DJ ANGEL FIGUEROA
DJ / Researcher / Promoter / Event Organizer / Advisor
I find meaning and fulfillment from arranging soundscapes to engage audiences.
Whether for dancers or casual listeners, the thrill of programming or curating music motivates me to explore, share, and grow as a DJ, researcher, promoter, event organizer, and advisor.
My focus is salsa, but interests include other kinds of Latin music -- as well as African, reggae, electronica, and club jazz.
In salsa I touch base with my Cuban roots and aim to build with other salseros a unique experience on the dance floor or radio.
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Check the blog for news related to events, music, and radio.
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See a selection of featured posts.
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Read about the radio show Encanto Tropical (including episode archives, replay list, and salsa charts).
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See the event schedule.
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Listen to mixes.
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Read my profile.
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Born in the Caribbean and raised in Canada, Angel grew up in a household where music was always playing—especially Jamaican and Cuban music.
Angel began deejaying in 1996 at Macondo, a bar in Seoul. Later he became a pioneering DJ of the salsa scene in Osaka and is best known for his monthly social “Shine”, where he held the DJ residency for 17 years. Among his gigs is his rotation spot at the acclaimed Mambongo! Social in Tokyo (every 3-4 months).
Known for his attention to detail and for building DJ sets with eclectic and rare Latin grooves, Angel aspires to spin for both strict dancers and perceptive listeners.
Although Angel's focus is salsa, interests include other Latin genres as well as afrobeat, electronica, and club jazz. He has deejayed across Japan, especially in Osaka; he is now based near Tokyo.
Apart from his regular DJ gigs, Angel pursues several projects related to Latin music, such as research and writing on salsa history and context, but most importantly as radio host of Encanto Tropical for World Salsa Radio. He also functions in the roles of promoter, advisor, and event organizer for Encanto Tropical Productions.
PROFILE
カリブ海生まれ、カナダ育ち。アンヘルは、ジャマイカ音楽やキューバ音楽をはじめ、常に音楽が流れる家庭で育った。
1996年、ソウルのバー「Macondo」でDJとしてのキャリアをスタート。その後、大阪のサルサシーンにおけるパイオニアDJとして活動し、17年間レジデントDJを務めた月例イベント「Shine」で最もよく知られている。
定評ある Mambongo! Social (東京) にも3〜4ヶ月ごとにレギュラー出演している。細部へのこだわりと、エクレクティックかつレアなラテングルーヴを織り交ぜたDJセット構築に定評があり、シビアなダンサーと耳の肥えたリスナーの双方を満足させるプレイを目指している。
サルサを軸としながらも、その他のラテン音楽ジャンルはもちろん、アフロビート、エレクトロニカ、クラブジャズにも関心を寄せている。日本各地、特に大阪を中心にDJ活動を行ってきたが、現在は東京近郊を拠点としている。
定期的なDJ活動のほか、サルサの歴史や背景に関するリサーチ・執筆など、ラテン音楽に関わる複数のプロジェクトにも取り組んでおり、中でも最も力を入れているのが、World Salsa Radioでのラジオ番組Encanto Tropical のホストである。また、Encanto Tropical Productionsにおいてプロモーター、アドバイザー、イベントオーガナイザーとしての役割も担っている。
PROFILE
