Joe Claussell

American DJ, remixer, musician, and label owner of labels Spiritual Life Music and Sacred Rhythm Music.

Born: 1971 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.

Joaquin "Joe" Claussell was born in Brooklyn to a Puerto Rican family. His first exposure to the industry was in his own neighborhood block association events, musically led by one of his elder brothers Larry Claussell. Not long after he hit the club scene, he began collecting vinyl aged 15, leading him from clubs like "The Inferno", to punk music’s sanctuary "CBGB", the alternative driven "Mudd Club", and more mainstream "Underground", to the legendary "Paradise Garage".

While living in NYC's East Village in the early 1990s, he began working at Dance Tracks record store, forming a friendship with the owner, he became the store's DJ, holding weekly parties for a devoted crowd. Following an invitation from good friend and owner, Stan Hatzakis, he began producing, completing his first remix "Over" (1992) and produced first track "Awade" (1992), both under moniker Instant House, later eventually taking over Dance Tracks alongside Stefan Prescott.

In 1996, he launched his independent eclectic world house label Spiritual Life Music from the back of Dance Tracks, also starting Ibadan Records with friend and executive producer Jerome Sydenham, expanding into the Sacred Rhythm Music label in the 2000s. These labels featured organic African, Brazilian, Latin, and Middle Eastern rhythms, crossing over into Disco, Jazz, House, and other electronic music, with Claussell being involved in most aspects: music, writing, visual art selection/creation, and graphic design. Many fledgling artists have featured on these labels, including Ten City "Nothing's Changed" (1996), followed by works from Jephté Guillaume, Mateo & Matos, Slam Mode, and 3 Generations Walking, among others, plus his own debut album "Language" (1999).

He has also done collaborations/remixes for many popular and underground artists, including Femi Kuti, Herbie Hancock, Beth Orton, Stuart Matthewman (of group Sade), Cassandra Wilson, Diana Ross, and Manuel Göttsching, to name a few, with remixes reviving classics such as Hector Lavoe classic "Alejate"; Cesaria Evora "Sangue De Beirona", and Nina Simone "Feeling Good" – the latter helped the re-emergence of the song, spawning countless remakes.

Since 1996, Claussell joined DJ's Francois K and Danny Krivit to play for the legendary "Body & Soul" NYC Sunday afternoon dance party for over 6 years, with a devoted crowd every week experiencing a mix of classic, world, soul, disco, funk, and house music.

He remains in demand as a producer/remixer, and continues his global DJ-ing schedule, while also appearing in the visual art world, where he toured with a project titled "Trembling Sensing Space", produced by Dutch theater director Lidy Six, and as musician, toured with world-renowned percussionist Mino Cinelu, and played alongside keyboard extraordinaire Bugge Wesseltoft in a band that included Erik Truffaz, Ilhan Ersahin, Erik Holm, and Torun Eriksen.

In New York he also began the "Sacred Rhythm Party", to bring house music and live musicians together in an intimate environment, while also playing a diverse set on his first Internet radio show titled "an invitation to openness".

He is the brother of percussionist José "Cochise" Claussell.

(Joaquin) Joe Claussell, Claussell, J Claussell, J. Claussell, J.Claussel, Jo Clausell, Joacquin "Joe" Claussell, Joaqin Joe Claussell, Joaquim "Joe" Claussell, Joaquim 'Joe' Claussell, Joaquin " Joe " Claussell, Joaquin "Joe " Claussell, Joaquin "Joe "Claussell, Joaquin "Joe Claussell", Joaquin "Joe" Clausell, Joaquin "Joe" Claussel, Joaquin "Joe" Claussell, Joaquin "Jose" Claussell, Joaquin 'Joe' Clausell, Joaquin 'Joe' Claussel, Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell, Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell', Joaquin 'Joe' Claussell*, Joaquin 'Joe' Clussell, Joaquin (Joe) Claussel, Joaquin (Joe) Claussell, Joaquin Bolla Claussell, Joaquin Claussell, Joaquin Joe Clasusell, Joaquin Joe Clausell, Joaquin Joe Claussel, Joaquin Joe Claussell, Joaquin Joe llessualC, Joaquin ëJoeí Claussell, Joaquin “Joe” Claussell, Joaquin, Joe Claussell, Joaquin. J. Claussell, Joaquine "Joe" Claussell, Joaquín Joe Claussell, Joe, Joe "Joaquin" Claussell, Joe 'Joaquin' Claussell, Joe Clausell, Joe Claussel, Joe Clausselle, Joe Cloussell, Joe Joaquin Claussell, Joe “Joaquin” Claussel, llessualC 'eoJ' niuqaoJ