SmartShanghai | Interview: DJ Krush

Interview: DJ Krush

By ChaCha, Jan 13th, 2010 | In Nightlife

One of the most respected and revered hip hop producers from Japan or anywhere is DJ Krush, coming back to Shanghai to play at The Shelter this Friday. Often credited with inventing the genre trip hop, Krush's long and storied career has seen the producer constantly re-working and re-inventing his sound, with heavy emphasis on the new and unorthodox.

In addition to his Friday night show (event details here), The Shelter is also screening a documentary about Krush called "History of Krush" this Thursday at 10:30pm (event details for that one here).

Louder.cn's ChaCha interviewed DJ Krush. Here's the English translation.

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SmSh: You were inspired by the movie “Wild Style” in ‘80s to get into hip hop. What kinds of changes have transpired in Japanese hip hop since then?

Krush: It has been 20 or 30 years since hip-hop came to Japan. Today, it’s like any other country; hip-hop music in Japan is classified into commercial music and underground music. Different artists emerge everyday. I am very glad to see young musicians who mix their own ideas with music and the artists that persist in their own styles. They give me motivation.

SmSh: What inspires you to keep making hip hop music today?

Krush: It’s my personal interest. I’ve learned from previous experiences that things usually turn out to be what they will be against your will. Some things you can plan and achieve and something are spontaneous. There are things that you can achieve as you planned, but for music I prefer to do it without any limits.

SmSh: What kind of emotions are you trying to express and inspire in your music?

Krush: I get very excited when I think of the sensory effects that my music presents when I perform in different countries. I’m not trying to express any specific emotions, by I try to inspire people to use their imaginations to experience my music. I’m also very fascinated and inspired by paintings and films, and I’m trying to create music that has that kind of effect.

SmSh: One of the aspects of your music is your inclusion of Japanese instrumentation and music genres. What’s your motivation to mix Japanese music with hip hop?

Krush: I’ve been always interested in what kinds of images people from different places have in their minds when they listen to my music. I modify the music from my own country and perform it to the world. I always have the feeling that things from deep side of my heart would gradually blend with my ideas.

Even though everybody is using similar equipment, we still need to give up the traditional philosophy and way of creating. We need to open up our minds and try to have our own way of producing and performing music. Copying others is never the way to go no matter where you are. It is a wonderful thing that if you can use your own music and background to influence other people from different cultural or lingual backgrounds. Music is without frontiers.

SmSh: Among all the musicians you worked with, who has the most special corporation with you? And why?

Krush: For DJs, DJ Shadow impressed me when we made “Duarity” together. The way he makes beats are very unique, completely mastering MPC. Because of the language barriers, our communication was based on a mutual exploration within a musical language. The whole process was full of fun and very successful.

SmSh: What kind of person are you outside of work? What do you do to relax?

Krush: Recently, I went fishing with the whole family, which we hadn’t done for a long time. Also sometimes go for some drinks at night. (Laughing)

SmSh: What can you tell people about the show at The Shelter?

Krush: Please come and experience it with open and free minds.

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Quality Control pres. DJ Krush this Friday. Event details here.
More on Louder.cn (in Chinese) here.

Tagged: The Shelter Interviews Event Previews Clubbing