Green Velvet

Curtis Jones is Chicago house royalty twice over: as Cajmere he made “Brighter Days” and founded Cajual Records, and as Green Velvet he built Relief Records and a darker, wilder sound. “La La Land”, from his 2001 album Whatever, became his best-selling record and a dancefloor anthem that still lands every time.

Jones studied chemical engineering at the University of Illinois before moving back to Chicago in 1991 to make music. As Cajmere he released “Coffee Pot (It’s Time for the Percolator)”, a record still played and sampled today, and founded Cajual; Relief followed as the home for the harder, stranger sound of Green Velvet, complete with his trademark green hair.

Records such as “Flash” and “Preacher Man” made him a cult hero, and in 2013 “Bigger Than Prince”, remixed by Hot Since 82, went to number one on Beatport. Cajual also gave early releases to producers such as Sonny Fodera. He played Social on Saturday 23 July 2022.