Oct 07, 2008

"ASK DJ SHADOW" ANSWERS

Q: In an interview with Remix mag a while back you stated you were no longer using the MPC to compose but were only using it as a controller for Pro Tools/Battery -- have you completely dropped the MPC as a compositional tool? If so, do you feel the switch has affected your compositional style, for better or for worse?

A: Thanks for the question. Whenever I begin work on a new project, I like to change things up so that there is a clear marker in my mind that one era has ended and another one is beginning. Sometimes it is a piece of gear that signifies the change, or sometimes a new workspace, or both. I guess the first "era" was when I used a 4-track tape recorder to make all of my beats. Then I bought an MPC 60 in 1992, which I used all the way up through 'Endtroducing.' By that point I was tired of the restraints of the 60, so I upgraded to the 3000. I used that from 'Unkle' through 'Private Press' (although on 'Private Press' I was using two 3000s connected via midi, a technique the Bomb Squad pioneered with SP-1200s on the Public Enemy records).

At the time, in 2002, I felt as though 'The Private Press' was the best record I could ever make on the MPC, and I was eager for a change. It was also important to me that I not get stagnant and start repeating things I had done in the past. So I switched it up and forced myself to "go back to school," in a sense. I felt that if I refused to rely on the MPC and learn new techniques my music would change, for better or worse, and change was what I craved most.

I can tell you that while I certainly value the things I learned while away from my trusty MP, there were also a lot of things I missed. And the MPC line has evolved quite a bit since the 3000, obviously. So I do plan on bringing some form of MPC technology back into the mix, at least on certain tracks. I don't think I could ever go back to relying on it completely, but it is simply the easiest way I have found to quickly get a groove going. Compositionally, the inherent limitations of the MPC force you to stay grounded to the feel of the track rather than tinker endlessly with plug-ins and the like, and I find that having boundaries does tend to produce faster results.

I hope that answers most of your question...and thanks again for your interest.


Q: Shadow... I hear machine guns and bombs during Napalm/Scatter Brain; broken up by the "When the bombs activated..." sample. Was there a certain war or conflict that motivated this song?

A: Thanks for the question; the inspiration for the song was actually a man by the name of "Motorcyle" John Hilyard. (He is the curious looking gentleman on the cover of the US "Midnight" 12-inch.) A legendary record dealer in California, Hilyard had a history in music going back to the mid '60s when he traveled from Montreal, Quebec to make the scene down in Los Angeles. There he inspired pranksters and hipsters like Kim Fowley, with his "unique" outlook and philosophies.

I met John in 1991 or 1992, on a record pilgrimage to Merced, CA, where he had established a large vinyl outlet. By then the years of hard living had taken its toll, reducing John's voice to a hysterical cackle, and his features to a twisted mask. My initial impression was the same as most, probably something akin to, "This guy is a burned-out lunatic." But over the months and years of return trips, digging in close proximity to the man, I discovered a flawed, brilliant, disturbing, gentle, music-loving soul that I found inspirational. His dedication to gathering and appreciating vinyl was on a level I had never conceived of, and I consider him a big influence. "Napalm Brain" may sound like a harsh title, but it was intended to pay tribute to the unintentional logic of an erratic mind.

Shortly after "Endtroducing" came out, he finally lost his retail space and moved all of his records into a storage unit. It was there that he died, attempting to save money by living amongst the music he valued so much. Since then, his death has served as a cautionary tale of sorts...in every life there must be balance. Keep the record obsession within limits, lest ye end up like "Motorcycle" John Hilyard!


We will continue to post Shadow's answers to your questions as we receive his responses. Please stay tuned...