Theory Therapy 54: usof | Low End Theorists

Aug 24

Aug 24 Theory Therapy 54: usof

Sonic dream-weaving from Lisbon.

This one’s been a long time coming – a mix from Lisbon’s usof. João is a producer, DJ, label-runner, visual artist and he’s part of the Living Room collective. His new album, Wish You Were Nicer, is out next week on enmossed. It’s our favourite usof release yet. Thanks for the mix João.

Hey João. So good to finally get a TT mix from you. How are you today?

I’m doing good! Excited to fly to Ireland this weekend to play with a bunch of friends in Cork and Dublin.

What was the last song you listened to?

RN, I’m tapping into Polido’s mix for Accidental Meetings. Cool stuff. Last thing I heard before typing this interview was Hardrock’s new album “1of1”.

What have you been listening to lately?

Haven’t been doing a lot of digging as I’m taking a small summer break from my quântica radio show. so just the stuff that I usually listen to on my day to day: lots of rap, some jazz, some dub and lots of ambi mixes.

Tell us a bit about the new album you have coming out. When was it recorded?

The songs are mostly from before the pandemic and the very start of it. It’s a record I’m really proud of and I’m so excited about how the enmossed and psychic liberation crew put the release together. It looks and feels beautiful and really matches the music inside. and ofc it’s a big pleasure to release at the same time and in the same series as a big inspo of mine, exael. :)

Outside of music, what inspires you?

Nature, artworks, performance, dance and daily life.

Can you tell us a little about the mix? What were you feeling when you made it? Is there a particular concept behind it?

Some of the tracks were sent to me by online acquaintances that I really resonated with, others are from labels I love dearly. It was quite easy to put together the list of music I ended up playing. Contrary to most of my mixes this one feels more like just a playlist. No long transitions with songs overlayed, no fx and most songs are playing from start to finish without changing their tempo.

Where would you recommend listening to it?

Maybe trying to fall asleep in a tent somewhere in the wilderness. Probably I’m just obsessed with camping lately. :)

Are there any tracks you’ve used in the mix that are special or significant to you?

At the end of it you can hear a part of the tape I released not too long ago with Leipzig bosses Prepaid Records. They were super nice to me and their project is great, run by special folks. These vacations in Germany are something I will always cherish and recording this live set straight to tape which will last forever on the last day of it was really sick to say the least.

Theory Therapy mixes are often about sharing the music that you personally find therapeutic, cathartic or restorative. What does that mean for you?

I think music that is therapeutic, cathartic or restorative (which are 3 great words for describing music) will come to you when you need it most in ways that you wouldn’t expect. I think most music has the power to have that effect on people. It can come late at night in parties you thought you might not really enjoy before getting there or early in the morning when you’re only listening to some automated youtube mix to get you through work and you don’t even have the energy to decide what you want to hear. You just have to let it do that you..

Deep!

Is there a particular album or piece of music that you find yourself returning to for similar reasons?

Hard question but I guess the first answer that comes to mind are those long pieces from uon or Huerco S, superbath and the quiet time release. Midori Takada too, another classic. Also, and I’m sure lots of people will relate to this one, a lot of playboi carti leaks from before WLR did something for me lol.