If Baudelaire had been a DJ…

An Interview with Jackson Araujo

The boy from Fortaleza grew up in the Amazon, bringing his sound to São Paulo, falling in love with this odd city surrounded by high walls. If Baudelaire had been a DJ, he probably would have been something like Jackson Araujo-a “sound stylist”-playing on sensorial correspondences, creating soundtracks which ingeniously capture the moment, engaging and seducing us through our senses. Meet the eclectic Jackson Araujo, who DJ’s for Gisele Bundchen, drops descriptive beats to journalism on his innovative website Shhh.fm, and throws wildly interactive parties at Bar Secreto-highlighters included.

Ines: You spent your early childhood years in the Amazon. What was your childhood like?

Jackson: My childhood was really rich in visual and audio experiences. It was a childhood full of images and sounds. Living with my parents and sisters on the border of Rio Negro, in the middle of the Amazon, faraway from any big city really made everyday into a live spectacle which begged to be lived. Our television was the breathtaking outdoor scenery and the sunset which would taint the sky a thousand different shades of gold. We didn’t listen to the radio and our music came from the vinyl records my parents would buy in the city of Manaus. When I think of my childhood, I think of Roberto Carlos and Merengue music from Venezuela. Also, my mother is a seamstress so when I had finished reading all my comic books, I would totally dive into her sewing magazines…

Ines: What brought you to São Paulo?

Jackson: Work. I came to the city for a job as a photographer in 1993 and then decided to spend my entire 3 month vacation here. It was at the moment that I realized that a new movement was emerging, one which blended fashion, music, and the study of social behavior. This is what first inspired me to start exploring underground fashion in São Paulo in the 90’s. And I’ve been here for 18 years now, building a story in this city ever since.

Ines: You call yourself a sound stylist. What specifically made you want to explore the connection between sound and society?

Jackson: I think that the fact that I don’t know how to play any musical instruments propelled me to admire and experiment with all types different of musical expression. The connection between sound and society seems inevitable to me because I can’t imagine a life and a world without a soundtrack. Whether the soundtrack is calm, noisy, relaxing, or makes us want to dance…living without music seems completely impossible to me.

Ines: You recently played for Gisele Bundchen. What was that experience like for you and what kind of music did you play for her?

Jackson: Gisele has this incredible ethereal energy. Gisele represents sex, femininity, youth, and happiness. She also has beautiful hair. I thought about what type of music would best reflect her way of being, especially her graceful and light movements. In the end, I decided to mix disco with contemporary piano—something which would express the energy of a young woman.

Ines: What inspires you about São Paulo?

Jackson: Your ability to be visible or invisible if you want to be, in this city surrounded by high walls. São Paulo is an indoor world- a very different world from where I came from. I feel it´s the best city in the world.

Ines: In his poem “Correspondences” the french poet Baudelaire express the way smell, color, and sound, correspond to each other. This theme seems to really transpire through your work, especially through your mixes and writing on Shhh.fm What are your thoughts on this idea of sensorial correspondence?

Jackson: We are only complete when sensorial connections establish themselves. At certain moments, colors become more important than sounds or aromas, but when we put music to them, they reach their full amplitude. Something like an orgasm…revealing a unique moment each time.

Ines: What does music mean or symbolize for you?

Jackson: Life.

Ines: If your autobiography (so far) was written through sound, what tracks would be on the set list?

Jackson: [Laughs] I’ll give you a top 5…but it’s definitely still a work in progress. Not necessarily in this order though. I still have lots of music to go!

TOP 5 by jacksonaraujo

1. Sangue Latino – Secos & Molhados
2. Juizo Final – Nelson Cavaquinho
3. Dançar para não dançar – Rita Lee
4. Pavão Mysteriozo – Ednardo
5. Outras Palavras – Caetano Veloso