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Apr 20,2008 - Apr 27,2008 |
Taking turntables to task
The versatile Kid Koala brings humour to DJ culture
By Kerry Doole
Originally Published: 2003-10-12
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Vancouver-born Kid Koala, aka Eric San, will open for Radiohead
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Ace turntablist Kid Koala (aka Eric San) calls his just-released second album, Some Of My Best Friends Are DJs. In turn, his fellow DJs should be proud to call him a friend, as he has given their craft a whole new artistic credibility.
His original talents as a scratcher and mixer were recognized early by his peers. Eric moved from his native Vancouver to Montreal to study in the early '90s, and he soon began djing in clubs. An inventive mix tape, Scratchcratchratchatch, caught the ear of Coldcut's Jon More in 1995, and that led to Kid Koala signing with prestigious English electronica label Ninja Tune.
Eric refined his craft through remixing and touring alongside the likes of DJ Food, DJ Vadim and Coldcut, and he then joined Money Mark's band and opened for the Beastie Boys on a world tour.
His 2000 solo debut, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, was a real breakthrough, garnering rave reviews and impressive international sales for a record rooted in DJ culture. The always original and clever Some Of My Best Friends Are DJs is sure to bolster that reputation.
It features snippets of funk, ska, jazz and hiphop, all interspersed with voice-over samples on topics ranging from the habits of koala bears to the behaviour of people on elevators.
"I don't actually do albums, in my opinion," Eric told Tandem recently. "They are like audio episodes of The Simpsons or even The Muppet Show, where you have the musical number, followed by some skits, then another musical number."
An often surreal sense of humour characterizes his work (Monty Python is another influence). "Humour is an important part of what I do. Whether what I do is important is another story!" he laughs.
Beneath the frivolity, San is dedicated to his instrument, the turntable, and serious about finding new means of expression with it. "We are working with a technological instrument, but it is very analog and acoustic. You have to practice as hard as on any other instrument. The challenge is to put something together where people can sense your spirit behind it. I know that what I do does not necessarily fit into the pop music realm at all."
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