Exclusive Interview with DJ Craze

Siam2nite had the opportunity to have an exclusive interview with DJ Craze, shortly before his performance at Live RCA Bangkok on 23rd September.

Where are you answering these questions?

I'm answering these questions from Brussels. I'm playing Pukkelpop Festival in couple days and decided to come here a couple days earlier to check out the city.

You are a Nicaraguan American Turntablist, DJ and Producer, and the only solo DJ to win the DMC World Championships 3 times. How did you get in touch with DJing and music production in the first place?

I got into djing through my older brother. When I was in high school he was already djing parties around the neighborhood we used to live in and I thought it was a cool part of the hip hop culture to get into. I started producing after I started djing. It felt like a natural progression of djing.

You don’t pigeonhole yourself to a certain genre, but you have a bass-heavy signature sound that blends Electronic & Hip Hop music. How would you describe your own sound, what is distinct about it?

My sound is bass heavy and throughout the years it has changed. Right now I would describe it as a mix of Hip Hop // Bass Music // and Underground.

You are best-known for your sensational “New Slaves” routine. What other routines, videos, tracks, remixes or mix-sets would you recommend to someone that is not yet familiar with you and your music?

For people who like my "New Slaves" routine I would suggest they look up my DMC routines. DMC is one of the longest and most prestigious dj competition in the world. I'm the only dj to ever win that competition three times in a row. Also my Traktor videos. For my music and mixes please check out my Facebook page.

What are you currently working and focusing on?

Right now I’m working on my next EP. Its 4 tracks with this new vibe that’s been gaining some momentum. There’s no name to it yet, but Ivy Lab, Noisia and SHADES (Alix Perez & Eprom) are spearheading it. I also got another EP coming out in the next week or two called "Off The 1,2's". It’s got four tracks and got some features with my tablist homies Rafik & Skratch Bastid. I also just released and EP as 2¢ with Four Color Zack entitled "Making Change". I also run my label called Slow Roast Records and we just put out music from a new producer called Sober Rob thats amazing! So yeah, just trying to stay as busy as possible putting out music that I like and am proud of.

Looking back on close to 2 decades since winning your first DMC World Champion title, what were the best and the worst gigs you ever played and what were the funniest things that occurred during any of your performances?

Some of the best gigs I've played have been those nights where I get to play new music to people that have never heard it before and they love it. Some memorable ones are playing hip hop and drum and bass sets in the UK when mixing both of those styles was new. Also some of my best memories were the early raves in LA back in the early 2000s when it was still underground. My worst gigs have been those ones where people just wanna hear the stuff that’s popular and I gotta act like a jukebox. There’s no fun in that. Funny moments happen all the time .... especially when I’ve had a bit much to drink ;)

You have performed in Bangkok several times already, at Bed Supperclub in 2007, at 808 in 2009 and at KU DÉ TA in 2014. Did you keep your previous performances – and Thailand in general - in good memory? What can the Bangkok crowd expect of your upcoming performance?

Yes, I’ve always loved playing in Bangkok. Throughout the years I've played different sets from Hip Hop to Drum & Bass to Dance music. I love seeing how the vibes have changed there and can't wait to spin all this new stuff I'm into at the moment. I’m not gonna hold back and I hope everybody's ready!!