Moods 33: edamami
We move into the end of February 2021 with @edamamiii, aka Jamie Johnson, an LA-born, Michigan-based graphic designer and organizer with Detroit’s @everywomanmusic and Frankfurt’s @none_such. She takes us down a Californian highway at sunset, pulling inspiration form the Asian diaspora to her unabashed love of Flume.
Tracks:
Autumn Moon Shining Over the Calm Lake - Onra
Wildfire - SBTRKT, Little Dragon
I’m Aquarius - Metronomy
So High - Doja Cat
Soft Shock - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Angel - Kali Uchis
Fruit - Abra
The Rapture Pt. II - &ME
Rose Quartz - Toro y Moi
Before I Move Off - Mount Kimbie
Space Cadet - Flume
Chandelier - Shoreline Mafia
Massage Situation - Flying Lotus
Better Give U Up - FKJ
With You - Terrace Martin
Pearl Song - Onra
Ezra - Flume
Gospel for a New Century - Yves Tumor
Maintain - Vilde
Disparate Youth - Santigold
Detroit Part 1 - Shigeto
Blessings on Blessings - OSHUN
Rose in Harlem - Teyana Taylor
Ritual Union - Little Dragon
Call Me - Blondie
Q'n'A
(1) Where, geographically, did you grow up? Was it a single place, or many places?
I’m originally from LA, but grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My upbringing consisted of a mix of dreamy California nostalgia (thanks to my father who is also from near LA), and strong Chinese cultural influence from mother… but all took place in the midwestern suburbs.
(2) Can you pick one song in the mix and explain where you first listened to it?
One of my earliest memories from my childhood was listening to the Best of Blondie CD in my mother’s old Ford Windstar minivan back in 2002(ish). I couldn’t tell you how many hours I’ve spent listening to Call Me by Blondie (along with my other personal favorites Rapture and One Way Or Another) in the back of that car while she carted me around town to run errands. I think I hold Blondie so close to my heart because it reminds me of both of my parents. My father was the one who really introduced me to her music, and his other go-to artists at the time (Garbage and The Beastie Boys lol), but my mother was the one who tolerated me begging to listen to the CDs every time we got in the car - even if it was just to go down the street.
(3) Who "introduced" you to these songs? Was it a person, a radio station, a CD?
This mix is a wild compilation of songs of all different genres that I love and feel a personal connection to. As mentioned before, my father introduced me to Blondie and she quickly became my favorite artist of all time (to this day, actually). Other songs I honestly found on my own spending hours on YouTube in middle school and high school, which is where I discovered electronic music (Flume was definitely my gateway drug, and I’m not ashamed of it!!!) I was introduced to a lot of other artists on this mix in college from many friends in various areas of my life just sharing music for the sake of trying to listen to anything and everything.
(4) Where and when did you first hear techno? Who did it sound like it was for?
I first heard techno my freshman year of college at a basement party that people referred to as the “Techno Dungeon” (lol). I thought it was just going to be a house party, but it was way sicker. Techno sounded like it was for literally anyone: people who can dance, people who can’t to save their lives, weirdos that just like the beep boop sounds, musicians, snobs, people who just want to have a sick track playing to accompany a good time. I found every type of person in the Techno Dungeon that night. It literally didn’t matter who you were, EVERYONE was vibing - it was the most inclusive party space I had been in at that point in my life. I loved that shit (and still do).
(5) You've got the microphone. What do you want to say to the music community?
Words cannot describe the deep gratitude that I have for the techno community, particularly in southeast Michigan. This community has given me a safe and inclusive space for me to let my guard down, be authentic, and just Have A Good Time. I’ve met so many wonderful TALENTED people that I admire and who have been nothing but supportive and kind. Everyone is so open to teaching and learning from one another. I feel that a lot of organizations within the techno community work hard to support their (physical) communities and work specifically to give a lot of people a spotlight that have been historically underrepresented in the scene. This community works so hard to build each other up and it does not go unnoticed. It’s incredibly inspirational, and I feel so proud of everything that the techno community has accomplished. I would like to give a massive shoutout to MEMCO (formerly MEDMA) for giving me a voice and being nothing but encouraging and supportive to me as a baby DJ back in college. I would also like to give a massive shoutout to Every Woman Music in Detroit for giving those who otherwise might have gone unheard a platform to shine and share their music with others. Thank you for everything, and I love you all. xoxo - edamami
Jamie moved her Mix commission to Safe House Ann Arbor, an organization that provides safety, support, advocacy, and resources for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence and their children: www.safehousecenter.org/
We also paired Jamie’s mix with an acrylic work by Christina Quarles, an LA-based artist who reconfigures femme bodies in their size, shape, and pose, often imbuing the figures with a sense of multiplicity and complexity. We think Jamie and Christina are a perfect pair. To lean more about Christina, head here: https://news.artnet.com/art-world/christina-quarles-pilar-corrias-1914023