Post by Adam B on Jul 19, 2005 9:42:41 GMT -5
DJ Shadow Interview
by Adam Bernard
If you're into Hip-Hop, or DJing in general, you know the name DJ Shadow. When he went on tour in 2002 he went with a purpose, to put together a DJ show that also had visuals. The end result can be seen in his recently released live DVD "In Tune And On Time." Recently DJ Shadow took some time out of his to speak with ReactMag and tell us about the show, why he decided to make a DVD out of it, and to share his thoughts on the current state of Hip-Hop.
Adam Bernard: First off, what went into the decision to create a full length DVD?
DJ Shadow: Basically just the fact that I was happy with how the tour was going in 2002 and about four months into the tour my manager brought up that we should film one of the shows. It wasn't about "I want to make a DVD," but just "let's film this, let's document it and see if we want to do anything about it later."
AB: Since the show was done in 2002 how well do you think it will hold up for a 2004 audience?
DJ S: I think fine, it wrapped up in March 2003 and I haven't seen another tour of this type happen. People are bootleggin and buyin shows of mine from six years ago so if they like those they'll definitely like these.
AB: You have the ability to change the game when you come out with something new, what kind of changes do you hope to see come about from the release of "In Tune & On Time?"
DJ S: I think just always I'm tryin to articulate that DJs, and especially Hip-Hop DJ's, are more versatile and can create more than people always give us credit for. When putting this show together the idea was to put together a show that was just as entertaining as any rock group. DJs are always like "it's good for a DJ show," or "it's good for a Hip-Hop thing," and people always use rock as the standard for what a show should be. We were playing in venues where I was on stage with other rock groups doin the festivals and things like that, and in some cases I was headlining so I had to have a show that in some way or another blew away what was on stage.
AB: On Def Jux's "Revenge of the Robots" DVD El-P points out, albeit in a roundabout way, that you're the standard for DJ's right now. How does it feel to have that kind of respect from your peers?
DJ S: I know El pretty well and RJ actually opened up on some of the dates on that tour and if I know El he's probably kinda clowning us both in a certain sense. I just think, I don't know what to say it's... some days I think I really did make an impact some days I think "how come I can't get the respect so and so gets."
AB: You love Hip-Hop. What's gotta change?
DJ S: I think a lot of times when I criticize what's going on with Hip-Hop people take it and put their own kind of energy into the comments or make it fit their own opinion. Certainly I still love Hip-Hop and love contemporary Hip-Hop. I think if you only listen to underground Hip-Hop yes it does suck right now, underground Hip-Hop isn't where it's at. During the last four to five years I've spend time listening to people like Lil' Flip and Lil' Jon, it's very kinetic and energetic. I just think that people need to broaden their own perspectives. It's interesting to me that underground Hip-Hop used to be the cutting edge but now it's the dull edge of the blade.
AB: So what do artists need to do to be cutting edge again?
DJ S: You just have to set yourself apart from the crowd, it's hard, it's always going to be hard. A lot of people think they can talk about how great it used to be and get instant Hip-Hop credit but that's just played out.
AB: How do you think we can go from, as an industry, stop looking for what's hot and start looking for what's next?
DJ S: I think that's speaking a little bit to one of the major problems with major labels and I'll tell you what I think it's very fascinating cuz I was just listening to a bunch of radio shows from NY from the 80's and they were from three different eras of the 80's, 85, 87 and 89. All these classic hip-hop records were generated by artists for DJ's to play. Your average radio station doesn't have local radio personalities to support these artists. We don't have records being made designed to be played in their little area. I live in San Francisco and there are no stations checking for local artists at all. It's a trip, one hand washes the other. Radio stinks so people aren't making the kind of records they could. I also think as the major labels have less and less power the independent artist have more and more power.
AB: Lastly, what's in your kit list?
