Compilation of French dj-producer AGAPO's releases and demos

AGAPO

VOCAL IROKO's debut album, "Pimienta Negra"
VOCAL IROKO is a Geneva-based Cuban ensemble directed by singer, music teacher and pedagogue Ondina Duany. Quintet or sextet format with a polyphonic vocal trio, piano, percussion and optional bass, the band daringly revisits the Afro-Cuban sacred music repertoire. VOCAL IROKO was born from the collaboration between Ondina and Cuban singer and actress Amanda Cepero. With a strong drive to revisit Cuba's vocal repertoire and traditional rituals, together they develop an original polyphonic, harmonic and rhythmic interpretation which brings these songs a new light that combines spirituality, cosmopolitism and modernity.
« Pimienta Negra », VOCAL IROKO's debut album, is a tribute to the African roots of their music and culture.
It also features singer and actress Arlety Valdès, leader of SEXTO SENTIDO, Cuba's leading vocal girls group, who appeared in the 2005 motion picture 'Habana Blues'.
Arranging : Ariel Perez
Vocal arranging : Arlety Valdès & Ondina Duany
Musical direction : Ondina Duany
Vocals : Arlety Valdès, Ondina Duany, Amanda Cepero, Diana Granda Ibarra
Piano : Dayron Perez
Bass : Yadier Noa
Drums : Alberto Batista
Percussion : Luis Aballe & Eulogio Arguelles Puey Mambi
Recording, mixing & mastering at Studio La Clave Records, Lausanne, Switzerland

Acheter l'album

VOCAL IROKO - "Pimienta Negra" [JOLLP01]

This playlist gathers the techno-tech house tracks released or due for release on our label, with tracks from Greek producer Erratic Engage and label founder AGAPO

TECHNO-TECH HOUSE

New techno prodigy ERRATIC ENGAGE is engaging the battle on the dance floor with "Fifth Portal", a tech house crusher with a signature sound for his debut single and first release on JOL Music, thus drawing a stylish and uncompromising techno/tech house line for the label. He confirms his ferocious intentions with his second techno single, "Und Tech". With bewitching Byzantine chants over dazzling synths and beats progressions, this track is VHT for Very High Tech !
Music, arranging & editing by ERRATIC ENGAGE. Artwork by Alicia Gantès.
Debut EP out on June 16 across all platforms. Watch out !
ERRATIC ENGAGE on SC : https://soundcloud.com/erraticengage

ERRATIC ENGAGE - "Fifth Portal" [JOLEP01]

AMATHOLE - Who's in the house ?

ETHNIC PARTY - House Mix

'Chase Me (Original Mix)' is a trippy tech house odyssey with electro and trance elements. 
To punctuate the manhunt all along the way, airy synth progressions and a heady bassline keep swinging on a solid kick and funky hi-hats.
'Chase Me' is French producer AGAPO's eleventh title on his own boutique label Joy Of Life Music. 
The message is simple : 'Try to chase me... and catch me if you can !'
Music by AGAPO, arranging & editing by AGAPO & DJEREM. Artwork by Alicia Gantès
YouTube video: https://youtu.be/u6jO87dGzog 
 Original Demo Video: https://youtu.be/ozRl_Htdz74

Chase Me

Chase Me (Original Mix)

Buy on iTunes

Chase Me (Original Mix) [JOL010]

'Replicant' is a cinematic instrumental techno title inspired by the 'Blade Runner 2049' motion picture and its bewitching Hans Zimmer soundtrack. As a huge Ridley Scott fan, it was a delight for French producer AGAPO to dive again into the heavy and dark atmosphere of this epic dystopian sci-fi saga with Denis Villeneuve's sequel. He composed 'Replicant' in one single session immediately after having seen the movie. "Replicant" is AGAPO's tenth release for Swiss boutique label Joy Of Life Music.
Music by AGAPO, arranging & editing by AGAPO & DJEREM. Artwork by Alicia Gantès
Out now
YouTube official video : https://youtu.be/xAETLTH7bqU
YouTube demo video : https://youtu.be/4O4x62QXHyk

