Soul Crates brings the world-renowned scratch DJ to spread his trademark joyous funk to The Shelter. Praised by Radiohead and Björk while he was still a teen, the Deltron 3030 member paid tribute to the blues and 1980s hip hop on his last disc, 12 Bit Blues. Ceezy, HBD, Raw B and V-Nutz support.
You have such a distinct turntablism style. Who were some of your early inspirations and how do you keep things fresh?
Early inspirations include Coldcut, Prince Paul, De La Soul, Tribe Called Quest, Jazzy Jeff, Richie Rich, Mr. Mixx. Recently I've been listening to and studying a lot of work from Thelonious Monk.
You received a lot of praise at a young age. What was it like touring with Bjork and Radiohead?
It was like a dream come true. I am so inspired by them! They are amazing artists!
On your last album, 12 Bit Blues, you used an E-mu SP-1200 and old blues recordings. Why did you decide to limit yourself to such an old machine and to the blues specifically?
I've always loved jazz and blues. When I started connecting the dots from a lot of the music I like. I realized the roads all led back to the blues. I loved the sound and crunch from hip hop albums made with the SP 1200. The Public Enemy albums especially! I wanted to see if I could use this iconic machine to make a blues album and see how it would sound. I didn't sequence anything. I just played it all in by punching the buttons until I got tired!
You also revisited Deltron 3030 a couple years ago. What was it like getting back together with Del and Dan the Automator.
Del and Dan are my dudes! It was great to reactivate that project for Event II. We did several shows with a 16 piece orchestra playing with us! It was a very epic sound.
You released the graphic novel Space Cadet a couple of years ago, inspired by the birth of your daughter. Now that she’s a few years older, what does she think of it?
I don't think she's ever read the book! She knows the music though. I recorded it as a collection of piano/turntable lullabies and I used to play it for her when she was a baby at bedtime.
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What can people expect from your Shanghai show?
I'm just travelling alone this time to do some DJ gigs! Shanghai is always a good time! I'll bring a bunch of stuff to throw in the mix!
Are there any upcoming projects that you want to discuss?
Right now we are also developing a new seated show called NUFONIA MUST FALL. It is a stage adaptation of my first graphic novel. A cast/crew of 15 run around on stage creating the story in real time it is filmed and projected on a cinema screen. There are live puppeteers, camera operators, myself on piano and turntable and the Afiara String Quartet! We are touring with this show in the US next year and will hopefully get to Asia with it someday!
> Nov 27, 10pm-late, RMB100. The Shelter, see event listing.
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