"TEQ Magazine" is a project where we take a look at the best records handled by the record shop TEQ, talk to the people involved, and delve deeper into the contents. For the first installment, we will be welcoming guests from COWBOY FAMILY RECORDS, who released the label's first vinyl record " COWBOY FAMIL BUSINESS ", to talk about records, music, and songwriting!
Our guest this time is Wada Yosuke, founder of COWBOY FAMILY RECORDS. With a DJ career spanning nearly 20 years, Wada has been actively performing in Asia in recent years, including in Japan, Hong Kong's 宀 Club, Hanoi's Studio Adventure, Kangkao in Bangkok, and this May at THE AIR HOUSE in Korea.
We spoke to WADA about how the label was started, the production process of this album, and his relationship with his close friend, Hong Kong DJ/artist Mr. Ho, who provided music for this album.
About the launch of the label and the release of this album
- Speaking of WADA, you started your DJ career in your hometown of Chiba, and now you are actively performing gigs not only in Japan but also in Asia. In addition to your DJ career, can you tell us about the background to starting your new vinyl-only label "COWBOY FAMILY RECORDS"?
I've had the idea of doing a vinyl-only label for quite some time. However, I felt that the hurdles of pressing and distributing records were high for me, who lives in Japan and is not very good at English, and do not produce music myself. The direct trigger was the vinyl release (sold at TEQ) of the party label [ALIEN SEX FRIENDS (ASF RECS)] run by my DJ friends P-yan and Ryokei, and listening to Takashi Himeoka's Coda, which is included in CBF001 this time. I think it was great that ASF and Takashi Himeoka worked together on their releases, and that we, COWBOY FAMILY, were able to see the path to the release up close. At the same time, the fact that I am now surrounded by wonderful professionals who respect each other has lowered the hurdles of releasing a record considerably.
— Thank you. You were inspired by the ASF activities of P-yan and Ryokei, who are also based in Tokyo, and the music of COWBOY FAMILY member Himeoka prompted you to start a label! TEQ is also paying close attention to these two labels who are working to liven up the Tokyo club scene!
About his relationship with his ally Mr. Ho
-Next, could you tell us about your friend Mr. Ho, who is providing the music for this album? I heard that you two are the same age and have known each other for a long time. First of all, could you tell us how you met?
Looking back at Instagram, I found out that I first invited Mr.Ho to Chiba in 2018. I met him through an introduction from Luca Lozano . I supported him on his second or third tour of Japan, and he suggested that I do Mr.Ho next. I had always wanted to invite Ho to Japan , so this was a godsend. He is a very open-minded and positive person, and the music we have listened to in the past is similar to mine, so it didn't take long for us to become friends.
—- Your relationship began through Luca Lozano, who runs Klass Wreck together with Mr. Ho. I think you two have performed together many times in Japan and Hong Kong. Can you tell us about any memorable parties or episodes?
The most memorable moment was when we performed together at the first House Of Ho event held at the 宀 Club in Hong Kong . This was in 2018, shortly after the 宀 Club opened, and I remember the packed floor being really lively as it was the first House Of Ho event, even before COVID-19. The DJ booth at the 宀 Club has open sides, so anyone can come in, and a huge number of people came into the booth and I got a lot of nice comments even while I was playing.
After that, I was invited to House Of Ho's 1st Anniversary, and our relationship became stronger and stronger.
And then in 2022, we performed together at ALIEN SEX FRIENDS at Mitsuki Tokyo. It was amazing. It was so packed that night that you couldn't go to the bar or the toilets. It was hard to just stand there, not dance. It was one of my best gigs.
Looking back, I think most of my performances with him were special. At the end of 2023, the two parties, Mr. Ho with COWBOY FAMILY at Cabaret Recordings 10th Anniversary at Womb Tokyo and Studio Adventure with Klasse Wrecks in Vietnam, were bigger than ever before and there were some difficult parts, but they were parties that made me feel like my dreams had come true. I think everyone at COWBOY FAMILY and the team at Studio Adventure had a great experience and a great sense of accomplishment.
— Thank you. I could hear that your bond has deepened through sharing many special moments at parties in Japan and overseas. Next, I would like to hear about the song provided for this album. Mr. Ho is not only a DJ, but also a popular artist who has released songs from many famous labels, such as Klass Werks, which he runs, and Japan's Cabaret Recordings. Could you tell us how you came to release a song from COWBOY FAMILY RECORDS, an indented label from Japan?
This was a natural progression. After discussing it as a team, we decided to start a label with COWBOY FAMILY and release vinyl, and we first offered him the job. He readily accepted.
Just two months after I made the offer, I received a new demo that I had made specifically for this album, and the track fit perfectly with the concept of COWBOY FAMILY RECORDS, so I included it on track A1 as the face of this EP. It's one of my favorite songs.
Mr.Ho Selected Discography by Wada Yosukue
— Thank you for sharing your valuable story. Finally, we asked WADA to tell us some of his favorite songs from Mr. Ho's past releases. Please take this opportunity to check them out!
Luca Lozano & Mr.Ho - Drip box
Mr.Ho - Fishtank Race
Mr.Ho- 000 Baby
Click here for the product page
Mr. Ho & Mogwaa - Hustler's Billiard
Mr.Ho & Mogwaa - Angel Number 909 (Acid House Mix)
Next time we will welcome Rio Kawamoto from COWBOY FAMILY and hear about music production.
WADA YOSUKE
Cowboy Family Tokyo / Studio Adventure Hanoi
A DJ based in Tokyo. Influenced by early FUTURE TERROR and the surrounding scene, he started out as a DJ, and since then, he has been a leader in the Chiba local scene, showing off his skills at parties not only in the Kanto region but all over Japan.
Known for his consistent selection of songs carefully chosen from a variety of genres, including minimal, deep house, electro and low house, he has established a style that effortlessly draws out thrilling developments and powerful funkiness from a combination of mechanical and tight grooves.
In 2018, he played his first overseas gig at House Of Ho @ 宀Club Hong Kong, hosted by his good friend Mr. Ho. After that, he played at important parties in various places such as City Power in Melbourne and Studio Adventure in Hanoi, and also appeared at House Of Ho's 1st Anniversary.
He is currently a resident at Cowboy Family Tokyo and Studio Adventure Hanoi, and is active mainly in the Asian underground scene in Tokyo, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China, and other areas.
https://soundcloud.com/wada-yosuke
Cowboy Family Business / COWBOY FAMILY RECORDS 001
https://teq-tokyo.com/products/cowboy-family-business
Cowboy Family Records Tour
https://teq-tokyo.com/blogs/news/cbf-tour
