Artist
JOSHUA IZ
Joshua (Iz) Michaels was born on a 120 º (40º C) day in 1969, the same day the first manned Apollo mission blasted off to the moon. Growing up just outside of Chicago in Oak Park, he was influenced early by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright who was based there, as well as the culturally rich city itself. Taking piano lessons from age five, he quit at age eight so as to be able to play football and get into trouble with all of the other neighborhood kids, although he always kept playing.
His family moved to San Jose, California at age ten and Joshua started buying records. Once in high school, he formed a ska/reggae/funk/punk band influenced by the ska revival bands like The Specials and The Selecter, as well as California natives Fishbone and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Featuring a full horn section, including a pre-dj Doc Martin on trumpet, the band toured the state, playing a San Diego show with No Doubt in 1986. While still in high school, Joshua secured a weekly radio show on KSCU, the Santa Clara University college radio station.
After high school, the band went its separate ways, with Joshua off to study architecture at UC Berkeley. Joshua started djing parties around Berkeley, finally landing a weekly playing hip-hop at the infamous Nickies. He and New York native schoolmate Dedan started a weekly called the Beehive in Oakland in 1989 at a pimped-out velvet wallpaper lounge, owned by a former Oakland Raider. The format was across the spectrum, featuring hip-hop, dancehall reggae, soul, house and everything in between. At the time he was listening to Tony Humphries’ radio show tapes sent out religiously by Dedan’s sister in New York, as well as checking out the now bustling bay area music scene.
Visiting Chicago to see relatives and buy records, Joshua was shopping at Imports, Etc. and was told to go to a store called Gramophone and ask for Derrick Carter. The two hit it off and Joshua would return twice a year to stay at the now famous Red Nail encampment on Green Street, just across the way from the Warehouse and DJ International Records. Upon graduating, Joshua procured some midi gear and started making his own tracks. After sending out demos to Derrick and Chez Damier in Chicago, he was invited to come to Chicago and make music. This also the time when he met and started working with Diz (the other half of Iz & Diz), recording their first track at the legendary KMS studios in Detroit.
Giving up a full time job opportunity at Wired Magazine, Joshua moved in with the Red Nail posse (Derrick, Mark Farina, G-Most and Chris Nazuka), with the illusionary Chez being another semi-permanent resident. He began making music for Blue Cucaracha, Prescription and its offshoot Balance, as well as spinning regularly at seminal Chicago venues Red Dog and Shelter. He also worked as design director at Cajual Records with Cajmere, Rob and Ivan (now at Guidance Recordings), designing most of the labels and cover art during the glory days of 1995-96.
After the breakup of Prescription and Balance in 1996, Joshua decided to return to the Bay Area where he has lived and worked ever since. His travel schedule now takes him around the world: UK, Europe, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand as well as all over the US. His production and remix work is equally as varied (see discography). He also handles the A & R duties as well as the design work for Tweekin, San Francisco’s premier label and store. Joshua also dj’d regularly with the samba-funk outfit, Vivendo de Påo, on their Tuesday nights at the Elbo Room up until 3 years ago.
Starting in 1998, Joshua co-hosted the now infamous Bionic sunday nights at The Top in San Francisco with fellow dj Solar, Mark E Quark and Nikola Baytala. After six great years in the Lower Haight, two and a half years at Pink, and one amazing year at the 222 Club, and now at Harlot, Bionic is the longest running house weekly in the city, featuring unannounced guest spots by the likes of Kenny Hawkes, Jef K, Honey Dijon, John Tejada, Diz (among many others), as well as up an
His family moved to San Jose, California at age ten and Joshua started buying records. Once in high school, he formed a ska/reggae/funk/punk band influenced by the ska revival bands like The Specials and The Selecter, as well as California natives Fishbone and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. Featuring a full horn section, including a pre-dj Doc Martin on trumpet, the band toured the state, playing a San Diego show with No Doubt in 1986. While still in high school, Joshua secured a weekly radio show on KSCU, the Santa Clara University college radio station.
After high school, the band went its separate ways, with Joshua off to study architecture at UC Berkeley. Joshua started djing parties around Berkeley, finally landing a weekly playing hip-hop at the infamous Nickies. He and New York native schoolmate Dedan started a weekly called the Beehive in Oakland in 1989 at a pimped-out velvet wallpaper lounge, owned by a former Oakland Raider. The format was across the spectrum, featuring hip-hop, dancehall reggae, soul, house and everything in between. At the time he was listening to Tony Humphries’ radio show tapes sent out religiously by Dedan’s sister in New York, as well as checking out the now bustling bay area music scene.
Visiting Chicago to see relatives and buy records, Joshua was shopping at Imports, Etc. and was told to go to a store called Gramophone and ask for Derrick Carter. The two hit it off and Joshua would return twice a year to stay at the now famous Red Nail encampment on Green Street, just across the way from the Warehouse and DJ International Records. Upon graduating, Joshua procured some midi gear and started making his own tracks. After sending out demos to Derrick and Chez Damier in Chicago, he was invited to come to Chicago and make music. This also the time when he met and started working with Diz (the other half of Iz & Diz), recording their first track at the legendary KMS studios in Detroit.
Giving up a full time job opportunity at Wired Magazine, Joshua moved in with the Red Nail posse (Derrick, Mark Farina, G-Most and Chris Nazuka), with the illusionary Chez being another semi-permanent resident. He began making music for Blue Cucaracha, Prescription and its offshoot Balance, as well as spinning regularly at seminal Chicago venues Red Dog and Shelter. He also worked as design director at Cajual Records with Cajmere, Rob and Ivan (now at Guidance Recordings), designing most of the labels and cover art during the glory days of 1995-96.
After the breakup of Prescription and Balance in 1996, Joshua decided to return to the Bay Area where he has lived and worked ever since. His travel schedule now takes him around the world: UK, Europe, Canada, Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand as well as all over the US. His production and remix work is equally as varied (see discography). He also handles the A & R duties as well as the design work for Tweekin, San Francisco’s premier label and store. Joshua also dj’d regularly with the samba-funk outfit, Vivendo de Påo, on their Tuesday nights at the Elbo Room up until 3 years ago.
Starting in 1998, Joshua co-hosted the now infamous Bionic sunday nights at The Top in San Francisco with fellow dj Solar, Mark E Quark and Nikola Baytala. After six great years in the Lower Haight, two and a half years at Pink, and one amazing year at the 222 Club, and now at Harlot, Bionic is the longest running house weekly in the city, featuring unannounced guest spots by the likes of Kenny Hawkes, Jef K, Honey Dijon, John Tejada, Diz (among many others), as well as up an
2020-11-12
2020-01-27
2019-08-26
