[Exclusive] Dj CUTMAN INTERVIEW!!!
- September 29th, 2010
- Posted in Electronica . WLN Exclusives
- By DJ R5L
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What is your name or alias?
Dj CUTMAN
Where are you from?
New York
What would you call your style of music?
I mix high-tempo, danceable Chiptune music with Hip Hop, Electro, and Dance beats. I also pull music from video games, and mix it all into a fun and nostalgic experience.
How long have you been making music?
I’ve been studying music since childhood. Saxophone, piano, harmonica, a little guitar. I’ve been an avid OCRemix listener since close it it’s creation, and a collector of Video Game Soundtracks. I started producing my own electronic music five or six years ago, and my first DJ performance was at MAGFest 8, January 2010
What equipment/software/hardware do you use to make your music?
My software of choice is Ableton Live. It’s a killer piece of software. The time stretching and tempo mapping features alone have revolutionized the way I mix, and let me cut in tunes from virtually any source. For hardware, I use my war-torn MacBook Pro, a KORG Kaoss Pad KP3, and a digidesign mBox2 as my audio interface.
What inspired you to create your own music?
I’ve always loved Video Game Music, but even at a young age I was disappointed by low-bit drum sounds. I dreamed for the day when Video Games could support sample-based sound, but as soon as that happened Chipmusic went out for synth and orchestral arrangement. That Chiptune sound is something I grew up with, and I’m so happy to be able to revive the old-school sound with the Phoenix Down that Ableton Live.
What would you consider to be your favorite track you have mixed so far?
It’s got to be track #7 off my BIT GENERATIONS collection. A simple mix of Muda Kingdom from Super Mario Land (gameboy), with a beat that just works too well. Listen and download on my SOUNDCLOUD
Which artists, if any, do you draw your inspiration for creating music from?
There’s almost too many to name in the Chiptune scene. I have the greatest appreciate for the people who can take that classic 8-bit sound and create a new style with it. Smiletron, The Icarus Kid, Superspink, and Anamanaguchi are all killer artists pushing music forward.
What is your favorite part about mixing music?
It’s got to be the performance! When I started, performing was a stress-filled nightmare [not saying it still isn't sometimes :] but I just love seeing peoples faces light up when they hear familiar sounds or high-energy melodies. But really, it’s super-awesome, supportive, nerdtacular fans who download my mixes and come out to my shows. The Chiptune and Video Game Music communities are so warm and supportive it’s almost unearthly. I feel truly blessed to be supported by such a rock-solid group of people.
Do you have any upcoming releases you want to give us the low down on?
I’m beginning work on my new mixtape in my ChipTuneMusic series: Volume 3 – THE HUNTERS. I’m focusing on a tighter group of Chiptune musicians for the source material. I’ll also be continuing the sampled-based narrative I began with Volume 2 – DUBTROPOLIS. At the end of Dubtropolis, our heroes escaped a devastating attack by an elite military force known as “THE HUNTERS” thanks to the Dubstep Scientist “DOCTOR Z”. Now, traveling through a vast network of underground tunnels, we meet a small group of outlaw musicians who clue us in to the identity of THE HUNTERS, and more about the mysterious YEAR 20XX.
I just released a live dj-set “Live@MoonShadows”, which is a little of a different speed for me, a two-hour set of electro/pop/house remixes, a little more mainstream, but tons of fun.
Any upcoming live performances you would like to share with our WLN followers?
Come to MAGFEST.
>B]
Dj CUT MAN
www.DjCUTMAN.com
www.VideoGameDJ.com
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