Replicant

Replicant [JOL009]

EXCLUSIVE JOL MUSIC TEASER :  instrumental demo version of AGAPO's new club title due, "Organ Hic", in a Deep House-Club House style.
Synopsis : Looking for the track to use to reboot the dancefloor after a hiked up DJ set.
Music & artwork by AGAPO, arranging & editing by AGAPO & DJEREM
Music sounds better with JOL !
YouTube Video : https://youtu.be/22UhLSBpwRw

Organ Hic

AGAPO - Organ Hic (Instrumental) - EXCLUSIVE JOL TEASER

'Dark & Cold' is AGAPO's first techno release for Swiss label JOL Music Geneva, in a Progressive House-Tech House style. It's a doom and gloom ode to the freezing emptiness feeling your heart gets when you are lonely and miss the hug and cuddle of a human being.  A simple recognition that we all need more love, more tenderness, more sharing, more joy...
Further to the release of his first four house singles on JOL Music, French dj-producer AGAPO slides to techno with this hammering instrumental odyssey.
Music & arranging by AGAPO. Editing by AGAPO & DJEREM. Artwork by Alicia Gantès
JOL Video : https://youtu.be/O8f43kpljfs

Dark & Cold

Dark & Cold (Original Mix)

Dark & Cold (Original Mix)[JOL005]

VOCAL IROKO is a Geneva-based Cuban ensemble directed by singer, music teacher and pedagogue Ondina Duany. Quintet or sextet format with a polyphonic vocal trio, piano, percussion and optional bass, the band daringly revisits the Afro-Cuban sacred music repertoire. VOCAL IROKO was born from the collaboration between Ondina and Cuban singer and actress Amanda Cepero. With a strong drive to revisit Cuba's vocal repertoire and traditional rituals, together they develop an original polyphonic, harmonic and rhythmic interpretation which brings these songs a new light that combines spirituality, cosmopolitism and modernity.
« Pimienta Negra », VOCAL IROKO's debut album, is a tribute to the African roots of their music and culture.
It also features singer and actress Arlety Valdès, leader of SEXTO SENTIDO, Cuba's leading vocal girls group, who appeared in the 2005 motion picture 'Habana Blues'.
Arranging : Ariel Perez
Vocal arranging : Arlety Valdès & Ondina Duany
Musical direction : Ondina Duany
Vocals : Arlety Valdès, Ondina Duany, Amanda Cepero, Diana Granda Ibarra
Piano : Dayron Perez
Bass : Yadier Noa
Drums : Alberto Batista
Percussion : Luis Aballe & Eulogio Arguelles Puey Mambi
Recording, mixing & mastering at Studio La Clave Records, Lausanne, Switzerland

Pimienta Negra

Babalu Aye

VOCAL IROKO - Babalu Aye (JOLLP01)

JOL Music offers fans a second exclusive excerpt from the album "Pimienta Negra" by Cuban ensemble Vocal Iroko, the title "Saraggodde". VOCAL IROKO's debut album, "Pimienta Negra" will be available on all platforms on June 9.
VOCAL IROKO is a Geneva-based Cuban ensemble directed by singer, music teacher and pedagogue Ondina Duany. Quintet or sextet format with a polyphonic vocal trio, piano, percussion and optional bass, the band daringly revisits the Afro-Cuban sacred music repertoire. VOCAL IROKO was born from the collaboration between Ondina and Cuban singer and actress Amanda Cepero. With a strong drive to revisit Cuba's vocal repertoire and traditional rituals, together they develop an original polyphonic, harmonic and rhythmic interpretation which brings these songs a new light that combines spirituality, cosmopolitism and modernity.
« Pimienta Negra », VOCAL IROKO's debut album, is a tribute to the African roots of their music and culture.
It also features singer and actress Arlety Valdès, leader of SEXTO SENTIDO, Cuba's leading vocal girls group, who appeared in the 2005 motion picture 'Habana Blues'.
Arranging : Ariel Perez
Vocal arranging : Arlety Valdès & Ondina Duany
Musical direction : Ondina Duany
Vocals : Arlety Valdès, Ondina Duany, Amanda Cepero, Diana Granda Ibarra
Piano : Dayron Perez
Bass : Yadier Noa
Drums : Alberto Batista
Percussion : Luis Aballe & Eulogio Arguelles Puey Mambi
Recording, mixing & mastering at Studio La Clave Records, Lausanne, Switzerland
JOL VIDEO :  https://youtu.be/-O8ySvEf82o

