Cool Tiger, heavily working in the underground scene in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The face of Junction Records has announced his new EP release “JCTW001”.  Not to mention Junction Records has also launched a sub-label, Junction White to support more talents to bring a special breeze to the underground scene. 

Q1. Congratulations on your " JCTW001" release. Please talk to us about it and the inspiration behind it!

Thank you! I have been running Junction Records for two years and released two EPs blurring the line between House and Techno. With the artists on the label, we explore how grooves and rhythmical arrangements influence dancers and communication between people. We strive to rediscover tribal patterns as means of social communications, translated into working with polyrhythms and different warm grooves into techno.

In this line, we decided to launch a new sub-label called Junction White. Junction White is focused on rawer, club-centered music. The idea is to be able to make and release music in a faster way, with less constraints for the artists. The records will be sold as White Labels only. There is this sense of freedom and urge to release music in Junction White which is very different from the other Junction Records EPs.

Q2. How are those tracks special compare to other tracks you’ve released throughout your career?

Those 4 tracks on JCTW001 are very special to me. First, because I used a different creative process than for previous tracks. I focused more on jams, improvisation and trying to capture moments and emotions on the go rather than overthinking music. Second, I think they have a consistent sound, like a mini-album with a beginning and an end to the story. It goes from the psychedelic techno opening of “Ocre Vision”, to more club-centered tracks like “Da Raw” and “Red Blast”, until the dark and intense ending “Open Minded”. I’m very happy this EP will finally hit the stores worldwide, both because I feel that I gained maturity in the process of making it, and also because releasing it has a cathartic effect on me. This is like the end of a creative cycle and the beginning of a new one as well. Very exciting!

Q3. How is your 2018 so far?

Up until now, my label partner Luc and I have been very busy setting up this new sub-label Junction White and agreeing on the general artistic direction of it. This is also the first time we stamped white label records, which was a very rewarding moment! We also had to understand and set up the whole distribution process. It’s been challenging but I feel that I have been learning so much at the same time. On a more personal level, I finally found a music studio space in Amsterdam, where I am based. The studio is part of an artistic community and close to one of the best club of the city. I think this will lead to a better productivity and maybe several collaborations!

Q4. What’s your summer plan?

This EP will get released mid-May on vinyl and mid-June in digital format. We are currently planning a tour to support it and also to showcase other amazing artists of the label such as David Scopes and soon Tomas Kunkel. A release party will also happen at Zwart Goud, a great record shop in Amsterdam, with a very special guest! 

Q5. Any exciting new projects coming up that you can share with us?

A lot of projects are in the loop! We will launch the production of the second Junction White EP very soon, so that we can keep a nice pace of a release per quarter. Luc has also been very busy with a monthly show on 199radio and is currently setting up parties in Berlin where Junction Records artists will showcase their talents.

Q6. Please leave a message for your fans in Japan.

I am so grateful my music can travel the world and be supported by legendary shops such as Technique in Tokyo. This really gives me plenty of positive energy to keep on producing new music and managing the label. So, many thanks to you guys who are supporting underground music in 2018 and hopefully see you around soon on the dancefloor in Japan!

Cool Tiger has found himself a spot in Amsterdam and will be releasing more and more from his label Junction Records. Laurent Garnier, Truncate, Joseph Capriati, Roman Lidau are some of his early supporters and he continues to bring his “Cool Tiger” breeze to the underground scene.