K Lea
Yeah, it seems like everyone is just putting future in front of everything but it’s stuff that had already existed, and genres are getting minced up into things they aren’t really.
That’s cause everything is working in circles. To young kids this sound is super fresh and super new, but to someone my age it’s like, yeah, I heard this ten years ago.
Growing up, Prodigy was definitely one of the first groups that opened the doors of electronic music up to me. I wanted to know how you met Leeroy from Prodigy.
We’ve been good friends for a long time. It started out that I booked him to play my 20th birthday party and we just kind of went from there.
What can you tell me about your project Smash Hifi that you have with him?
We’re obviously doing an album right now. Yeah I’ve heard talk of that. How long have you guys been working on that for?
Ah, way too long. It’s just really complicated because he travels so much and I travel so much. We both have solo careers.
Where is he based?
He’s based in England, Germany and Dubai. Whenever he’s in Germany and I’m in Germany we make music together. We started to take periods off so we can work together, and the album is actually almost done now.
Amazing! Do you guys have a date set for release? It should be officially released by the end of this year.
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Then I started listening to Gang Starr, because that was big back then. That got me into the whole groove, so I always loved them. Like I said I didn’t really have access to the super underground stuff, but the few things I had really made it for me, like A Tribe Called Quest and De La Soul.
Even being North American those are the things that I would name too.
www.djmag.ca
Is that coming out on a label?
We’re not sure yet. The thing is we have this freedom of not committing to a label, and not having someone that pushes you into doing something is what we want.
The nice thing about that too is because of that you can take your time.
Yeah, and it’s music. It’s not just tracks. It’s actual songs with vocals and everything. Where I came from I just used to make tracks, but now making music… it takes time to get into it, but I think we got it.
Is the plan to release a full length and then a couple EPs? I’m sure you have more content than will fit on one album.
That’s a good question. Yeah, we’re into the process of getting this album done and whatever’s leftover, I don’t know. Maybe some free downloads.
You mentioned before you came up on 90s hip hop. I was wondering if you have a favourite song or artist from that era?
The first hip hop that I got in contact with was German hip hop. It sounds weird that there is German hip hop.
No! I’ve heard some before. I have friends from Switzerland.
So it’s not the ignorant German?
No, no, not at all. Are you aware you have a reputation as a party animal? I know you like to have fun, but that seemed excessive to me. Is there something I don’t know about you?
I think I have it because I don’t like it if the DJ is up there and just doesn’t interact with the crowd. I’ve spent all this time going to parties and checking out all these amazing DJS, and I always loved the ones where you could see they were having a good time. I think if you’re on stage you have to show that you love it and you live it, and party with the people that are listening to you. It enhances the experience.
I think another part of it is that you are known to be a really nice person. Every person that comes into contact with you comes away saying that. I read some- where that you’re a big believer in karma and that’s why you’re nice to people. Is that true, or is it just who you are?
I think karma is kind of my religion. I grew up in a really small very picturesque place in south Germany. I basically grew up in a monastery. My parents own a res- taurant and it’s part of the monastery. I grew up in this crazy super peaceful surrounding, and that’s how people treat each other there.
That sounds so cool! What a place to grow up! But, speaking of party animals, how was Kazantip? The only exposure to it I’ve really had is that piece that Vice did on it. Have you seen that?
Yes.
K. Lea: So, what was the video compared to how it actually is? And on top of that how was playing there?
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