Almost Perfect: Kickin' It With DJ Kentaro
DJ Kentaro first cut a dash in the turntablist scene with his third-place finish in the 2001 World DMC DJ Championships. Not one to rest on his laurels, he returned the following year and blew the opposition and the judges away. His winning set was awarded the highest-ever score - an almost unanimous 15 of the 16 judges favored the Japanese DJ. You can see these skills in person at Mix on Mar 26 (RMB 50). We caught up with him for the lowdown on what he'll be throwing in the mix.
the Beijinger:What inspired you to start DJing?
DJ Kentaro: Basically I taught myself. I got some DMC World DJ Championship videos and watched them millions of times.
tbj: Do you get more excitement from battling, playing live sets or producing?
DJK: Well, my concept “No Walls Between the Music” is basically coming from my DJ career, which I started when I was 13. I had a regular night every week since I was 13 at this club called Blue Blue in my hometown, Sendai, so I was a club DJ before I ever got into turntablism. I just played hip-hop, but then afterwards my style has changed but it’s still on the understanding of hip-hop. I just started listening to all music then deciding whether that’s “good” or “bad”. That’s how I pick music. So when I find "good music" on websites, in records shops or even in some battles, I still get that chill down the back of my neck, you know what I mean? Yeah, so it’s the same for producing beats. When I find dope samples, I get super excited. Like samples from old records or something, samples I use from breakbeats, house, drum & bass, ragga, reggae …
tbj: Are there any artists that you still want to work with?
DJK: There are a lot of great artists out there. I d like to work more with vocal people, like singers or rappers, but I m more interested in working with other instrumental players. I consider turntablists to be one of the instrument players out there. As I am an instrument player, I'd like to do more sessions with others this year.
tbj: If you had to pick one DJ to be on your side in a battle to the death who would it be?
DJK: That’s a tough question. [laughs] I like all of the previous winners of the DMCs; I used to watch the video of '98 DMC US Finals. If I can see that '98 US Final of Craze vs. Shorkut live, I’d go to the US in a heartbeat. Like, tomorrow. [laughs] That final was a really historic battle. Yes.
tbj: With all the DJs that you see MCing do you have any aspirations to pick up a mic?
DJK: No- I try to talk to people with my beats. Sometimes I pick up my headphones and plug it into the microphone jack and speak, to tell the crowd thank you for coming and such. But it doesn’t happen usually. Only when I'm really hyped and wanted to shout out to the floor.
tbj: What should the Chinese crowd expect from a DJ Kentaro show? What do you expect from them?
DJK: I’ve had two months break since last Christmas to make new music for 2009. So it will be a different set from my visit to China last year. Yes.
tbj: What most excites you about visiting China?
DJK: Massive roads and people! And of course, nice food and tea. I love Chinese teas.
tbj: Who would you get to DJ your wedding and what music would you want playing at your funeral?
DJK: First, I m already married [laughs]. At my wedding few years ago, I had this Japanese rap group called Gagle (myspace.com/gaglemusic). They did a live set at my wedding, they did few songs wearing tuxedos. That was great. The producer, DJ Mitsu the Beats, his beats are dope. Gagle and I grew up together in Sendai, Japan (its about 90mins north of Tokyo by train). For my funeral … I’m not sure. Maybe I like it quiet for my funeral [laughs]
tbj: If you could bring back one person from the dead, who would it be and why?
DJK: Ms. Ai Iijima, she was a TV star in Japan, but she just passed away last Christmas. It was really bad news in Japan. She was my great friend, but lately I wasn't able to communicate enough even though she was trying to reach me with e-mails and mobile phones and such. I regret that I wasn’t talking to her too often because I thought I was busy. But I know I could have talked to her more. So if she's back here again, I’d want to say sorry and I d be more talkative to her!
tbj: What's the most expensive record you have ever bought?
DJK: My records are average 1,000 JPY to 3,000 JPY, I have never bought such rare records to be honest, but the highest was like 12,000 JPY.
tbj: Can you explain your 'no walls between the music' philosophy?
DJK: Its kind like similar as I said above on the do you still get excited question, but - Well, my concept “No Walls Between the Music” is basically coming from my DJ career I started since I was 13. And I used to play hip hop tunes only but then afterwards, my style has changed but still on the understanding of Hip hop but I just started taking music whether that’s “good” or “bad”. That’s how I pick music. So, I m DJing with my understanding of hip-hop and I think I’m playing hip-hop but sometimes I use samples from breakbeats, house, drum & bass, ragga, reggae, etc… but I’m a hip-hop DJ, man! So that is where my concept is coming from - god music or bad music. If it’s good music then I play it! There should not be a wall between genres, I think I m still doing my hip-hop set, even though I’m playing some electro or breaks I m following my hip hop rules!!
tbj: Is there any genre that you would not mix into a set?
DJK: Country music or Japanese pop. I don’t think I’ve ever used these in my set. [laughs]
tbj: For those who don't know, describe your live show in 3 words.
DJK: Exciting, technical, fun!
tbj: Will you return to the DMC championships any time soon?
DJK: Well, maybe one day, but not this year.
tbj: What did it feel like to get the highest score in DMC championships history and a standing ovation? Do you wish you could have convinced the 16th judge too?
DJK: I was just super happy. My first entry to the DMC Worlds was in 2001 and I was placed 3rd in the world in that year. And right after that championship, I started thinking about my next idea and started making my own beats for that. I had the solid idea and I won the DMC Japanese Finals again in 2002, and really I was happy already to win the Japan finals twice in a row. The Japanese turntablism scene is the hardest and biggest in the world, I believe. So winning the 2002 Japanese finals made me feel I’d achieved already. I went to the World Finals, and I was really relaxed and calm when I performed. I was happy to become World Champ though, that was my dream since I was 13 years old, and to get the best score ever was very good news as well. Oh yeah, I think that was DJ Yoda from England who was 16th judge. But I have shared so many nights and stages with him and we know each other, so no I don't look back. Let’s go for the future!
