DJ Krush
by Daniel Robert Epstein for SuicideGirls (http://suicidegirls.com/)

In the ranks of great DJs worldwide we must acknowledge those brilliant artists who don’t speak any English. Any list of seminal DJs must include DJ Krush. Krush started his career in the 1980’s and by the early 90’s he was already heralded as one of the greats. His most recent project is Stepping Stones The Self-Remixed Best, a two disc set. One disc called Lyricism and features collaborations with MCs. The second disc is called Soundscapes and contains remixes of instrumental pieces. This interview was conducted through a translator.

Check out the official website for DJ Krush

Daniel Robert Epstein: So let’s start with what was the inspiration for the new album?

DJ Krush: Since this is a remix album it’s like the older tracks are my own children and it’s like I am dressing them differently. I could say that I am inspired by my own children to make this album.

DRE: What made you decide to remix the songs?

DJ: I originally thought about just releasing a greatest hits album but I thought it would be boring because that’s what everybody does. I’m a DJ so I thought about doing the remix and making it something different.

DRE: How did you pick the tracks that you remixed?

DJ: The selection process is as hard as creating the tracks themselves. I simply chose those tracks just because I thought it would be fun to work on those tracks.

DRE: What’s the process for remixing tracks or was it different for each one?

DJ: The idea is leaving the original material. For instance if it’s a rap track, you leave the original rap and just add the new sound to it and make it sound differently.

DRE: How do you select or create these new sounds?

DJ: It’s hard to describe but the original tracks are all what I made in the past. So when remixing those tracks I simply listened to those tracks and feel what comes up in my mind and out that into the sound.

DRE: Do you collect sounds from the real world?

DJ: I didn’t go out and collect the sounds but I have been storing up sounds. I also sampled my daughter’s voice and used it in one of the tracks. I begged her to do it, “If you do this I’ll buy you this thing.” That’s how I talked her into doing this.

DRE: Did she say some words or sing?

DJ: It’s the first track on the album introduction on the second disc and she said “Welcome to the world of DJ Krush sound.”

DRE: How did remixing these older songs help influence the next project you’re doing?

DJ: I looked back at my past work by making this remix album and there are things that I would have done different. It is really interesting to look back at my past work and there is a lot of rediscovery by doing that. That could definitely be inspiration for an upcoming album.

DRE: Are you already working on a new album?

DJ: I haven’t started making a new album yet. I just kicked off my current North American tour and I’m going to meet a lot of new people and I’m going to different places and I’m going to bring those experiences back to Tokyo and that will help make my new album.

DRE: Being that your first language is not English, how is it working with English speaking artists?

DJ: Once you’re in the studio with the artist and start making sound I don’t consider the language a problem because you can understand each other by music. But when you have a discussion with a foreign artist and talk in detail about what this artist wants that’s when I find the language barrier difficult.

DRE: I know that you work with a lot of different people. Do you constantly buy CDs?

DJ: Up until a couple of years ago I was buying a lot of records to check out the new sounds but recently I am not very interested in checking out new sounds.

DRE: Why is that?

DJ: It’s doesn’t really hit me recently. Maybe that’s part of getting old.

DRE: I read many bios about you online and they all talk about how you were first inspired by the film Wild Style. What inspires you now if you can’t find new music?

DJ: What inspires me recently are things like the vibes that I get from the audience at concerts. Also anything from everyday life such as the news or playing with my children or going to the ocean and fishing. Basically putting myself in calm, serene environments.

DRE: How was it working with DJ Shadow and ?uestlove?

DJ: DJ Shadow has such a great sense of music and talent and he’s a pioneer in hip-hop music. I think he’s made great contributions to that field and when I was working with him we really didn’t need any words because we could understand each other with music. As for ?uestlove I am a huge fan of The Roots so I could leave everything up to him and trust him completely.

DRE: Do you create any new equipment for yourself like how DJ Qbert does?

DJ: I haven’t done it recently. But when I started as a DJ about ten years ago there was no DJ equipment or mixer in Japan so I went to the electronic stores and bought parts and played around and tried to make my own equipment but I don’t do it anymore. I don’t even buy new equipment. I have been using the same thing for a long time actually. I mix music on my computer and I use software called Ableton Live.

by Daniel Robert Epstein

SG Username: AndersWolleck

web address: http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/DJ+Krush/