Stripback Records Release Debut Single From Romania’s Sean Jay Dee

Stripback Records Release Debut Single From Romania’s Sean Jay Dee

4 August, 2009 | 2.26AM

• Written by: YvonneSedition
• Filed under: Music News : cabassa, sean jay dee, stripback records

Following the success of their third release, ‘Waveform’ by label co-founder Graeme Lloyd, Stripback Records spread their wings with their first international signing. ‘Cabassa (Life Changes)’ by Sean Jay Dee is also the debut release from the Romanian DJ and producer, and it’s an important step forward for both artist and label.

Following the success of their third release, ‘Waveform’ by label co-founder Graeme Lloyd, Stripback Records spread their wings with their first international signing. ‘Cabassa (Life Changes)’ by Sean Jay Dee is also the debut release from the Romanian DJ and producer, and it’s an important step forward for both artist and label.

Based in the northern Romanian town of Iasi, Sean Jay Dee is the latest name to emerge from the thriving Romanian house scene and is resident DJ at Divino in Galati as well as playing all over the country. He’s also played alongside the likes of Satoshi Tomiie, Funkagenda, Simon Baker and Richard Dinsdale, while his days are spent in the studio with production partner Passo.

‘Cabassa’ is another strong release for Stripback Records. Built on layers of rolling percussion with a subtle groove, it’s a gently melodic but still powerful track that has become something of an anthem in Romania wherever Sean Jay Dee plays. To give it extra spice, singer and lyricist Lizzie Curious has teamed up with Sean to create a vocal version that looks set to become a summer smash across the airwaves and beach parties of Romania. It’s already been playlisted by OneFm, one of Romania’s leading dance radio stations.

As well as the original and a dub mix from Passo, there are remixes from Stripback’s own Graeme Lloyd and I: AM. Graeme takes the essential ingredients of the track and creates a deep, progressive version perfect for later in the night, while I:AM, the duo of Fabian Chui and Hannibal Soares, unleash another of their ‘big room’ electro house specials.

So who exactly is Sean Jay Dee? Read on…

How did you first become interested in becoming a DJ?

“A very good friend of mine was a resident in a local club in Iasi and he told me that if I really wanted to be a DJ I should watch every time he played. I was 16 years old then and I had wanted to be a DJ since I was 13. I spent all my free time mixing, buying CDs, listening to all kinds of music and being fascinated of what you can do with all this. At an early age I learnt that an important quality to be a good DJ is to know how to listen.”

Tell us about the first gigs you played.

“My first gig was at a private party organised by some friends. I was very anxious to prove that I had been a good student and could make it as a DJ. I was a little bit nervous at first but it turned out to be a great party. My first club gig was in a very popular venue in Iasi and I managed to make it a great party and was pleased by the crowd’s reaction.”

Tell us the story behind ‘Cabassa’ and how did you hook up with Lizzie Curious who supplied the lyrics and vocals?

“The music was born in September 2008 but it took a while to finish as my co-producer Passo and I had to find a singer who could fully understand the track. My good friend Tania von Pear introduced me to Lizzie and from the moment she listened to the track it didn’t take long for her to go into the studio and deliver a great vocal and so ‘Cabassa’ was born.”

Where does the name ‘Cabassa’ come from?

“It was late one night back in September and I was looking through an art magazine and found some pictures by the Spanish painter Mariona Cabassa that really impressed me. It was the same night that Passo and I had been working on the track that became ‘Cabassa’.”

What are you working on in the studio at the moment as the follow-up?

“Passo and I are working on a new sound trying to melt the line between tech house and jazz. He’s a great piano player and we are really pleased to be working with a superb blues and jazz band and the best male blues vocal in Romania. We might be doing something live with them too.”

How would you describe your sound and the kind of feelings you’re trying to create?

“I like to listen to music a lot and for a producer it’s important to listen to all types of music, to even learn to listen to nature. When I discover a sound that gives me a special feeling I have to try and create the same sensation through my music. I have hundreds of sounds that don’t really give me that thrill and I always return to a couple that help me to feel alive.”

Tell us about your future plans, including DJing and production, and anything else you have coming up.

“I’m aiming to finish my debut album by the middle of spring next year and hopefully it will tell a story to people who really want to listen. As DJ I want to play as many and as diverse gigs as possible – I‘m hoping to travel and play in countries I haven’t played in yet too.”

‘Cabassa (Life Changes)’ is available from August 3rd on Beatport, djdownload.com and most major download stores.

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