J. T. DONALDSON
Saturday, February 16
Cherry Lounge
J.T. Donaldson, one of America’s young lions of house music, is set to make his mark with his take on the deep end of the 4/4. With singles on the Seasons and NordicTrax labels and remixes for Naked music, Donaldson is a producer and DJ whose loyalty to the vibe supercedes industry hype.
Donaldson says he is influenced by everything from the Talking Heads through to new wave, soul and more. The diversity of his interests pervades his music and keeps it grounded. It's no wonder his production skills have been highly sought after, most recently leading to a deal with France’s prestigious Distance record label.
Interestingly, as Donaldson begins to enjoy wider recognition, he has also started to branch out into a less fashionable area of the underground.
"I like making vocal singles. A vocal seems a little more memorable – you hang on to it longer than an instrumental track. It also (provides) a chance for people who normally wouldn’t be into this music to get it."
This certainly isn’t to suggest that Donaldson is about to break into the Top 40. For him, vocals are simply a way of bringing diversity back to the dancefloor, and a way to give a nod to the early innovators of house music in Chicago, who often included vocals in their tracks.
It’s his loyalty to Chicago house that keeps Donaldson on track. As the distance grows between the genesis of the movement and the present sounds, much of the initial innovation is slowly fading away – DJs like Donaldson keep the authentic elements alive in spirit and application.
"House music just makes you feel good. It makes me feel good, and I try to help people feel it the way I feel it." |
