ARTIST SPOTLIGHT: YOSHI HORINO

YOSHI HORINO’s Biography:

UNKNOWN season Label Head / DJ / Producer / Remixer / YoshiFumi / Trouble Water / H&H

Yoshi dove into the world of dance music by starting to DJ in 1991. From then on, he went on work as the house music buyer and sales clerk at the renowned record store in Shibuya, Dance Music Records, selling not only the hottest NY deep house but also introducing rather early in Japan, the then, up and coming house sounds coming out of the U.K. and Europe to the top DJs in Japan.

In 1997, he decided to expand his horizons and actually produce music and joined one of Japan’s premier dance music record label, Flower Records, headed by Eitetsu Takamiya a.k.a. Little Big Bee, where he acted as their A&R, promotions head and sales chief. This might be where many started hearing his name. As Flower Records’ main guy, he steadily promoted their incredible stew of domestic acts such as Su Paka Pooh, Little Big Bee, Jazztronik amongst others, to the level that it is universally known now for. To note, around the same period, with the recommendation by DJ Cosmo, he began writing disc reviews periodically at The Loft, David Mancuso’s website column, ear candy where his eloquent taste of dance music became quite renowned throughout the world.

In 2003, he went independent and started doing an assorted variety of work in the dance music field such as promoting domestic and international labels and artists in Japan such as Franck Roger, Raphael Sebbag of UFO, Kenichiro Nishihara amongst others, license coordination and bookings. From 2005, he began promoting the French label, Kitsune and helped to establish their presence and popularity in Japan.

In 2010, he set up his own record label, UNKNOWN season. A label that releases credible, electronic, house, tech-house ambient tracks produced by up and coming as well as established, high quality Japanese creators to the world. With Yoshi’s trustworthy taste in music and knowledge of nurturing acts, this label’s quality has not gone unnoticed and has received regular praise and confidence by some of the top DJs such as Jimpster, Laurent Garnier, Juan Atkins, Joris Voorn, Satoshi Tomiie, John Digweed, James Holden, Tensnake, Osunlade, Danny Howells, Sebo K., Stacey Pullen, Brothers Vibe, Guy J, DJ Sneak, DJ Alfredo and DJ Nature. He also regularly hosts a mix show called “UNKNOWN season Radio Show” at West Radio in Greece (www.westradio.gr) which is aired every last Sat., 7:00 AM (Japan time/ 6:00 AM Summer Time) so tune in to his and his crew’s delightful sounds. His release of original producing was “Fallin’ House” with Break 3000(Dirt Crew) from V.A. “Deep Love 3” out of Dirt Crew Recordings 2013 Aug. And also remix of Werner Niedermeier & Gareth Whitehead’s track, Blaq (Yoshi Horino Remix) out of WiN Recordings was given the heads up by Dirt Crew, Silicone Soul, Pig & Dan, Luciano, Bookashade, Sasse, amongst others. his recent release 2014 “Sweet Memory EP” out of Asia Music was given the heads up by Sasha, Lars Behrenroth and many more. “Good Vibes Here” by Sasha.
And Satoshi Fumi & Yoshi Horino as YoshiFumi released Rick Wade “In The Fields(YoshiFumi Remix)” on UNKNOWN season 2014, Japanese house music legendary Manabu Nagayama & Soichi Terada(Original produce for Nami Shimada “Sun Shower” as Larry Levan Remix famous) “Low Tention(YoshiFumi Remix)” of 1991 release on UNKNOWN season 2015 and Platinum Mindz feat. Man P “Take Control(YoshiFumi Remix)” on Nick Holder’s DNH Records 2015. Kenny Bobien “Set Them Free(YoshiFumi Remix)” on Soundmen On Wax 2016. And YoshiFumi “Get In The Groove” on Loftsoul Recordings 2017. YoshiFumi “C’s House” on Double Cheese Records 2017.
Currently, he is busy producing, running his label and DJing regularly to help spread the auspicious sounds and vibes coming out of Japan, via UNKNOWN season. Therefore, he is focusing again now in DJing more and is planning an Asian and European Tour in the near future.

1991年にDJスタート。

その後、レコード店にてバイヤー兼セーラー、レコードレーベルにてA&Rを勤める。

2000年にMiami WMCにてYellow Productins(Paris)、Gourmet Recordings(Chicago)のパーティーにDJで参加。

同年にLondon, Glasgow, Manchester, Brightonを巡るUKツアーを行う。

またDJ CosmoのリコメンドでDavid Macuso主宰The Loftのウェブサイト内、ear candyにて毎月リコメンドディスクを紹介。

2001年Hiraku Nagasawaとの共作、H&H – Stop Your Love(incl. King Britt Remix)”を12inch vinylでリリース。

2010年にレーベルUNKNOWN seasonをスタート。世界中のレジェンドから新進気鋭のアーティスト達の作品をリリース。トップDJ達を中心に強い支持を受けている。

2013年にドイツのDirt Crew Recordingsからレーベルボスとの共作、Yoshi Horino & Break 3000 – Fallin’ Houseをリリース。

2014年にAsia MusicよりリリースしたYoshi Horino – Sweet MemoryはSashaをはじめ多くのDJたちに高評価を得る。

Beatportではトップページ、各種チャートでフィーチャーされる。同時にUSの音楽誌Magnetic MagazineのHOUSE MUSIC TOP 10に選出される。

Satoshi Fumiと自身のユニットYoshiFumiでは、オリジナル曲の他にKenny Bobien, Rick Wade, Chris Coco, Alton Miller, Manabu Nagayama & Soichi Terada, Nick HolderのレーベルDNH Records, Mop Of Headの作品のリミックスを手掛ける。

現在DJは都内レギュラーパーティーを中心に地方、中国ツアーなどを行う。

またライブストリーミング番組Dommuneに4度、100万人のリスナーを持つ番組Deeper Shades Of Houseへは2度出演。

Mixcloudによるトレンドチャートでは、Deep House部門4位、Underground部門2位、House Music部門3位、Soulful House部門3位を記録。

20年以上の音楽活動をオリジナルのスタイルへ昇華させ、DOPEな世界とPOPSが共存する、セクシーでヘビーな美しい世界観を繰り広げている。