DJ S: I'm not a gear head. Pro tools HD, Control 24 board , quite a few plug ins, my sampler, a few acres full of records, that's pretty much all I need. I don't have a lot of outboard gear.
by Adam Bernard
If you're into Hip-Hop, or DJing in general, you know the name DJ Shadow. When he went on tour in 2002 he went with a purpose, to put together a DJ show that also had visuals. The end result can be seen in his recently released live DVD "In Tune And On Time." Recently DJ Shadow took some time out of his to speak with ReactMag and tell us about the show, why he decided to make a DVD out of it, and to share his thoughts on the current state of Hip-Hop.
Adam Bernard: First off, what went into the decision to create a full length DVD?
DJ Shadow: Basically just the fact that I was happy with how the tour was going in 2002 and about four months into the tour my manager brought up that we should film one of the shows. It wasn't about "I want to make a DVD," but just "let's film this, let's document it and see if we want to do anything about it later."
AB: Since the show was done in 2002 how well do you think it will hold up for a 2004 audience?
DJ S: I think fine, it wrapped up in March 2003 and I haven't seen another tour of this type happen. People are bootleggin and buyin shows of mine from six years ago so if they like those they'll definitely like these.
AB: You have the ability to change the game when you come out with something new, what kind of changes do you hope to see come about from the release of "In Tune & On Time?"
DJ S: I think just always I'm tryin to articulate that DJs, and especially Hip-Hop DJ's, are more versatile and can create more than people always give us credit for. When putting this show together the idea was to put together a show that was just as entertaining as any rock group. DJs are always like "it's good for a DJ show," or "it's good for a Hip-Hop thing," and people always use rock as the standard for what a show should be. We were playing in venues where I was on stage with other rock groups doin the festivals and things like that, and in some cases I was headlining so I had to have a show that in some way or another blew away what was on stage.
AB: On Def Jux's "Revenge of the Robots" DVD El-P points out, albeit in a roundabout way, that you're the standard for DJ's right now. How does it feel to have that kind of respect from your peers?
DJ S: I know El pretty well and RJ actually opened up on some of the dates on that tour and if I know El he's probably kinda clowning us both in a certain sense. I just think, I don't know what to say it's... some days I think I really did make an impact some days I think "how come I can't get the respect so and so gets."
AB: You love Hip-Hop. What's gotta change?
DJ S: I think a lot of times when I criticize what's going on with Hip-Hop people take it and put their own kind of energy into the comments or make it fit their own opinion. Certainly I still love Hip-Hop and love contemporary Hip-Hop. I think if you only listen to underground Hip-Hop yes it does suck right now, underground Hip-Hop isn't where it's at. During the last four to five years I've spend time listening to people like Lil' Flip and Lil' Jon, it's very kinetic and energetic. I just think that people need to broaden their own perspectives. It's interesting to me that underground Hip-Hop used to be the cutting edge but now it's the dull edge of the blade.
AB: So what do artists need to do to be cutting edge again?
DJ S: You just have to set yourself apart from the crowd, it's hard, it's always going to be hard. A lot of people think they can talk about how great it used to be and get instant Hip-Hop credit but that's just played out.
AB: How do you think we can go from, as an industry, stop looking for what's hot and start looking for what's next?
DJ S: I think that's speaking a little bit to one of the major problems with major labels and I'll tell you what I think it's very fascinating cuz I was just listening to a bunch of radio shows from NY from the 80's and they were from three different eras of the 80's, 85, 87 and 89. All these classic hip-hop records were generated by artists for DJ's to play. Your average radio station doesn't have local radio personalities to support these artists. We don't have records being made designed to be played in their little area. I live in San Francisco and there are no stations checking for local artists at all. It's a trip, one hand washes the other. Radio stinks so people aren't making the kind of records they could. I also think as the major labels have less and less power the independent artist have more and more power.
AB: Lastly, what's in your kit list?
DJ S: I'm not a gear head. Pro tools HD, Control 24 board , quite a few plug ins, my sampler, a few acres full of records, that's pretty much all I need. I don't have a lot of outboard gear.