FRAGMENTS

"Under the name J.A.K.A.M., the new work 'FRAGMENTS' comes after three and a half years.

From 2020 to 2023, traveling to India and Pakistan, interacting with locals in various places, and engaging in field recordings and traditional instrument sessions. These were then mixed and subjected to dub processing, elevating them into a J.A.K.A.M. creation - a club orchestration."

J.A.K.A.M., also known by the moniker MOOCHY, has a career trajectory that's nothing short of eclectic. Starting in the gritty realms of punk, hardcore, and hip-hop, he's since devoured and mastered a plethora of genres including jungle/drum and bass, house/techno, tribal rhythms, jazz, and an array of world music. Transcending the typical confines of a DJ, band member, or producer, MOOCHY's presence in the music scene defies temporal trends and eras, consistently radiating an underground and street-savvy ethos.

With an unyielding confidence, he crafts soundscapes that demand to be heard, echoing with an untamed, continental fervor. Fronting the three-piece junk band EVIL POWERS ME, MOOCHY initially burst onto the live house scene wielding raw, unbridled aggression. Concurrently, his audacious forays into the DJ booths of legendary drum and bass parties like Rhythm Freaks set dance floors ablaze with electrifying energy. As drum and bass edged into the mainstream, he seamlessly pivoted towards a more genuine crossover of dance music, infusing his tracks with an insatiable blend of diverse beats and the pulsating energies of global tribes, evolving them into a distinctly Japanese brand of originality.

Melding his band's sound with the vibrancy of Japanese rave culture, MOOCHY spearheaded projects like the freeform electronic jam band NXS (Nexus) and the iconic TULULULUS, which featured the legendary Mademoiselle Toki. Taking the reins of the PA system, he continued to amplify his impact in the live music scene. In his solo avatar, J.A.K.A.M. (JUZU aka MOOCHY) has dropped five full-length albums and a plethora of singles under his own label "CROSSPOINT," each resonating as enduring anthems in clubs around the globe.

His latest offering under the J.A.K.A.M. guise, "FRAGMENTS," emerges after a three-and-a-half-year hiatus, encapsulating his enriched, recent sonic explorations. The album unfolds like a musical odyssey, layered with deep, dub-infused spatiality, tribal dance beats, and ethereal ethnic melodies that stir a sense of deja vu. Across all 12 tracks, the album weaves a dreamlike tapestry, not merely floating by but embedding itself in the listener's consciousness, merging indigenous sounds with the hum of everyday life. His immersive travels to India in 2020 and Pakistan in 2023 for field recordings and traditional instrument samples have been intricately mixed with the prowess of domestic musicians and deft dub treatments, crafting an orchestral brilliance reminiscent of the legendary ON-U album, CREATION REBEL's Starship Africa. This 2023 release stands as a potent testament to MOOCHY's visionary artistry, a true masterpiece birthed from the streets, resonating as a vibrant answer from Asia.