Saraggodde

VOCAL IROKO - Saraggodde (JOLLP01)

"Feel Good" is the pop version of an electro track of mine called "Aliens" inspired by the "Mission Impossible" soundtrack theme. When my team mate YARV (Yuri Ariel Redonet Valdes) played it to me on guitar for the first time as a pop song, just for fun, I felt both surprised and truly flattered. Hence we decided to produce it also in pop version and cooked this first demo hand in hand, thus giving birth to electro duo MEN GO TREE. Music by AGAPO. Arrangement & editing by AGAPO & YARV. All acoustic guitars by YARV. 
Song synopsis : You make me feel good !

Feel Good

MEN GO TREE - You Make Me Feel Good (4.1 Demo - 113bpm)- EXCLUSIVE JOL TEASER

New techno prodigy ERRATIC ENGAGE is engaging the battle on the dance floor with "Fifth Portal", a tech house crusher with a signature sound for his debut single and first release on JOL Music, thus drawing a stylish and uncompromising techno/tech house line for the label.
Music, arranging & editing by ERRATIC ENGAGE. Artwork by Alicia Gantès.
Debut EP out on June 16 across all platforms. Watch out for this one !
Video : https://youtu.be/DxsHJpH1XI0
The Joy Team

Fifth Portal

ERRATIC ENGAGE - Fifth Portal [JOLEP01T1]

Greek producer ERRATIC ENGAGE confirms his ferocious intentions with his second techno single, "Und Tech", thus drawing an uncompromising and stylish electro tech line under the Dance banner of daring Swiss label JOL Music Geneva. With bewitching Byzantine chants over dazzling synth and beats progressions, this track is VHT for Very High Tech !
Out June 16 across all platforms, watch out !
Music, arranging & editing by ERRATIC ENGAGE. Artwork by AGAPO
Video : https://youtu.be/7plSp1C6zD0

Und Tech

ERRATIC ENGAGE - Und Tech [JOLEP01T2]

Brand new funky electro house title by AGAPO, still cooking at The Joy Lab.
Music, arranging & editing by AGAPO.
Synopsis : life is energy, life is recycling, and the process never stops accelerating for the sake of so-called progress. Whales, elephants, bears, wolves, giraffes, bees and so many other species don't stand the slightest chance in front of the greed and ferocity of human beings. What a crime against life and its beauty, a crime against ourselves ! What a shame ! We should all work less, earn less, spend less money and energy, recycle as much as possible and respect our fragile and unique planet. Recycling food, water, energy, clothes, furniture, objects, etc. Recycling instead of buying, spending, wasting. Before it's too late...

Recycle

AGAPO - Recycle (2.1 Demo)

VOCAL IROKO's debut album, "Pimienta Negra"
"Madre de Agua" is a title composed by Cuban story-teller Coralia Rodriguez, mother of band singer Amanda Cepero.
VOCAL IROKO is a Geneva-based Cuban ensemble directed by singer, music teacher and pedagogue Ondina Duany. Quintet or sextet format with a polyphonic vocal trio, piano, percussion and optional bass, the band daringly revisits the Afro-Cuban sacred music repertoire. VOCAL IROKO was born from the collaboration between Ondina and Cuban singer and actress Amanda Cepero. With a strong drive to revisit Cuba's vocal repertoire and traditional rituals, together they develop an original polyphonic, harmonic and rhythmic interpretation which brings these songs a new light that combines spirituality, cosmopolitism and modernity.
« Pimienta Negra », VOCAL IROKO's debut album, is a tribute to the African roots of their music and culture.
It also features singer and actress Arlety Valdès, leader of SEXTO SENTIDO, Cuba's leading vocal girls group, who appeared in the 2005 motion picture 'Habana Blues'.
Arranging : Ariel Perez
Vocal arranging : Arlety Valdès & Ondina Duany
Musical direction : Ondina Duany
Vocals : Arlety Valdès, Ondina Duany, Amanda Cepero, Diana Granda Ibarra
Piano : Dayron Perez
Bass : Yadier Noa
Drums : Alberto Batista
Percussion : Luis Aballe & Eulogio Arguelles Puey Mambi
Recording, mixing & mastering at Studio La Clave Records, Lausanne, Switzerland

