In conversation with Jojo Lorenzo

by Maeve de Bordóns Álvarez

29 January 2024

Jojo Lorenzo is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and the founder of the innovative music channel Book Club Radio. They are also the creator of the PBS documentary music series, Sound Field.

As a Brooklyn-based DJ, Jojo seamlessly blends their expertise as a music documentarian into the beats that ignite the dancefloor.

Jojo Lorenzo DJing at a Book Club Radio paty in New York

Hi Jojo, thank you so much for this mix and interview, how are you feeling at the moment? 

You’re welcome I loved recording this mix, I wanted to play music that makes me feel young and feminine.

Can you explain to us how Book Club Radio started and how it’s evolved this past year?

So it all started with a group chat. It’s me, Carlie, Tinzo, Claudia, and Kevin and we had a chat dedicated to planning the raves we go to, we called it Book Club as a joke, because we were meeting up regularly. One day I’m watching DJ mixes online and I text them, “Hey let’s invite our friends to my living room and film some DJ mixes,” and Claudia suggests we call it Book Club, obviously inspired by the name of our group chat.

So we threw the first one in my living room with a $300 controller and some home theater speakers. And it was fun enough that people wanted to do it again. We spent the rest of the summer hopping from friend’s basement to friend’s basement, throwing invite-only parties and filming them. Our friends stepping in to lend their homes was a huge blessing because it’s so hard to come by space in New York.

It’s been really fun to incorporate my filmmaking background into this project, that’s why we try to make the videos as cinematic as possible with themes that make the space and audience cohesive. I think each one looks like a party scene from a movie, rather than a recording of a DJ mix.

The other thing is that when we go out dancing we love to go out and dance with each other. We noticed that a lot of times you’ll go out to dance and it’s a crowd of people staring at the DJ with their phones out. So we created the librarian’s manifesto to help inspire people to be more intentional about their Book Club experience and restore the dance floor to a place for dancing.

How has it been working with your sister Tinzo? Do you come from a musical family? 

My sister is my best friend. Working together is easy because we aren’t afraid to give each other honest feedback. For example on NYE we played a b2b gig and I was working on an edit of New York New York, and she complained it was too corny.

So I spent the day redoing it and honestly she was right, the crowd loved the new version. I suppose we do come from a musical family, music has always been one of the most important things in our lives. We are also Filipino so music is probably in our blood.

Jojo Lorenzo photographed on the street.

Something that really stands out from the Book Club Radio parties is how it fosters a space for people to express themselves through themes and dressing up - I was wondering what makes a good party for you?

I think what makes a party good is the people that fill the room. Kerri Chandler said it best, “people go to a party for the atmosphere, but they don’t realize that they are the atmosphere.” Having themes and dressing up helps give everyone a shared journey, “we are all in it together” kind of thing. Now everyone is on the same team because there’s a shared connection there. I also think the themes help make the parties more immersive. I think it’s like playing make believe or cosplaying. It’s just playing. It’s a fantasy land.

You also produce a documentary series for PBS called Subcultured, do you think being a documentarian has informed the way you think about music and putting on parties?

Through Subcultured I get to study pop culture and underground communities. I did a documentary on virtual reality clubbing and that inspired a lot of this. The VRChat club world is actually where I learned how to DJ. I also created a music documentary series for PBS called Sound Field. Working on that show has given me a real appreciation for the history behind the music and I try to bring that into the music I play.

Do you have a specific moment you’re the most proud of in your music journey this far?

At our alien-themed Book Club Radio party, I made my first original remix and played it out for the crowd. It was an edit of Listen Jesus from the musical Jesus Christ Superstar. I was shaky and nervous to play the track the day of the party. Everyone in the room was so in sync, it was definitely the most euphoric I’ve ever felt in a moment.

Jojo Lorenzo playing at BookClub Radio’s alien-themed party in costume.

What currently excites you about the New York music scene?

I love New York and I’m so thankful to be here. There’s so much musical variety here and so many people are craving different sounds.

There’s so much variety though that it can be hard to find what you’re looking for. I hear a lot of people complaining that they want to hear rock, dnb, hip hop and can’t find it. But obviously, these things exist here and there are communities for them you just have to find them or start your own.

What are some labels, artists and scenes that inspire you?

My favorite label right now is Ritmo Astral, I buy all of their music. Also Eris Drew & Octa Octa are my heroes. Every time I watch them I get inspired to go practice.

And finally, can you tell us what you’re looking forward to in the coming months?

We are about to celebrate the one-year anniversary of Book Club Radio in February. I’m really excited to just celebrate with everyone all we’ve been able to accomplish in our first year.

Keep up with Jojo Lorenzo on Instagram and Soundcloud

You can watch Book Club Radio’s sets here