One of the biggest DJs playing today (not literally), Ninja Tune artist Kid Koala is beloved the world over for his idiosyncratic scratch style, mad random sampling (a guy sneezing, most famously), and his intricate multi-media conceptual releases. Rising to supa-stahdom at an early age, Kid Koala was the first North American artist singed to Ninja Tune, and over the years he's toured with all the celestial names in the biz: Coldcut, DJ Food, DJ Vadim, Beastie Boys, Radiohead, Bjork, the list goes on...
He's been to Shanghai before playing at Pegasus (ahh memories) and this Friday he returns, playing at The Shelter. What's he been up to lately? Playing with the rhythm section of Wolfmother, apparently. Also in 2008 he did a big tour with DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist.
Louder.cn's Cha Cha talked to Kid Koala via email about stuff. This is the English version of an interview that appears on Louder.cn as prong two of a two-pronged Kid Koala media blitzzzz. Click here to read the Chinese.
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SmSh: Could you talk about your family background a little bit, and the China connection?
Kid Koala: My parents were born in Hong Kong but moved to Canada in the 60's. My grandparents were from the Guangdong province. I was born in Vancouver, BC Canada, and currently reside in Montreal.
SmSh: When did you first start playing around with turntables? What were your early influences?
Kid Koala: I started scratching records when I was 12 or 13. When I started, I would use the turntable to make the strangest noises imaginable. The weirder the better! As I continued scratching I was given the opportunity to play turntables in different contexts... as part of a band or using it as a production tool for scoring film or animation. That's when it began to evolve for me.
Coldcut's What's that Noise album was one of the reasons I got in to DJing. It was an honor to be asked to record and tour for their label [Ninjatune].
SmSh: Who else are you looking at besides Coldcut in terms of influences?
Kid Koala: Jim Henson, Monty Python, Public Enemy, Radiohead, The Flaming Lips, Carter Burwell.
SmSh: One of your most famous releases is Nufona Must Fall, an "adventure, action, drama, and romance" graphic novel. Could you explain the concept of that a little bit more?
Kid Koala: It's a story about a robot that wants to write love songs but can't sing. So he needs to find an alternative way to record something to get the attention of the girl he loves. The book includes a CD soundtrack that scores key scenes in the story.
[Ed¡¯s note: More info on Nufona Must Fall here.]
SmSh: Artist, illustrator, novel writer, turntablist, DJ, producer... All these things are usually pretty solitary endeavors. Would you type yourself as a loner? How do you make the time for family and friends?
Kid Koala: A lot of my family and many of my friends are also in the arts. Whether it's film, animation, set design, music or otherwise. We see a lot of each other. I do appreciate my alone time... That's when I get a lot of writing done. But once that's finished I always try to do other projects that involve working with my friends. Nothing beats working on shows and tours with your friends!
SmSh: Of all the people you've collaborated with, who have you gelled with the most?
Kid Koala: I have probably spent the most time with Dan the Automator and Money Mark. They're kind of like musical mentors. Money Mark taught me a lot about doing shows and playing the blues. Dan taught me a lot about the industry and the technical side of studio production.
SmSh: How was touring with DJ Shadow and Cut Chemist?
Kid Koala: Wicked fun. That was a dream come true tour. The crew and the audiences were all great. I think there were 11 turntables on stage at some point. Ridiculous!
SmSh: What¡¯s an average day like in the life of Kid Koala?
Kid Koala: On tour it's pretty straightforward: Wake up. Travel. Soundcheck. Show. Hotel. Wake up. Travel...
When I'm at home... The days are spent more hanging out with my family and the nights are spent drawing or recording... Usually after everyone has gone to bed.
SmSh: Any life lessons gleaned from your popularity and successful career you¡¯d like to impart?
Kid Koala: Have fun... In every situation there's always something to learn from and enjoy.
SmSh: What can we expect to hear from you at your Shelter show?
Kid Koala: The turntable is an instrument with a very wide range. I try to explore that range whenever I play. It can live comfortably in a lot of musical genres and moods. You can cut up records and make them fun and danceable... You can make them sound angry, heavy and industrial. You can make them sound silly and humorous, or you can make them sound sad and melancholy.... It's all possible.
SmSh: Anything to say to your Chinese fans?
Kid Koala: See you at the gigs!
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Quality Control pres. Kid Koala this Friday. Here's the event information. Here's Kid Koala on the web.
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