Interview with DJ DAY ( Piecelock 70 )

DJ DAY has toured the world many times over as a solo artist and with fellow musicians Aloe Blacc, Exile and People Under the Stairs. Amongst numerous accolades, he was nominated for Song of the Year awards both by the BBC and The Village Voice and his music has been licensed for commercials by DC Shoes, Red Bull Music Academy, Rane/Serato, and numerous full length feature films. Day recently returned from from touring Russia, Europe and New Zealand to finish and release his new album Land Of 1000 Chances on Piecelock 70. 

I think my earliest memory of music is of my mom playing records in the house as a kid. I was exposed to a lot of different genres (from Donny Hathaway & MJ to the Grease OST & the Beatles). I took drums in Jr. High band and choir in High School. Haha, but no formal training besides that. I didn't even see videos of other DJ's until long after I taught myself in my bedroom. 

I had one of those old Gemini 12 second samplers and a hand me down 2 track from my pops. I would sample anything and just experiment. My whole thing back then was layering and finding samples that were in the right key. I think that did a lot to shape my overall outlook on production. 

Long and kind of agonizing, but in the end I'm happy with how it turned out. There was a lot going on at the time I was making it and a lot of those personal things bled into the album. I recorded the bulk of it here in my studio and then went down to San Pedro where I recorded the rest with studio musicians & Thes One. The latter was definitely the highlight of the whole process. We'd wake up, go to the beach where I'd bust my ass trying to surf, head back and work all day/night and drink Green Fin while we listened to the days work. Then wake up and do it again. Good times. 

Plan ahead and step your packing game up. Nobody is above washing their underwear in the sink. Learn (at least) "please", "hello" and "thank you" in the language of whatever country you're in. Try to make time to see some things. The first time I went to Paris I was there less than 24hrs. I didn't even sleep in the hotel room! It was just to the gig and to the airport. You don't wanna go to a city like that and not experience anything. 

I was on tour with People Under the Stairs a couple years ago and had my bag stolen from the stage the first night. I ended up tracking the guy down and, remarkably, he mailed it all back, but not before I had to buy all new shit. I had my computer crash at peaktime with a packed floor in Chicago. I got on the mic and got people to clap while I grabbed a record and rebooted. There's also the time some crazy lady demanded I play "Dirty Diana" and thought cramming $20 in $1's in my underwear was the way to do it. I never played it.