Madre de Agua

VOCAL IROKO - Madre de Agua (JOLLP01)

MEN GO TREE is a latin flavored Electro Pop duo formed by French dj-producer and JOL Music Geneva label manager Patrick Gantès aka AGAPO and Cuban singer-songwriter Yuri Redonet, alias YARV, leader of the SinCraneo Cuban Fusion Band. AGAPO's wide and wild dj repertoire encompasses black, latin, hip hop, house, disco funk, electro, tech, D&B, reggae, ragga, oriental, world, fusion and unlikely 'métissages'. As a Cuban songwriter and guitarist who's traveled the world and speaks English and French with ease, YARV's musical background was focused on Cuban trova, 'filin' and 'bailable' on one side, and on the other rock, blues, hip hop and rap, reggae, funk, jazz, soul and more. MEN GO TREE combine electronic and organic instruments and blend their musical universes to create a unique feel good fusion. 'TE QUIERO (Soul Mix)' is their debut single. More to come soon.
Jaqueline Nakiri Nalubale, also known as Jaqee, is a singer and musician born in Kampala, Uganda in 1977. In 1990, she immigrated to Gothenburg, Sweden, where she began her musical career. She describes herself as a 'musical chameleon', having no single musical style, although she grew up in African gospel and clearly nourishes a natural taste for reggae, jazz, soul and hip hop. Her latest album 'Fly High' was released in 2017.
AGAPO and Jaqee first met after a Jaqee concert at L'Epicentre in Geneva, then AGAPO invited Jaqee to co-write lyrics and sing on the 'Soul Mix' of a new R&B-Soul-Fusion MEN GO TREE title, 'TE QUIERO'.
The song, tailor made for Jaqee's bewitching interpretation, with lead vocals in English and backing vocals and slam in Spanish, tells the story of a European man and a Cuban woman who met and fell in love seven years ago in Cuba and who still cannot forget each other in spite of time and distance, as if under a spell.
YouTube : https://youtu.be/ye0u7cBeOKQ 
Music AGAPO & YARV. Arranging AGAPO, YARV, DJEREM & Jaqee. Editing & mastering AGAPO, YARV & DJEREM. Lyrics Jaqee, AGAPO & YARV. Lead vocals Jaqee. Backing vocals Jaqee, YARV, AGAPO, Katia Ayra Quilez & Alberto Castellon Cardoso. Spanish slam & guitar YARV.
All vocals recorded at LB Records Studio, Geneva, with Jorge Gali. Cover picture Alicia Gantès. Cover artwork AGAPO.
℗ 2018 JOL Music Geneva © 2018 JOL Music Geneva

LYRICS
Intro
AGAPO : Te quiero
JAQEE : Cada dia, cada dia

Verse 1
JAQEE : Everyday I fall in love with you, just a little more just a little more, that’s how we roll, how we roll, baby, ooohh…
You have opened me to love I never knew was possible so I will ride with you till we are no more
YARV : Y solo por tu amor

Chorus 1
JAQEE : Everyday, I love you more, only you can make me feel what I feel
AGAPO : Te quiero X 4
Backing Vocals : Cada dia mas x 3

Verse 2
JAQEE : Bo-body feels so alive with you, when I am with you, baby, it is the sweetest taboo, oohh, oohh….
So I open up to loving you in a way I thought I never could, that’s why I’m gonna ride with you till we are no more
YARV : Y solo por tu amor

