Jorge Cruz
Encyclopedia
Jorge Cruz is an avant-garde photographer, curator, and writer.
Jorge's most notable work has been with the Chicago house label, Trax Records
. In an interview with Camilo Rocha, Jorge described the forthcoming plans that he had with Trax Records. One of which included a prematurely signed single of Azari and III, which was never released on the label but ended up on their self-titled debut album, it was also released on Turbo Recordings. Since Jorge became appointed the creative and public relations director at the label, Jorge has organized and curated notable projects such as the 25th Anniversary party - which was chosen by Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot
as his "Top Weekend Choice" - a visual rebranding of the label, a 25th Anniversary mixtape mixed by Joe Smooth
and an upcoming secret project of which he asked Hercules and Love Affair
's Kim Ann Foxman to mix; the secret project was leaked when a cover which was designed by Jorge appeared on Trax Records' Facebook. Most recently a small film surfaced announcing an upcoming Trax Records 25th Anniversary collection. In the film are people such as Screamin' Rachael hazily dancing on top of a rooftop in Chicago. Clubbing Spain called the video "weird" and it also announced that Jorge Cruz is curating the upcoming collection.
After he co-curated the Joe Smooth mixtape a new series of mixtapes appeared on what is called "monamiejorge†apes" which is hosted on bandcamp, the same site he chose to exclusively host Trax Record's entire catalogue. The series includes Jorge asking notable dj's to create a mixtape inspired by a theme or idea. Some mixtapes include a Johan Agebjörn tape, Mariam which was inspired by interspecies love and was released right before Johan Agebjörn's release of his Casablanca Nights release. Others include tapes by Don Rimini
, My Panda Shall Fly, BeatauCue, and Kid's Sister's DJ Willy Joy. Oftentimes the mixtapes are featured on URB.com, URB Magazine's digital space, also a place where he frequently contributes.
Besides all of his musical background, Jorge is also a notable photographer who has one finished series, "Untitled" and is working on a continuing body of work titled "Living @ Home". Aline Smithson of Lenscratch was one of the first people to interview Jorge about his work. Quickly after his work was featured on Lenscratch, his work also appeared on C-Monster, Regina Hackett's, art critic of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
, "Another Bouncing Ball", and Feature Shoot.
Jorge's "Living @ Home" is a photo documentary series in which Jorge documents the everyday lives of his family. In an interview with The Shpilman Institute of Photography, based in Tel-Aviv, Israel, Jorge described his work as "part grim reaper, part Nan Goldin". Also in the same interview he described that the body of work is an ongoing series that he plans to finish once he is dead.
Jorge's most notable work has been with the Chicago house label, Trax Records
Trax Records
Trax Records is a house-music record label based in Chicago. It played a major part in the development of house music with records such as Jamie Principle & Frankie Knuckles's "Your Love."...
. In an interview with Camilo Rocha, Jorge described the forthcoming plans that he had with Trax Records. One of which included a prematurely signed single of Azari and III, which was never released on the label but ended up on their self-titled debut album, it was also released on Turbo Recordings. Since Jorge became appointed the creative and public relations director at the label, Jorge has organized and curated notable projects such as the 25th Anniversary party - which was chosen by Chicago Tribune's Greg Kot
Greg Kot
Greg Kot is an American writer and journalist. Since 1990, Kot has been the music critic at the Chicago Tribune, where he has covered popular music and reported on music-related social, political and business issues...
as his "Top Weekend Choice" - a visual rebranding of the label, a 25th Anniversary mixtape mixed by Joe Smooth
Joe smooth
Joe Smooth is an American producer and DJ of house music, notably during the late 1980s and early 1990s.-Early life:Smooth was a self-taught musician, and started creating original music at the age of 12...
and an upcoming secret project of which he asked Hercules and Love Affair
Hercules and Love Affair
Hercules and Love Affair is a musical project from New York based DJ Andy Butler. Members include Andrew Butler, Kim Ann Foxman, Mark Pistel,Aerea Negrot, and Shaun Wright...
's Kim Ann Foxman to mix; the secret project was leaked when a cover which was designed by Jorge appeared on Trax Records' Facebook. Most recently a small film surfaced announcing an upcoming Trax Records 25th Anniversary collection. In the film are people such as Screamin' Rachael hazily dancing on top of a rooftop in Chicago. Clubbing Spain called the video "weird" and it also announced that Jorge Cruz is curating the upcoming collection.
After he co-curated the Joe Smooth mixtape a new series of mixtapes appeared on what is called "monamiejorge†apes" which is hosted on bandcamp, the same site he chose to exclusively host Trax Record's entire catalogue. The series includes Jorge asking notable dj's to create a mixtape inspired by a theme or idea. Some mixtapes include a Johan Agebjörn tape, Mariam which was inspired by interspecies love and was released right before Johan Agebjörn's release of his Casablanca Nights release. Others include tapes by Don Rimini
Don Rimini
Don Rimini, born Xavier Gassemann, is a french musician of electro music. He has written "Let me back up".- Discography :- Remixes :...
, My Panda Shall Fly, BeatauCue, and Kid's Sister's DJ Willy Joy. Oftentimes the mixtapes are featured on URB.com, URB Magazine's digital space, also a place where he frequently contributes.
Besides all of his musical background, Jorge is also a notable photographer who has one finished series, "Untitled" and is working on a continuing body of work titled "Living @ Home". Aline Smithson of Lenscratch was one of the first people to interview Jorge about his work. Quickly after his work was featured on Lenscratch, his work also appeared on C-Monster, Regina Hackett's, art critic of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer is an online newspaper and former print newspaper covering Seattle, Washington, United States, and the surrounding metropolitan area...
, "Another Bouncing Ball", and Feature Shoot.
Jorge's "Living @ Home" is a photo documentary series in which Jorge documents the everyday lives of his family. In an interview with The Shpilman Institute of Photography, based in Tel-Aviv, Israel, Jorge described his work as "part grim reaper, part Nan Goldin". Also in the same interview he described that the body of work is an ongoing series that he plans to finish once he is dead.
Discography
Mixtapes
- "Hints" of Jazzmin (June 2006)
- "Deux" (June 2009)
- "Demon Cry" (September 2010)
- "Summerz Not Dead" by Willy Joy (September 2010)
- "Vogue" by Logo (November 2010)
- "Sashey" by Sishi Rösch (April 2011)
- "Trax Records 25th Anniversary Mixtape" by Joe Smooth (December 2010)
- "The Mix" by Nic Sarno (February 2011) * originally appeared in The Chicagoist
- "Back To Chicago" by My Panda Shall Fly (April 2011)
- "Mariam" by Johan Agebjörn (May 2011)
- "No" (May 2011)
- "Sebastian" (May 2011)
- "The All Seeing Eye" by BeatauCue (June 2011)
- "Adonis" by Don Rimini (July 2011)
- "The Trax Records 25th Anniversary Album Mixtape" by Kim Ann Foxman (August 2011)