RealDEEP Recordings’ second release showcases the combined talent of recording artists Julio Bishop and Bjak. This dynamic duo has been rocking dance- floors together world wide for over 10 years and have now finally joined forces in the studio to create “The Essensual EP”, a fiery 3 tracker that is sure to keep the Deep Housers on their toes. “HotBox” and “Fashion” blur the boundaries between the classic sounds of Chicago/Detroit/NYC to create two dancefloor bombs which have already seen play from some of the masters. “DarkMelodie” is a much deeper and moodier piece, distinctly characteristic of the RealDEEP sound. Definitely another important release in our label’s repertoire…enjoy!

*** LISTEN to PREVIEWS of “The Essensual EP” below ***

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Every DJ knows that capturing a crowd is difficult, but Chicago’s Julio Bishop makes it seem effortless. For almost 2 decades, Bishop has worked dancefloors at home and around the world, blending quality house music with relative ease.

It’s no wonder it comes easy to Bishop—he grew up playing piano and violin in a house that saw world-renowned musicians visiting often. His father was instrumental in bringing diverse sounds, like the Buena Vista Social Club, to Chicago as a committee member for the Pan-American Festival. As long as he can remember, the Bishop household in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood was filled with records ranging from Afro-Cuban jazz and salsa to American standards and disco.

By 8^th grade, Julio knew these sounds had to combined, and drew inspiration from the sounds coming out of Chicago’s WBMX and WGCI. Turntables were a logical next step and Bishop was soon developing his penchant for deep, rhythmic house music. His skills and attention to the dancefloor helped him thrive during the deep house heyday of the 80s and 90s in Chicago and led him to the Soul Foundation Kollective, a group of like-minded DJs that pushed the sound of loft-party deep house at every event. With this infamous Chicago DJ crew, Bishop has held residencies at some of Chicago’s hottest clubs and lounges while touring the U.S., Europe, and Latin America.

Over the years, his ability to blur the lines between the influential sounds of Chicago, Detroit, and New York, has persevered.  Bishop’s DJ outings are often fueled by stompy kicks, sexy vocals, and vibrant basslines, taking the listener deeper with an array of strings, horns, and warm pads before turning up the heat on the crowd.

The Soul Foundation history continues to influence Bishop and was a catalyst to the creation of RealDEEP Recordings with fellow member, Brian ‘Bjak’ Cullen.  The label is the platform that Bishop and Cullen will use to revive the elements of 90s era loft party house music they feel has been lost in today’s deep house releases.

The 2009 release schedule for RealDEEP includes Bishop’s first production efforts, expected near end of summer 2009.. After years of training on the piano and violin as well as a history behind the decks, he is poised to play a key role in RealDEEP’s updated approach to the loft party house sound. Bishop’s production mirrors his deck control, presenting an urgent sound of eerie, jack-your-body tech-house before a backdrop of jazz-inspired instrumentation.

At the moment, he and Bjak plan to release digitally on a monthly basis before delving into vinyl output. In the works are a European tour featuring Bishop, Bjak, and Eargasmic Records honcho, Daryl Cura, and rotating residencies in Chicago and Los Angeles. Bishop currently splits his time between the studio and his current residency at Sushi Samba, a well-known downtown hotspot.