Chorus 2
JAQEE : Everyday, I love you more, only you can make me feel what I feel
AGAPO : Te quiero X 4
Backing Vocals : Cada dia mas x 3

Spanish slam
YARV : Tanto que pude, tanto que quise darte todo mujer y la distancia se he encargado de callar mi querer,
Te voy poniendo en mis sueños, te voy tragando el empeño, imaginando cada día que soy yo tu dueño,
No creo en cadenas, no pongo condenas, no quise amararte mi amor, solo el tiempo y la distancia marcaran situación, Con los recuerdos que se borran y se alejan de mí, te quiero menos, te quiero más, es que te quiero a ti

Chorus 3
JAQEE : Everyday, I love you more, only you can make me feel what I feel
Backing Vocals : Es que te quiero a ti X 4
JAQEE backing vocals : Cada dia X 3

Chorus 4
JAQEE : Everyday, I love you more, only you can make me feel what I feel
AGAPO : Te quiero x 3
JAQEE backing vocals : Cada dia, cada dia x 3

Te Quiero (Soul Mix)

TE QUIERO (Soul Mix)

MEN GO TREE & Jaqee - "Te Quiero (Soul Mix)" [JOL006]

VOCAL IROKO is a Geneva-based Cuban ensemble directed by singer, music teacher and pedagogue Ondina Duany. Quintet or sextet format with a polyphonic vocal trio, piano, percussion and optional bass, the band daringly revisits the Afro-Cuban sacred music repertoire. VOCAL IROKO was born from the collaboration between Ondina and Cuban singer and actress Amanda Cepero. With a strong drive to revisit Cuba's vocal repertoire and traditional rituals, together they develop an original polyphonic, harmonic and rhythmic interpretation which brings these songs a new light that combines spirituality, cosmopolitism and modernity.
« Pimienta Negra », VOCAL IROKO's debut album, is a tribute to the African roots of their music and culture.
The album's second title, "Shango", got charted and peaked at N°72 in the Afro/Latin/Brazilian Top 100 tracks on Traxsource.

Shango

VOCAL IROKO - Shango (JOLLP01)

Demo of an early MEN GO TREE tribal house track we wrote a while ago with my team mate YARV. Music, arranging & editing by AGAPO & YARV

MEN GO TREE - Tribal Wave (3.5 Demo)

One of AGAPO's early instrumental compositions, 'Strike' is a suite of electro house synth progressions intertwining on a heavy bass line and a tight beat pumping up with raw rock energy. AGAPO's ninth release on boutique label JOL Music Geneva is a nervous track that tickles the bowls of your ears and the soles of your feet, a friendly slap in the face to make you wake up and smile. 'Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot, make it hot by striking'.
Music & artwork by AGAPO, arranging & editing by AGAPO & Djerem.
Official release on Friday, April 12, 2019
"Strike" is ranked at N°3 in the Tech House Top 10 April charts on HouseCharts.net.

Strike

Strike [JOL008]

"Work In Progress", AGAPO's twelfth title, is a progressive house journey seasoned with techno, electro, krautrock and trance elements, where hypnotic intertwining synth progressions and a heady turbine bass line fight a duel on a punchy and steady tech house beat.
"This tune is all about story telling and patience. This is progressive, work in progress... My goal when writing this one was to take the listener away on a gentle, linear and repetitive helter skelter and manage to wrap him around so she/he just cannot stop the music before the end of the track. Hope I succeeded ! You tell me..." AGAPO, July 2019
" I am truly proud and honored that LW Recordings have selected my recent Tech House title "Work In Progress" on their new compilation album "Cardio Attack, Vol. 13", out on May 4 on Beatport: https://www.beatport.com/release/cardio-attack-vol-13/2929665" - AGAPO, April 2020
Music by AGAPO, arranging & editing by AGAPO & Djerem, Artwork by Alicia Gantès

Work In Progress

Work In Progress [JOL011]

'Funky Barrio' is a cocktail of funk, chachacha, nu disco, soul & hip hop, with lemon & ice and 2 straws. A tribute to the 70's New York melting pot with Latinos, Afro-Americans and WASP's grooving on the same dance-floors - at the Palladium and other venues - and on the same tunes, whether salsa, boogaloo, funk, soul or jazz. 'Funky Barrio' is AGAPO's thirteenth title and the opening single for his 'Funk You So Much' LP project. This is the "Original Mix". More to come soon... Music by AGAPO, arranging & editing by AGAPO & Djerem, artwork by AGAPO. Come to the funky side of the street !!!

