ROB CHADWICK meets Jamie Jones’s production and label partner Lee Foss to talk about his rapid rise to fame, and the duo’s various projects as Hot Creations and Hot Natured…
Last year was a massive one for Lee Foss. The Los Angeles DJ was suddenly the man everyone was talking about. He’d initially made an impact in Chicago, but it was his friendship with Jamie Jones –  and their subsequent production partnership, Hot Natured, same-titled imprint and sub-label, Hot Creations – that really kicked things off. Lee’s productions on Wolf + Lamb and Culprit have since earned him a reputation for quality tunes, and now comes U Got Me, a new four-track EP on the boys’ label. EQTV talks to Lee to find out more…
How did you end up collaborating with Jamie Jones to create Hot Natured?
Jamie has been one of my best friends for almost 10 years. I know him from Ibiza, but I used to visit London a lot and he would come play events for me in Chicago. When I moved to LA a couple years ago, he was able to come more frequently to play the parties I was doing. Around the same time I was working full time on music and starting to make songs he was playing out. Obviously he’s an artist who I respect and am influenced by, so we decided to make an EP for Culprit on one of his visits. We worked really well together so we just kept working from there.
Around the same time we decided to do an edits label called Hot Natured, as well as to use Hot Natured for our artist name. Over time, as we’ve decided to do events and add several other labels, it’s sort of become the overarching brand name. Hot Creations is the primary original production label for our brand.
How would you describe the sound of Hot Creations?
I’d say basslines are the main thing, I don’t think we would put a track out if it didn’t have some kind of mint bassline in it. I think there are probably a lot of disco/80s funk influences, mixed with new-school production techniques, and there’s usually some moodiness or edginess mixed in. But I don’t get too caught up in describing music or categorising it. I think the upcoming releases are all unique and outstanding – they’re basically really good music, with bouncy percussion, some depth, moodiness and good ideas. And generally they’re made by our friends, which is the best part.
What’s been the key to Hot Natured’s success?
We try not do anything until it’s perfect, whether it’s an event, or a release, or a website, or a flyer, or a graphic, or a venue. If you have good ideas, and you treat people well, and do original interesting things, people will respond. Also Jamie and I are pretty social and are touring a lot. When you do that, you meet a lot of people who want to help you and feel involved, and your finger is more on the pulse of what’s going on. If you’re stuck in a studio all year and you aren’t out there, how will you put together products people want?
We’re expecting to see you in Leeds again soon playing for Louche. You seem to like playing for those guys…
Louche always throw a good party, and Leeds is somewhere I’ve spent a lot of time lately. I mean I would expect to hear subb-an and I play really good music. Yeah I really like playing for the Louche guys it’s been a great relationship to have.
What’s next for you?
From a release standpoint, I have my EP, U Got Me, just out on Hot Creations. Later in the summer will be my next EP on Culprit, and a remix for Om, as well as a remix of Robert James & Burnski’s Malibu on Hot Creations. As for Hot Natured artist releases, our Equilibrium EP finally came out on Culprit, and is getting great reactions. We’re more than halfway done on a Hot Natured artist album that I’m really excited about, as those tracks are definitely blowing parties up.
For Hot Creations there are a some really exciting releases coming – Jamie is doing a new album, and at this point the music he’s making is untouchable, Miguel Campbell has signed up to do an album for us as well, and he’s making some heat. Robert James & Burnski’s release is great, we have a Crazy P remix and a SubbAn remix of a band from LA, we’ve also got a cool art department collaboration with Jamie, and Jamie, Rob James, Julian FB and I collaborated on a track coming out this fall.
Then I’ll be back in the US for a month in late August. Jamie and I have been able to be booked more often as Hot Natured lately which is nice, as it’s better to travel with your mates if you can, and we’ve done a few live sets. Hopefully we can expand on that – I think there is a good energy for the live show.
U Got Me is out now on Hot Creations. Visit www.myspace.com/leefoss and www.myspace.com/hotnatured
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