these net labels and cassette labels - it’s totally going to keep getting bigger. I’ll say from ‘08 until now there has been a huge boom.

CS: Absolutely.

JML: There’s almost no stopping it; soon we will see more cases of Salem and Washed Out, etc., and they will go from Soundcloud to cassette to lp to srs artist.

CS: So you think the internet allows more people to come together and causes the music world to grow bigger and more complex? Since the recognition of these independent musicians is primarily rooted in the internet, what happens to the money situation? Will artists’ concern for making money off their music ultimately dwindle, or has it already?

Also, when you say more “cases of Salem and Washed Out,” do you mean more bedroom projects will leak out into the larger sphere?

JML: Yeah, more bedroom projects in the mainstream.

But to answer your question about the money situation: it will get worse for independent artists before it gets better, and by that I mean less money but more appearances, so in the end it’s your level of dedication to your work that will separate us.

CS: Yeah, I agree. So, besides music and video, what makes you feel alive?

JML: Oh man, my friends, totally - some of the best people in the world.

I was sort of stuck in a tough place for awhile, and music and posting was my way of still trying to reach out to them. It brought all of these other amazing people into my life; I really couldn’t ask for more.

CS: So you feel - unlike some - that the internet can actually provide a catalyst for greater connection between people?

JML: Without a shadow of doubt.

CS: Outstanding! If you had to recommend one book and one film to the reader, what would they be?

JML: The last book I read was Donald Goines – Black Gangster.

The last movie I watched was the Makioka Sisters.

Loved them both.

CS: Thanks, man, for the suggestions and the interview! Shout outs?

JML: #diornights #secondinternet

#scannerjammer

Miss you Antonio.

***

Here are other important links associated with Jono:

http://diornights.com/

http://teeeams.bandcamp.com/album/dxys-xff

(via worthlesswaste)

cuttyspot:

Jónó Mí Ló Interview

Today I had a chance to interview Jónó Mí Ló, an experimentalist of several mediums, half of Teamm Jordann, and advocate of the power of the inter-webs.

He and Sean Bowie – aka Teams – as Teamm Jordann, create something like “lo-fi” beat music, nostalgic for the 80’s, psychedelic R & B, evoking images of dazed-out dancing and foggy rooms. Dreamy. Minimalistic.

Check out their new single! “I Need a Moment”: http://teammjordann.bandcamp.com/track/i-need-a-moment

***

Cutty Spot: For those who may not know, you make music as well as experiment with videography…Can you explain these two different processes, and do you connect with one medium more than the other?

Jónó Mí Ló: I went into making videos with less knowledge than I do about making music, so my knowledge is very limited; it makes making videos that much more fun. So, I really do enjoy making videos more. I love making music, but it seems like almost every song has a video attached to it, which I think is awesome.

Cutty Spot: Very interesting. Yeah, I experiment with both too and, like you seem to be, am always thinking about images while experiencing the music. So, you said that your lack of knowledge toward videography actually makes the process more exhilarating. What does your process usually look like when constructing a video?

Or does it change from project to project?

Jónó Mí Ló: I will listen to the song over and over again for days, then try to work with clips that fit the video, then give it a certain look or idea based on the title.

CS: Right, are these sampled clips or original footage?

JML: For the “World Series” video, I made some original footage, but yes mostly samples.

CS: Cool, I’m fascinated by how both the music and videos from the internet music culture (and the music culture at large) use samples. It seems to be this circular project of digging things out of the past and keeping it present, making it fresh, manipulating it. Would you say your music is sample-based as well?

JML: Definitely, during these past two years - way more sampling - it’s sort of the bar on how we judge other acts too.

CS: So, when listening to other artists’ music, you’re drawn to how they use samples?

JML: Well what to do with them intrigues me more - can’t always play ‘guess the sample’ with a song and expect it to stay topical, and keep people interested.

CS: Right, so what type of samples are the most engaging to work with, for you?

Sound samples, I mean.

JML: I love when people work with soul and boogie. R&B.

CS: Nice, so tell those who don’t know about Teamm Jordann.

JML: That’s what me and Sean brought together to work on.

I send him older tracks all the time; he’s always re-working them; it’s like I’m the DJ and he’s the remix artist.

CS: Interesting! So, how long have you been working with Sean?

JML: A few months now; I’ll say since last winter. I put together the dxys xff album art [http://teeeams.bandcamp.com/album/dxys-xff] for him. Then we did “Stadium” for Teamm Jordann and I went on tour with him.

And we just did a new TJ track called “I Need a Moment.”

It’s more of sound collage than “Stadium” was, but still killer.

CS: Yes, that track is fantastic! Which artists inspire you these days? Are there any particular artists that have influenced this sound-collage aesthetic?

JML: Man all the peeps in Dior Nights.

They make some of the best music in the world right now.

All of them have been a huge influence on what I’m doing now.

So many killer styles coming out of that group.

CS: Yes! Tell us about Dior Nights!

JML: I just thought all of these Facebook groups needed a dot com: Sewer Greats, witchbook. So many great artists with no serious representation other than their bandcamps. It kind of bummed me out; I just wanted people to support each other in newer ways, so I got with my friends who made scannerjammer and they helped make Dior Nights.

CS: Oh, that’s beautiful. So how do you see the internet affecting music culture today?

JML: Oh man, these net labels and cassette labels - it’s totally going to keep getting bigger. I’ll say from ‘08 until now there has been a huge boom.

CS: Absolutely.

JML: There’s almost no stopping it; soon we will see more cases of Salem and Washed Out, etc., and they will go from Soundcloud to cassette to lp to srs artist.

CS: So you think the internet allows more people to come together and causes the music world to grow bigger and more complex? Since the recognition of these independent musicians is primarily rooted in the internet, what happens to the money situation? Will artists’ concern for making money off their music ultimately dwindle, or has it already?

Also, when you say more “cases of Salem and Washed Out,” do you mean more bedroom projects will leak out into the larger sphere?

JML: Yeah, more bedroom projects in the mainstream.

But to answer your question about the money situation: it will get worse for independent artists before it gets better, and by that I mean less money but more appearances, so in the end it’s your level of dedication to your work that will separate us.

CS: Yeah, I agree. So, besides music and video, what makes you feel alive?

JML: Oh man, my friends, totally - some of the best people in the world.

I was sort of stuck in a tough place for awhile, and music and posting was my way of still trying to reach out to them. It brought all of these other amazing people into my life; I really couldn’t ask for more.

CS: So you feel - unlike some - that the internet can actually provide a catalyst for greater connection between people?

JML: Without a shadow of doubt.

CS: Outstanding! If you had to recommend one book and one film to the reader, what would they be?

JML: The last book I read was Donald Goines – Black Gangster.

The last movie I watched was the Makioka Sisters.

Loved them both.

CS: Thanks, man, for the suggestions and the interview! Shout outs?

JML: #diornights #secondinternet

#scannerjammer

Miss you Antonio.

***

Here are other important links associated with Jono:

http://diornights.com/

http://teeeams.bandcamp.com/album/dxys-xff