Funky Barrio

Funky Barrio (Original Mix)

Funky Barrio (Original Mix) [JOL012]

'Funky Barrio' is a cocktail of funk, cha cha cha, nu disco, soul & hip hop, with lemon & ice and 2 straws. A tribute to the 70's New York melting pot with Latinos, Afro-Americans and WASPs grooving on the same dance-floors - at the Palladium and other venues - and on the same tunes, whether salsa, boogaloo, funk, soul or jazz. 'Funky Barrio' is AGAPO's thirteenth title and the opening single for his 'Funk You So Much' LP project. This is the 'Malecon Mix', AGAPO's own rework with the song's main Cuban chachacha chorus setting the theme on the intro and an alternative chorus picking you up on the bridge. 
"Camina con mi cha, con mi chacha, con mi chachacha... sabroso !"
Music by AGAPO, arranging & editing by AGAPO & Djerem, artwork by AGAPO
The 'Original Mix' : https://soundcloud.com/agapo-jolmusic/funky-barrio
The "Malecon Mix" release date May 22
Traxsource Soul/funk/disco Featured - Week of May 25, 2020 - Position #43
Traxsource New Releases - Week of May 22, 2020 - Position #62

Funky Barrio (Malecon Remix)

Funky Barrio (Malecon Mix) [JOL013]

MEN GO TREE - "Biggie (Demo Version)"
Music & lyrics by AGAPO, arranging & editing by AGAPO, YARV & Djerem, vocals by AGAPO & YARV

WE ARE ROOTS

Biggie

MEN GO TREE - "Biggie (5.1 Demo)" - EXCLUSIVE JOL MUSIC TEASER

This release celebrates, to the day, the third anniversary of boutique label JOL Music Geneva, as the very first JOL production, AGAPO's vocal house debut single "A Good Start", was out on 14.04.2018. 
"Organ Hic" is a plain and simple chill house anthem designed to make you feel good, forget your troubles and escape for a few seconds, a few minutes, a few hours...
Music & artwork by AGAPO, arranging & editing by AGAPO & DJEREM
OUT ON 14 APRIL 2021 - 3 ANS DÉJÀ !

Organ Hic (Original Mix) [JOL014]

Joy Of Life Music ("JOL Music Geneva") is an independent record label & agency founded and run by French DJ-producer AGAPO, teamed up with top Swiss DJ-producer Djerem and Cuban singer-songwriter Yuri Redonet. Artwork by Alicia Gantès & AGAPO.

JOL Music develops three priority musical routes :
1. Dance : House, Tech, Electro, Nu Disco, Dance
2. Groove : Funk, Soul, Hip Hop, Pop Rock, Fusion
3. "Worldwild" : Latin, Afro, Brazil, Oriental, World.

Main artists : AGAPO, ERRATIC ENGAGE, MEN GO TREE, VOCAL IROKO

E-mail : joyoflifemusic@gmail.com
SEND US YOUR UNSIGNED DEMOS !
(Soundcloud links only for the moment, thanks)

FOLLOW - PLAY - LIKE - COMMENT - REPOST, THANK YOU !!!

The symbol of JOL artists @ work is the Tibetan sand mandala.
JOL Music's mottos :
'Music sounds better with JOL'.
'JOL Music tickles the bowls of your ears and the soles of your feet'.
'JOL Music Geneva, worldwide distributors of good vibes'

"La musique est une révélation plus haute que toute sagesse et toute philosophie."
Beethoven
"On ne vend pas la musique. On la partage." Bernstein
"La musique peut changer le monde parce qu'elle peut changer les gens"
Bono

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