Earlier this year, a new label stepped out into the market. Next Dimension Music is the brainchild of Harlem native Joseph, formerly known as DJ Dimension, of the MegaMen. Since June, NDM has had nine massive releases in 2005 with more heading out the door in 2006. Sonically, the label is a combination of tribal, tech, Latin and just about any other type of house music you can think of. Diverse in its music and diverse in its beliefs, Joseph is making sure NDM makes a nice and lasting impression in today’s club scene.

TF: How did the label come about?

Joseph: I’ve had the opportunity to take part in many labels through the years. The experience allowed me to see what works and what didn’t for both the artist and the label. After mulling it over for a while I decide to give birth to the “solution”. 

TF: At what point did you realize that you needed to start the label and not doing so was no longer an option?

Joseph: Amidst the stirring thoughts and sitting on a vast amount of incredible product came Andy Turner (Deep Life Records) and PJ (Infamous Light recordings) with loads of start-up info. I collected the info and my wife and I drew up the distribution proposal.

TF: Where did the name come from? There is an obvious connection to your former DJ name, but why this name beyond that?

Joseph: Yes, DJ Dimension was my official moniker, stage name etc. While I did experience a successful run of it, it eventually led to an acute case of “celebrity”. So, I shed and grew and became more focused on the sound-Next Dimension Music.  

TF: Your site says that Next Dimension Music is art, music, culture, faith life and love. What exactly do you mean by this?

Joseph: Art, music, culture, faith life and love are the most common threads of diversity. 
If NDM were pop art, house music etc…we’d be limiting our capacity to bring people together which is a very important cause.

TF: Is the label a Christian label?

Joseph: NDM is the brown bag of indie labels. We distribute music for artists who still live in fear of religious persecution.  We are artistic sanctuary, a “label-free” label.

TF: If you had to describe the label’s sound to someone, how would you do that?

Joseph: Exactly that, we are sound, limitless sound. There are what, 150+ genres of music? But sound is infinite.

TF: What has running this label taught you?

Joseph: Running the label has taught me openness. Everyone here produces such unique expression of sound. I’ve learned how not to pigeonhole creativity. This is big.

TF: How has your faith influenced how the label is run?

Joseph: Faith, through grace is the center of it all.

TF: What has been your biggest success and what has been the biggest failure to date?

Joseph: My biggest success has been my failures.

TF: Who are some of the artists currently on the NDM roster?

Joseph: In no particular order: Moelicious, Rick Felix, Kayasswhy, Los Colombeechez, Jus Ed , Flexuous, Henry Maldonado, Jeremias Santiago, William Rosario, Lem Springsteen, Black Jazz Consortium, Matt Balzan, Spiritual Blessings, Redsavior [a.k.a. Dave Richards] and myself. 

TF: Since June of this year, NDM has had nine releases. How have you been able to keep on task to get everything out to the masses while keeping the quality up?

Joseph: Well, without my wife Tameka keeping up to task would be near impossible. She writes the newsletter and handles the books-this leaves me room to pick quality product and make sure it gets released and promoted timely and diligently.

TF: Which release do you consider to be the most successful?

Joseph: Each artist submission was released to us with the artists “nod of approval” and received by the ear and tapping foot of a listener. This is success at ndm.

TF:Why did you decide to be a digital only label?

Joseph: Digital allows for minimal overhead amongst us starving artists less is always more. 

TF: Do you ever plan to have a physical release, either CD or vinyl?

Joseph: We do, at present we are slotted for release early 2006.

TF: Is being a digital only label allowing you the freedom to operate more freely than if you had to release a physical product?

Joseph: Yes. It widens the margin of creativity. It allows us to take chances on projects that might not be well received by an audience without threatening the label.  Being digital allows us the freedom to experiment as well as expand on sound that wouldn’t be touched otherwise with physical product.

TF: Where can we check out and purchase NDM releases?

Joseph: Beatport is currently our sole distributor snippets can be heard on our website www.nextdimensionmusic.com!

Related Links:

• Next Dimension Music
• NDM @ Beatport.com