maceo plex talks

Music

We recently caught up with one of the men of the moment, Maceo Plex, for a chat covering his disdain for gimmeckery, working with Green Velvet and why finding that special record far outweighs the search for the next bump of K…

Where are you from, where are you now?

Born In Miami, lived in Dallas for some time, and now living in Barcelona.

Your career has been an incredibly explosive ride for you these past three years (as Maceo Plex) – how do you keep yourself grounded?

I keep myself grounded by hanging out with Real people and not many music industry people. Just friends that may be DJs but that aren’t touring

or anything like that. They keep me sane, and help me remember that i’m still that studio nerd that just happened to have success.

The track you and Danny Daze made “Shake it Mama” is phenomonal. I’ve played it out a few times and it never fails to the do the damage. What’s it like working in the studio with Danny, and can we expect a lot more from you and Danny as Jupiter Jazz? Please say yes.

Working with Danny in the studio can be a friendly battle between two control freak producers but it makes the output that much better. When we dj together we are very smooth and know eachother’s next move fairly easy. But when we write music together, we argue a bit and test each other’s studio skills, but it’s all in good fun. Plenty more that we’re working on for the future OF COURSE!

Other than Danny Daze, what would your dream collaboration be? Any artist alive or dead allowed!

I would love to work with Jamie Principle and thankfully i’m already working with my idols now, Green Velvet/Cajmere. I’m hoping to get in the

studio with Jamie Principle one day, since i know he’s still got it! Also would love to work on some nasty electro with Carl Finlow.

You’re just done the latest DJ Kicks comp. What makes this compilation better than all the others?

Dj Kicks compilation can be considered better than others for their range of diversity musically and creatively. The Roster of artists of completely different styles that have done a DJ Kicks is legendary to say the least. Also since they’re not a monthly mix cd series and actually only a few are released per year, it feels pretty special when a new one is released. And that in turn makes it feel like a treat when u buy a new one.

What can you do with DJ Kicks that you can do with other mix excursions?

What’s great about K7 is that they encourage experimentation and creativity far beyond a regular mix CD can go. It feels like releasing an album, since each artist puts so much work into his/her own Dj Kicks. It really feels like ur supposed to do something special when u make a DJ Kicks because of it’s reputation over the years. In turn it’s a challenge, but a very welcomed one that i believe makes me a better DJ and Artist which is hopefully portrayed in the final product.

Are you a kick drum, hi hat or a snare? And why?

most probably say kick drum, so i’m going to say Snare. Cause snares are good for slapping that ass!

Is electronic music the new rock n’ roll again?! A world awash with excessor is it not all it’s cracked up to be?

yes it is the new rock n’roll to those that live it in that way. But for me it’s all about making music and less about living in excess. Depends on how you feel it. I think most original electronic music heads worry more about finding that special record, or making their masterpiece track and less about where to get their next bump of K or Yeyo.

What advice would you give a young producer starting out today, and perhaps looks up to you as inspiration?

I would suggest making a lot of music and finishing everything they do. Not every track is going to be good. You have to make a lot of bad music in order to make something good. It’s super important to finish everything you do.

What’s your current hot jam?

Dj Koze “Burn With Me”

What are the intricacies between Maceo & Maetrik?

Maetrik is darker than Maceo. easy as that really. Sound design is similar, but usually Maetrik stuff is a bit more futuristic.

Complete the sentence: I’m proper techno because..

i love technology based production and add futurism to everything i do. Techno can be hard

or deep as long as it’s futuristic. That’s what the original detroit guys had in mind and that’s how i think of it as well.

It’s peak time at a party, you are lost in the music, you shut your eyes; what

do you see?

The music represented in Colors and sometimes i picture my first raves in the early 90s.

Do you know Deadmaus, has a mouses’s head, for a head?

Hey if that’s how Deadmaus wanted to blow up it’s fine with me. I’m not the one that has to live with myself wearing a helmet to please a crowd or get press. There are many artists that wear helmets, play with bananas, jump

on trampolines, or have funny haircuts. They know deep down in their hearts that they are wack for resorting to gimics to get ahead, and wish they could have success off only music and talent.

Rave related iPhone app they ought to invent….

One that tells the crowd who’s using sync to mix and who isn’t.

Whats the best thing you’ve done so far this year?

Visit my grandmother, and buy a new puppy.

Strangest Display of Affection from a Fan?

Tattoo of my name on their inner thigh. haha

If your sound was a visual thing, what would it look like?

Like a hot cyborg chick crawling towards you while pulsating to some lowend rumble bass.

What was the music of your teenage rebellion?

Shut Up & Dance, Suburban Base, Altern8.which was much nicer than my friend’s taste for Megadeth

First and last record bought?

i can never accurately remember my first techno record i purchasedi think it was Message to the Majors by UR among a few others. But the last record i bought was two weeks ago. Trevino on Klockworks.

Whats the best piece of music youve ever heard?

can’t pick one, but one that comes to mind is Bitstream “Retreat Pod”.

Whats your favourite place on earth?

My Studio.

Who would you say has been the most influential artist of the twentieth

century?

James Brown.

And the 21st?

no one artist, only greedy record labels controlling things now.

What are you obsessed with at the moment?

TV shows Walking Dead and Game of Thrones.

What’s your answer to everything?