Hey Makoto, how are you and what have you been up to lately?
I’m really well, thank you. I have been working on some music with different styles and some game music for PlayStation 3. I am also planning my next album, which is not only drum’n’bass. And I have just bought a single-lens reflex camera… really enjoy taking photos!
You graduated with an acoustic engineering major at Nippon University – what made you choose to study that?
I just wanted to study music at university. Actually I wanted to take a composing course, but I couldn’t make it as I started to learn classical music quite late. In university, I think all the teachers and other students must have been wondering what I was doing! I and my senior Ryota Nozaki, who is now also known as Jazztronik, were the only two people making club music at university. I don’t think anyone understood us as they were all into classical music. But I really enjoyed my time at university.
Did it change the way you approach and make music?
Not really, but I met so many interesting friends there as it is an art university, not only a music institution. I made friends with photographers and actors and other people like that.
You are actually most influenced by soul and jazz music, so how did you get into drum’n’bass?
I got into jazz music through my dad’s collection, then I moved into acid jazz. I just liked it so much. Everything was so fresth for me at the time. Then all jazz DJs started playing drum’n’bass and that was how I got into it.
The jazz and soul influence is pretty obvious in your music. Do you think it’s what makes your music different from other drum’n’bass artists?
Mmm… I’m not sure if I’m different from other drum’n’bass producers. I’m just making what I want to hear. But I’m glad that when you listen to my music you have that feeling.
Well, to me soul and jazz are ‘soft’ and drum’n’bass is very ‘hard’…
To me, drum’n’bass can be anything and it’s all about the beats per minute because it has so many different musical influences. Also if you listen to the late Miles Davis’ record, he was already doing drum’n’bass on that.
Seriously?
I mean he was doing something like live drum’n’bass music. Of course no one would call it drum’n’bass at the time – or now. But when I listen to it, it sounds like just drum’n’bass. He was so ahead of time and it shows drum’n’bass can be jazz and funk.
I’ve read in Wikipedia that you are an actor– is it true? What other ‘double life’ do you have?
Ha ha ha! It’s wrong. There is another Makoto who is an actor.
Oh, okay… Wiki can be very bad source of information. What about MC Deeizm? What is so special about her and her MCing?
We just work with each other very well. She knows what I’m doing and I know what she is doing. The MC for drum’n’bass is very important. But she is not just an MC. She is also a singer which makes us very special. She is so talented.
You two travel a lot together and work as partners. Do people actually think you two are a couple – or are you really a couple?
Ha ha ha ha. No comment!
Magnetic Soul presents Japanese drum’n’bass guru Makoto and MC Deeizm on July 19. Supporting DJs are Cookie, Saiyan, Teem, Johnathan, Blood Dunza, MC Z1BKR and VJ Forivermann. The party starts at 11pm at Club Flamingo – entry is $200.
On the Beat‘nTrack
spinning round the clubs
June 18
May plays funky house at Beijing Club starting at 12am. Entry is $300 at door. Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central, 2526 8298.
DJ André Pulse and DJ Morett bring house and electro to Volar. Free for all on the guest list before 12am but after that, it is $150 for non-members (includes one drink). B/F, D’Aguilar St, 2810 1272.
DJ Wordy presents Real Recognize Real at Club Flamingo. Rebearth-Freestyle, DJ Kenny, DJ Source, DJ GC and Blood Dunza support. Party time is 10pm and entry is $150 with one drink. 2/F, Cosmos Building, 8-11 Lan Kwai Fong, 3798 0198.
June 19
The Martinez Brothers spin house at Dragon i from 10pm. Entry is $300 at the door. UG/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St, Central, 3110 1222.
Dan F plays tunes from his new album Rendition at Yumla with Frankie Lam and AKW. Lower Basement, 79 Wyndham Street, Central, 2147 2382.
June 23
Hip-hop veteran DJ GrandMaster Flash plays Dragon i. The party starts at 10pm and entry is $300 at the door. UG/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St, Central, 3110 1222.
July 24
Ministry of Sound presents Stuart Patterson, supported by Dave Webber and Romi, at Beijing Club. Be there from 10pm, entry is $220 at the door for men but free for ladies. Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central, 2526 8298.
July 25
Curtis Vodka flies all the way from Alaska to spin at Pimpin’ Ain’t Easy at CLIQ with local actress-turned-DJ Miss Yellow, DJ Enso and Kid Fresh. Start time is 10pm and entry, including one drink, is $200. 2/F, On Hing Building, 1 On Hing Terrace, Central, 2868 3111.
Pure House at Beijing Club with Tai Pan Dan starts at 12am. Tickets are $300 at the door. Wellington Place, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central, 2526 8298.
NYC’s Princess Superstar blends hip-hop and electro at Volar. Free for all on the guest list before 12am, but after that it is $200 for non-members (includes one drink). B/F, D’Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong, 2810 1272.
July 26
DJ Shortee spins hip-hop at Cliq at 10pm. Tickets are $200 in advance and $250 at the door. 2/F, On Hing Building, 1 On Hing Terrace, Central, 2868 3111.
Osaka siblings DJ Sara and DJ Ryusei – 9 and 7 years old respectively – will play at Dragon i, supported by D-styles. Yes, 9 and 7 – YouTube them yourself to see! Entry is $300 at the door. UG/F, The Centrium, 60 Wyndham St, Central, 3110 1222.
Heavy presents Beijing dubsteppa DJ Mael and N1D from Macau at Sammi’s Kitchen. Also playing are DJ Le Libertin, Kastoacha, DJ SteF:Funn, BloodDunza. Party time is at 10:30pm. Entry with one drink is $100. G/F, 137-139 Connaught Road, 9867 1678.
July 31
Monthly French music affair Par Ici #11 at Volar. Free for all on the guest list before 12am but afterwards, it’s $150 for non-members (includes one drink). B/F, D’Aguilar St, Lan Kwai Fong, 2810 1272.
August 2
Hungarian drum ’n’ bass DJs Chris.Su and Jade spin at
Twyst Mind on their tour’s final stop. Supporting DJs are DJ Wash, Blood Dunza, Le Libertin and MC z1bkr. The party starts at 11pm and entry of $150 includes one drink. 22-26 Bonham Strand, Central,
3622 2710. |
