Joshua Iz - Juice - Bananza Music

Joshua Iz - Juice - Bananza Music

14 May, 2009 | 11.23AM

• Written by: strakes
• Filed under: Music News : bananza music, joshua iz

Bananza Music’s recent relaunch after two years got the label off to a flying re-start and now they follow up with another impressive 12” from Joshua Iz.  Perhaps best known as being one half of Iz & Diz, Joshua has also carved out a very successful solo career for himself on labels including Nordic Trax, Doubledown, Tweekin and Nightshift.  On ‘Juice’ and ‘Shiz’ the San Francisco based producer takes things into driving, deep house territory with plenty of techy touches.

Joshua was born on the same day the first manned Apollo mission blasted off to the moon. Growing up just outside of Chicago in Oak Park, he learned piano at an early age although was more partial to American Football and getting into trouble.  After a move to San Jose, he began to buy records, became part of the school band (which also included Doc Martin on trumpet) and started a weekly radio show.

On a visit back to Chicago he was recommended to ask for Derrick Carter at Gramaphone Records and the two instantly hit it off.  After graduating from University Joshua started making his own tracks and sent demos to Derrick and Chez Damier who invited him to Chicago to make more music. At the same time he met and started working with Diz, recording their first track at the legendary KMS Studios in Detroit.

Joshua soon moved in with the Red Nail posse (Derrick, Mark Farina, G-Most and Chris Nazuka), with the illusionary Chez being another semi-permanent resident. He began making music for Blue Cucaracha, Prescription and its offshoot Balance as well as working as design director at Cajual Records with Cajmere/Green Velvet.

In 1996 Joshua returned to the San Francisco Bay Area where he has lived and worked ever since. His travel schedule now takes him around the world, regularly visiting clubs such as Fabric, Sub Club and Rex. With well over 100 releases, Joshua has operated under several guises including Stereo People, Free Energy, Dubwise, and J-Boom for labels such as Junior Boys Own, Ubiquity, OM, Classic, Nightshift, Seasons and NRK amongst others.

Since 2004 the Denver-based Bananza Music has built up a solid reputation as one of the most reliable labels on the underground house scene thanks to original tracks and remixes from Brett Johnson, Q-Burns Abstract Message, Moody B, Marko Militano, Joshua (Iz), No Assembly Firm, DJ Ali and Demarkus Lewis.  The label’s last release was from Trademarq and featured remixes by Derrick Carter, Bon Johnson, Marko Militano and The Bald & The Beautiful.

DJ Support:
Sneak: 5/5, shiz n juice tool does it for me. Iz the shittzzzz nittZ!
Tom Middleton: 5/5, OH YESSSS..Hugantic! I’ll be spinning both! Shiz is one of the finest deep grooves I’ve heard this year. Big ups to Iz! Peace Jedi x
Mark Farina: 5/5, wonderful!
Luciano: love the label, full support.
Fred Everything: 5/5, What the f**k is Juice? I want some Grape Drink! Finally! Had that for at least 2 years, great track. Didn’t have Shiz so thanks for that!~ -f
Paul Woolford: 5/5, Love it, killer soulful jackers. Big ups all round to Joshua!!
Yousef: love shiz, really great house music as always from Iz.
Andy Inland Knights: 5/5, solid ep...shiz and the dj tool probably the ones i would play...all three tracks solid tho

• (0) Comments
• (652) Views