Complex Sessions 039: CJ Jeff

Greek DJ and producer CJ Jeff has a formidable reputation behind him, having spent years DJing and putting on raves in Berlin, Ibiza and Greece. As co-owner of Dybbuk club in Greece and the Rythmetic imprint, CJ has also played a pivotal role nurturing the clubbing scene in his home country and he’s been responsible for bringing some of the newest talents and biggest names to Athens, forever cementing his legacy in dance music.

For the latest edition of Complex Sessions, we tapped up CJ Jeff and he’s delivered an upbeat, whipcrack mix filled with colour and soul. Whether you’re raving in Berlin, Ibiza, London or Athens, this is the perfect pre-party mix to give you one last energy boost, thanks in no small part to the inclusion of FNX Omar’s remix of CJ’s recent Nervous-released track “Daylight“.

Tell us a bit about your selections in this mix.

Well, with it being summer and all, I figured I should make it sound ‘summery’. Think sunny beaches, warm wind in your hair—it’s a ‘life is good’ kind of mix! Just put it on in your car, preferably a convertible, with all the windows down. Or, play it at home, on your balcony, when the sun goes down, with a glass of something tasty and your loved one right there next to you.

What was the one track you absolutely had to include?

Hmmm… I would have to say that I’m loving the FNX Omar remix to my last release on Nervous. That’s how summer sounds—I love it!

Any tracks that narrowly missed the cut?

Probably my upcoming release on Stereo Productions. I can’t wait to share this one with you, but I can’t just yet.

What’s the first single or album you ever bought?

Pink Floyd’s Atom Heart Mother. Talk about quality! It literally blew my mind and got me thinking about wanting to be in the music business, wanting to make music myself.

What’s the last physical record you bought?

That would be Mathias Kaden’s “Liberate Drums”. Mathias is one of my favourite producers of all time. He actually did a remix of my last Yoshitoshi release, and it didn’t disappoint! This man stands for quality.

What do you want to see happen musically over the next 12 months?

I believe it’s time to go back to deep, groovy sounds with more “psychedelic” synths. I feel it; the change is coming.

What trend or scene absolutely needs to die right now?

I don’t know about a “trend” but more a “sound”, really. For me, that would be EDM. Not to generalize or anything—and by EDM, I don’t mean pop music—but it’s not even music, as far as I’m concerned. It’s like a weird show, where the main guy is screaming “jump” and “put your hands in the air” with everyone making heart signs. I get it: it’s like a gateway drug, aka ‘the step-in model’ of music, for a lot of kids who then grow out of it and possibly want to go check out another kind of sound. But why can’t we start these kids off with some proper house and techno from the get-go? Oh well, each to their own I guess. More souls to convert for me!

Tracklist:

1. CJ Jeff ­– Daylight (FNX Omar Remix)

2. CJ Jeff ­– Insanity

3. Todd Terry –­ The Freak Show

4. KH ­– Only Human

5. David Jackson –­ Blessed

6. Deepchild ­– Neukölln Burnin