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Interview with founder Louis Boston

Ja-Ja International Record Label
Internet Radio Station
&
Digital Online Store & Shopping Mall

Louis Kwame Boston.
CEO of KCC International Ltd Japan, Publisher of Blackan magazine, Ja-Ja Patwa School & Ja-Ja International Record Label Owner.

Q. Apart from running your company KCC International and publishing the black culture magazine called Blackan in Osaka Japan, tell us how you started your Indies record label.

A. Well, its all about bringing Black culture to the people in Japan in term of music, language and so on. My identity is African and this is the same for all Black people around the globe. Japanese love black culture and they need people who can give them that knowledge so that they can see it, hear it and feel it directly in a possitive way. Now I just trying to play my part in this far east region of the world, Japan.
The idea of seting up an indies label all started 3 years ago. In summer 2004, after I started Ja-Ja Patwa school in Osaka. Over the past 3 years, from grass root promotion to digital internet advertising, I've been able implant the name "Ja-Ja" in the minds of many Japanese reggae fans in Japan. We have published series of Patwa books, released couple of Soundman MC shoutouts CDs through local distributors around the country. So with the Ja-Ja name out there, I though we should start releasing phonographic records and digital music through our own music label, Ja-Ja International. I got some ideas and help from close friends in JA and Japan, researched on the internet, sorted things out and got it started.

Q. In short, you expanded from a Patois language school to an Indies record label?

A. Thats right. I remember when I started out Ja-Ja Patwa school, it sounded strange to many people. But to me its one part of the blackman's culture that is as important to me as our history or heritage. Words have power, and Jah made the world through WORDS alone. This means Jah used a languge to create the world and a language is essential to Jah people. Our language we have developed though slavery times has been Patwa or Patois (also called Creole). It is part of our culture and we need to take it seriously. English was derived from many other languages , Latin, French etc. Likewise Patois is derived form other languages, English, West African, Spanish etc. Patois made many Artists to become rich or famous through reggae music especially dancehall. Patois is the Backbone of our communication and we only have to be proud of it, polish it, give it the right gramatical structure and make it live and grow inside the classrooms. Many Japanese want to chat Patois, and so do millions around the globe, but first we have to take it serious and nuture it.
Anyway back to the label question: The "Ja-Ja" name and logo represent a connecting link between Japan and Jamaica under the umbrella of Jah and Reggae music. Jamaica starts with JA, Japan starts with JA. You see it? If you join the JAJA together, you have the Rasta colour of Red, Gold and Green. I see it as 2 Jah-Jah countries. By starting the Ja-Ja International Label, my intention is to connect Japan and Jamaica with Jah music by releasing reggae combinations with Jamaican musicians and Japanese artists and taking it to an international level on the digital net. Also the biggest reggae market you will find in Asia is in Japan.

Q.Tell us briefly how you brought this about?

A. Well, any successful business starts with an obsessive idea and talking the first step towards making it a reality, then stretching it to the limit. I and my business partner in JA have lots of connections with many top reggae singers and DJs in Jamaica, and with the right artist-label agreement contract, we started working with some Jamaican artists voicing our original riddims. Then did the same here in Japan with selected Japanese artists using the same riddims, and mixdown produce original tunes.
Of course, artists keep their mechinical and performance rights of their songs. We are very very fair with the artists we deal with and they can endoss that.

Q.Tell us what was your biggest challenge in this new venture?

A. Everything. From registering my Label, designing and copyrighting the logo with a clear-cut concept, setting up my project studio for artist's rehearsal voicing, building a bilingual PC and mobile phone website for the Label and drawing up a bilingual label - artist contract agreement, finding an entrainment lawyer for legal advice, everything was a challenge. As a producer, I technically had to know about how the music business runs both in Japan and internationally. I had to gain in-depth knowledge about copyright, about the label and artists's mechanical and performance rights, publishing rights, recoupable expenses and artists royalties. I also had to make sure of the type of reggae music I really want to produce, the type of riddim and lyrics that can really work both in Japan, Jamaica and internationally, some engineering knowledge about DAW, recording and sound mixing, finding cheaper and better manufacturing and distribution outlets, and the most important challenge was acquiring enough knowledge about digital online download globally. Yeahman its all interesting (laugh).

Q.What is unique about your record label - Ja-Ja International?

A. Well, Ja-Ja label is in between a record label and a digital label. The music industry as a whole is moving towards digital phonorecords. Apart from the conventional vinyl 7inch records & CDs, I plan to make the songs we produce available as digital audio files in Japan, Jamaica and in as many music download websites worldwide strictly for online purchase. There is a very large market in Japan and out there globally for the combination tunes we produce and release. So we keep expanding in the digital field and link up with itunes, rapsody, tuchtunes, etc for online sales.
Secondly Ja-Ja international Label website runs an Internet radio station based both in Japan and Jamaica for talk shows with the artist we are working with, and for other independent artists who wants exposure in Japan and in Jamaica. We are broadcasting from Ja-Ja International studio in Osaka, Japan and Kingston Jamaica simultaneously.

Internet radio studio

Q.Do you plan to do compilation album in the future? If so when do you plan to release it？

A. Yeah compilations will be a part of our project. But the music industry now is rapidly moving towards individual downloads of songs - online purchase. A producer doesn't have to wait till he completes a 12 or 15 -song album before he can sell new songs in this digital age. So as long as we have new riddims and artists to voice them, we will be constantly releasing our tracks online and promoting them at the same time. So we need to be working with many artists who have confidence in themselves, their melody and lyrics. We are very open to anyone who wants to work with us. First they can send us their demo song online through OUR ONLINE FORM and we check it out and move from there.