Over the past few years, CJ Jeff has become an integral part of the Yoshitoshi roster, first with his remix of Eddie Amador’s ‘6AM‘ (we love that track name!) and then with his debut label EP Pitch Black. His music is a raw, unadulterated mix of tech house and techno that you can always count on shaking things up at the party. CJ goes dark and gritty with loads of funk on his new EP Eye Contact.

The title track is nothing short of gargantuan. Its heavy, driving bass riffs and pounding drums are pulled straight from the techno bible, and CJ combines them with distorted vocals and acid square wave riffs that keep it lively over a big bottom end that roars through subwoofers like a monster. To kick things up a notch, we’re very exctied to welcome German house honcho Mathias Kaden to Yoshitoshi with a remix of ‘Eye Contact’ that balances out CJ’s brutal mix with a jacking house groove. Mathias is known for his funky and minimal tracks and his remix is as textbook as it gets, deploying bouncy bass and warm, classic-sounding drums and a breakdown to send the floors into a frenzy.

On the B-side CJ wraps up this great EP with ‘Silver Spoon,’ a slightly deeper but still energetic techno roller sporting a Detroit-style chord stab riff and plenty of percussion. One can’t help to be transformed to another time and dimension with Silver Spoon. We think that place is a dark warehouse.

As 6AM premieres the title track from Eye Contact, we took the chance to catch up with CJ Jeff following our interview and Global Vibe Radio mix with him last year.

Hi mate, congrats on the latest Yoshitoshi EP! Where does the title “Eye Contact” come from?

Hey brother, thank you! Funny story, I came up with the title because I’m actually a complete sneaker-freak. When I meet someone, I normally always check out their shoes. I can’t help it!! I’ve been constantly told by my inner circle to “make eye contact first”, so I figured, I’ll make a music project of it!

What is it about eye contact that makes it a special connection between two people?

I honestly believe that as humans, we’ve invented words to confuse each other. Look at the animal kingdom, audio communication is just a small part of how they relate to one another, it’s all about eye contact and body language. You can’t hide how feel, if you look someone in the eye, good feelings or bad. Eye contact is key, no true connection can be made between people, until they look each other in the eye, in my opinion at least.

You’re a prolific producer. If you could choose one record or release that exemplifies your career more than all others, what would it be?

If I had to choose one, it would be ‘Not Only You’. It’s a collab with my previous studio partner Thodoris Triantafillou. I love that record, it was made from the heart.

Are there any of your tracks you never thought would blow up, but then did?

You know how it is… There’s stuff you make that you think is the bomb and it turns out to be well, not so much “the bomb”. Then there are tracks that you’d be like, nah…. should I even put this out? And BOOM!! It really works! If I had to name one it would be my track called ‘Tribe’, but to sum it up, it’s always a surprise. It makes this business fun. If everyone could just follow the “assembly instructions” of “how to make a hit”, then everyone will be doing it. It’s not Ikea lol.

What has keep you motivated in the studio after 15+ years in this business?

The main reason I’m still producing music is because I feel that, in a way, artists are the historians of each era. We are here to capture the vibe of “now” and “today”, so tomorrow’s generations can look back at it and say, oh wow, that’s what they were dancing to in 2019.

Keeping a balance between studio, touring and other things in an artist’s life can be difficult. How do you do it?

It’s an everyday battle. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without my partner in crime, my significant other. She keeps me grounded, plus I really love to read, which relaxes me in between the touring and travelling. But you know, I’m Greek so everything I do is 1000%. When I’m home, I’m 1000% home. When I’m partying, I’m 1000% partying. It’s all about balance, baby!

How much time do you devote to the studio a week?

It depends, sometimes it’s just an idea that can turn into a track in one day. Then I’ll test it on the road and see if it works, then make adjustments in the studio again. Other times it could be days, especially with vocal tracks. I could be at it for weeks and still be not quite ready to release it. Honestly, you can’t put a finger on it.

Do you have any production rituals you follow before, during and after production sessions?

Sleeping! Hahah, always before and then 2 espressos and go, go go! Let’s make a big record, is the spirit! I drive my team crazy because I’ll keep telling them that, and they’ll be like “Go Greeks!!!” or sometimes “We believe it when we hear it”. But honestly, it’s all about positive vibes all around, that’s my only ritual!

What does your release schedule for the rest of 2019 look like?

We are going for gold in 2019!! We have 6 releases signed, all to the labels that were on my top 10 of all time list. So life is good!! Yoshitoshi is the next one, then I have a top secret release at the end of April (I’m sworn to silence), then Circus at the beginning of the summer, and so on. Really blessed and grateful for the love and support I’ve been getting.

CJ Jeff’s Eye Contact is out March 29th via Yoshitoshi Recordings and available on Beatport

Connect with CJ Jeff: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | SoundCloud | Beatport