AFROWAVE: First, please, tell me what's MISS JANE RECORDS?
MISS JANE RECORDS: Miss Jane Records is a young independent record label.
It's the home base of Quatro+ , Johnny Ramos, Nelson Freitas and more and we're
based in Holland/ Rotterdam.  

AFROWAVE: Judging by the names and nationalities of the artists, it makes me
 think that it's mainly a Cape Verdean recording label .... would this a correct
interpretation?
MISS JANE RECORDS: Not really ... yes the label owners are from Cape
Verdean parents (all born in Holland) but the music on the label, is Cape Verdean
to english to dutch etc. It's basically good music, and good music doesn't have
a language -- it's universal  

AFROWAVE: Well-said --- what defines Miss Jane Records' type of music
and work? Asked differently --- how does your music production differs from
others?
MISS JANE RECORDS: hhmm ... our music has something that tells
you this is a MISS JANE sound! the thing is we have a production
team (the whole 9 productions) and they are four different
personalities and four different styles which when combined are,
indeed, what people call the MISS JANE SOUND. The thing is
that they like to make changes and do different things that haven't
been done yet in the zouk market -- they are always looking for new
sounds, new hooks , and whatever works.  

AFROWAVE: We have seen and heard albums like SO JOTA,
STARS 2010, etc. ... good stuff .... but what has been the defining moment so far for MJR (MISS JANE RECORDS) --- I have just given your label an abbreviation!
MJR: the defining moment for Miss Jane Records is yet to come. I believe it will come in 2006 (se deus kizer).  

AFROWAVE: Looking back at all the work done so far, what would you consider your best project or production?
MJR: I can't really say because until now we've released "só jota," "última viagem" from Quatro+ and compilation album "estrelas de 2010." These are three totally different projects, which all did good on the market ... so far we're blessed!  

AFROWAVE: You guys are based in the Netherlands where there are many zouk and CV artists -- do you see Netherlands as an island of music with its own style of zouk?
MJR: That's what people say, but personally I don't really see it that way. There are a lot of hot acts (zouk market) who live in Holland but all with different styles. For example, Gil is totally different from Suzanna, who is totally different from Johnny 4, etc.  

AFROWAVE: How do you compare zouk produced in Holland and the one which is produced in other countries such as France and Portugal?
MJR: I know for a fact that the most hot producers who live in France like, for instance, Ali Angel make that zouk that we know from way back. It's what I call the "Jean Michel Rotin type of zouk," and in Portugal they've got the more mellow type of zouk for the clubs. So, I don't know about the rest of the producers in holland but as for us, we just make GHETTOZOUK -- the more banging type of zouk. I label it as the zouk you can dance to and you can bounce to.  

AFROWAVE: Cool --- would you consider "your" zouk, the hottest zouk at the moment? MJR: We let the people decide that, we just focus on making the best music we can make and  the music that we feel and enjoy.  

AFROWAVE: Briefly, who are each of these elements --- Quatro+ , Johnny Ramos, Nelson Freitas and Just Jay & Nelson .... and how does everything come together under MISS JANE RECORDS?
MJR: Quatro+ is the best selling boy band of Cape Verde; Johnny Ramos is best selling solo artists of the moment in the zouk market; Nelson Freitas is the one of the lead-singers of Quatro+ and he's releasing his solo debut album in May, so look out for that one too. We have the production team THE WHOLE 9 PRODUCTIONS; JUST JAY, TOETSTAR, NELSON & EDSON and all of these acts and/or producers are signed to the record label MISS JANE RECORDS.   

AFROWAVE: Nice .... Miss Jane Records -- as a company -- must have a role model when it comes to its way of practicing business and doing music --- who would be that role model? MJR: We got a few actually: RUSSEL SIMONS, JAY-Z/ROCCAFELLA, DAME DASH, P. DIDDY, the ones that have been in the bizz for a while and still going strong. Oh, I can't forget the NEPTUNES and DEVANTE swing from JODECI.  

AFROWAVE: What's on the work --- what's MJR next major project?
MJR: Our next major project is Nelson's first solo album (a BANGER); Johnny's second solo album and Suzanna Lubrano .... well, Suzanna is not on Miss Jane Records, but the Whole 9 Productions made a few BANGERS for her upcoming album.  

AFROWAVE: All these are expected to be released in 2006?
MJR: Yes!  

AFROWAVE: Thanks much --- I appreciated your time and kindness. Cheers!
MJR: Anytime. Ciao!  

Interview & copy-editor:
Umaro Djau