The Trippin Mixes, Vol. 31: Jossy Mitsu

The UK-based selector and Rinse FM resident steps away from the club and turns in a tranquil mix of classical music around the world.

When we asked Jossy Mitsu to interpret the theme ‘Connecting Cultures Worldwide’ – the ethos behind Trippin’s mix series – she paused and later emailed us saying she’d like to stitch together a mix of classical music from around the globe, particularly a set of piano music. The file she sent over is aptly titled around the world in 88 keys.

It’s certainly a departure from her ferocious, bass-heavy sets at festivals such as Glastonbury and Dekmantel, or her well-loved Rinse FM show. The prolific selector was born and raised in Birmingham and began collecting at the age of 15, before she started DJing at 18. Since, she’s become one of the most essential diggers within London’s electronic scene, whose boundless versatility as a selector means you can catch her shelling it down with a rave-y, jungle set or, well, stepping away from the dancefloor for this piano mix. Since 2021, she’s also showcased her production skills with the release of two EPs, entitled Planet J and Planet J II.

Below, we catch up with her to talk about her Trippin mix, which she started whilst on tour last year, travelling in Australia and New Zealand.

Do you have a personal connection with piano and classical music?

I started learning piano around the age of seven and had lessons on and off through secondary school. Since then I’ve been teaching myself and picking it up to learn new pieces whenever I have access to a piano, but I’ve always liked classical music, especially listening to solo piano over the past few years.

Walk us through your mix. What’s your thinking behind it?

I’m genuinely obsessed with the piano both as an instrument and piano music in general, so I’d been gathering all types of classical music into playlists just for my own listening, but I wanted to do a classical mix for a long time to try and share them in a coherent way. I wanted to specifically focus on piano for this mix and came up with the idea of going around the world in 88 keys to highlight some of the diverse range of pieces created by artists from different cultures and styles – whether that be solo piano, sampled for instrumentals and songs or pieces written for orchestra.

How have you connected various cultures together in this mix?

The music comes from all over the world and from completely different eras. For example the Ravel piece was written in 1905 and the Tirzah track was released a few months ago but they use the same instrument in different contexts and both of them are so beautiful! It’s totally subjective to the listener but I tried to create a sense of flow throughout the mix by blending pieces based on mood and where they take my imagination. I enjoyed that challenge and the process so much that I’d love to do more in the future!

Which regions have you covered in this mix?

It includes artists and performers from Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, North and South America.

How did you go about finding and sourcing piano music around the world?

A lot of the music I listen to I’ve absorbed at various points in my life through mediums like the internet and streaming, Discogs, YouTube rabbit holes, even TikTok, others from my Dad, grandparents, music teachers, record shops, film, soundtracks and compilations. Naturally from the wide range of styles and formats, the creators come from all different backgrounds and eras but I also did some digging when putting the mix together.

Can you highlight two artists from your mix doing something new and forward-thinking?

I’d have to say Cõvco on this one! I find the way she combines different sounds and arranges them across tracks so refreshing!

And on Tirzah and Mica Levi’s trip9love, there’s a single drum loop used for the entire album. Somehow for me it doesn’t come across as repetitive, but instead it gives way more depth to the ideas and words running through the album as you have to listen to them in that one structure. A completely different listening experience! It’s mad grungey as well, I’m so into it!

What's been your most life-changing trip?

I’d have to say going to Japan for the first time in 2019 definitely changed the course of my life. I did most of it solo and was very active, so by the end I had experienced and seen so many new things culturally, musically and personally that I still think about it all the time!

What's been your favourite destination to travel to so far this year and why?

Mongolia in summer was unlike anywhere I’ve ever been. It’s so rich in history, culture and visually breathtaking and I was lucky to have been shown around by a close friend and her family which was really special. It felt like I had a once in a lifetime local experience.

What other music scenes around the world are inspiring you right now?

I’m constantly inspired by New York and New Jersey electronic producers like OSSX and Kush Jones, and I’d definitely say in recent years the Amapiano sound has completely got me.

What's inspiring you within London's music scene right now?

The smaller parties are the ones I’ve enjoyed the most recently! It’s not easy in the current climate but they show what you can build over time without the need for massive production or big headliners, and when they have that cult-like, community following the vibes are always the best!

Tracklist

Laurel Halo – You Burn Me

Errol Garner – Jitterbug Waltz

Ahmad Jamal Trio – Wave

Nitin Sawhney – Tides

Charles Mingus – Old Portrait

Robert Glasper & Derrick Hodge – Ella’s Theme

SAULT – The Black & Gold

Duval Timothy – 9

Antônio Carlos Jobim – Amaparo

Secret Garden – Silent Wings

Turtle – Fetal

Tirzah – today

The Alchemist – Fuck & Get High

Patrice Rushen, Darek Oleszkiewicz & Ndugu Chancler – Ocean Song

Kaneko Takumi – This World Today

Tigran Hamasyan – Rain Shadow

Aphex Twin – Petiatil Cx Htdui

Cõvco – Whispering

Felix Blumenfeld – Etude for the Left Hand in A-flat Major, Op. 36 (James Rhodes)

Maurice Ravel – Sonatine for Piano: III. Animé (Martha Argerich)

Nikolai Kapustin – 8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40: III Toccatina (Catherine Gordeladze)

Rubén Gonzàlez – Melodía del Río

João Donato – Silk Stop

DJ Rugged Shark – A Moment of Silence

Fatima – Movie