{"id":50975,"date":"2016-08-04T12:45:36","date_gmt":"2016-08-04T04:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/?p=50975"},"modified":"2016-08-04T12:59:25","modified_gmt":"2016-08-04T04:59:25","slug":"dj-kentaro","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chengduliving.com\/dj-kentaro\/","title":{"rendered":"Words with World Champion DJ Kentaro"},"content":{"rendered":"

Note: This Friday at NASA<\/a> in Chengdu, World Champion DJ Kentaro hailing from Tokyo, Japan is performing.\u00a0This interview includes embedded video from Youtube,\u00a0so that content will not appear for readers in China not on a VPN.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"DJChengdu Living: To people who do not know you, how would you describe yourself?<\/h4>\n

I’m a Japanese DJ, a turntablist<\/a> (a musician who uses turntables), music producer, festival promoter and school owner.<\/p>\n

CL:\u00a0You became famous when you were 20 years old in 2002, when you won the DMC World Championship in London. How did you get started with DJ’ing? What first inspired you to pursue turntables?<\/h4>\n

It started when I was 13 years old, when I saw a DJ battle on television in Japan.\u00a0Immediately after I got a pair of turntables. I didn’t stop.<\/p>\n

CL:\u00a0Japan is well known for being an innovator and strong competitor in the DMC world. What do you attribute this to?<\/h4>\n

I guess it’s because Japanese like to concentrate on\u00a0one thing and keep going. Myself, when I was in competition, turntablism was the only thing I was doing during that time. That was a few years where I was just practicing, hours and hours every day.<\/p>\n

CL: What is vinyl culture like in Japan, or in Tokyo? Are there still many vinyl DJs? Do you still dig?<\/h4>\n

In\u00a0America, turntables sales have recently surpassed\u00a0CDJ sales, and there are places to buy vinyl records in major cities. Even now in Japan, some new vinyl\u00a0shops are opening here also. The CD format is completely dead but vinyl is at a stage of rebirth!<\/p>\n

\"DJ<\/p>\n

CL: Your 2002 DMC set had amazing musical versatility. Aside from hip hop, what styles of music are you most drawn to?<\/h4>\n

I like bass music, rock, drum and bass, and reggae. I like all kinds of music, really.<\/p>\n

CL: In the decades that you’ve been DJ’ing, what changes in the scene have you found most interesting? What do you like and what do you dislike?<\/h4>\n

It’s interesting that the after dubstep mainstream with artists like Skrillex, and now trap music<\/a>\u00a0(a form of hip hop)\u00a0is mainstream. Things move and change so quickly. It’s interesting to see how people’s likes change at an accelerated pace, also. The internet is making all of this possible, for genres to spread across continents at a rapid pace.<\/p>\n

CL: What is touring in China like? Do you have a favorite place to perform? Any special memories in China?<\/h4>\n

Shanghai is my favorite. It’s always a great place to play. This will be my first time in Chengdu – I’m excited!<\/p>\n