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Rysh Interviews Phil K
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| charlee |
Taken from WorldDJ.com Nice work Rysh :)
With 20 years experience Phil Krokidis aka Phil K is renowned for his talent and skill behind the decks, as well as his collaborations under names like Lo-Step, Hi-Fi Bugs, Dark Alley and many others. Returning home after 2 years Phil takes some time to discuss everything from his solo career to his current Australasia tour.
The past 2 years have been exceptionally busy for Phil Krokidis, 2006 heralded Lo-Step’s debut artist album, ‘Because We Can,’ and with a continuously hectic tour schedule, Phil K has finally made the decision to return home. “I've been on the road for nearly 2 years, so I decided to not really work in the studio for a while because frankly I never had one” explains Phil, “I'm back at home now so I am looking forward to working on music again.”
At the age of 14 Phil K knew he wanted to be a DJ, although it only became a full time job, working in record stores in 1992 and a full time Djing career in only 2000. 20 years ago it would have been impossible to imagine any of this as it did not exist yet, “as I got older it was something that I did aspire to as I could see people I knew achieving great things.” Only time will tell how much bigger it will all get for Phil K.
Taking up producing in the early 90’s, Phil shows a certain surprise at how fast the time has past since he first began. Initially being introduced to the idea by Anthony Pappa and Ivan Gough in the 90’s, they worked in Ivan’s studio in Wonga Park, he admits that they never got anything finished, but learnt the foundations of producing. Back then a studio was a room full of hardware and an assortment of gear, then in 1998 Phil K and Andy Page got their first Apple G3, at the time this was something rather unique, “that with some TLC you could nurse one box into creating a piece of music with no other equipment.” In an old DMC bathroom that lone G3, along with some speakers went on to create some of Phil and Andy’s most well known remixes under their ‘Hi-Fi Bugs’ alias, including those for Amiel ‘The Chase’, Gintare ‘Disappear’ and Freefall ‘Skydive.’ Telling other producers at the time that these remixes were created from a single unit was groundbreaking, “10 years later it's now commonplace to record like this... “
Phil K has always been one of the first to embrace the newest innovations in Djing and Vjing technology. With Ableton being a point that every DJ has there own point of view on, Phil is no different admitting that “Ableton is a great all-round music tool. I think it has a great future in the overall production and presentation of music...” Technology allows us to use our imaginations to achieve new things that we weren’t able to before; each DJ will use what they are most comfortable with, “would I use it exclusively to DJ?? No...Why?? Because I feel it takes the magic out of mixing music and when I don’t have that fear that my next mix could be a train wreck if I don’t concentrate then I get bored.” Phil explains how he feels that people come out to see a little magic, and seeing a man behind a laptop they feel they could just as easily do the same, “but when they see you playing with a computer, Efx, CD players and whatever else then that becomes magical, and that takes expertise and practice.” Over the years Phil Krokidis has also become a Pioneer Pro DJ Ambassador, showcasing the latest toys and working with engineers in Tokyo he has helped to develop the equipment we use today. “I think I’ll always work with those guys as long as they'd like me too,” Phil explains “Most importantly they take all my ideas seriously as I have seen the product of submissions in current and future projects, it feels great to know that you have an input in the way end users finally get to play with their music.”
Having been part of the Australian dance scene for almost 20 years now, Phil K has been witness to some paradigm shifts in the scene. “There is not one thing you could really attribute it to,” Phil continues “but rather that Australia is recognised as a scene unto itself, which takes a whole lot of people and styles to achieve.” He goes on noting individual efforts from artists like Quench, Anthony Pappa and labels like ‘Vicious Vinyls.’ Off the top of his head Phil K adds, “[And] all my incredibly talented friends such as Nubreed, Andy Page, Ivan Gough, Luke Chable, Poxy Music, Infusion, Vance Musgrove and more recently the likes of TV Rock, Dirty South and Bodyrockers.” But it’s not the individual success stories, it’s a collective effort that has seen Australia become as internationally recognised as it is today, and there’s no question that Phil Krokidis has been part of this collective as his skills behind the turntables and in the studio have raised the Australian profile.
Collaborating with locals and internationals like Andy Page, Ivan Gough, Luke Chable and Habersham, Phil K has been part of names like Hi-Fi Bugs, The Fact, Dark Alley, Lo-Step and many more. But from these older collaborations, can we ever expect to see new material? “Being great friends with the people I work with is very important to all of us and that is why as long as we are friends these projects will be always ongoing” explains Phil, “Hell, we could put a record out tomorrow! When we feel like it and we can we will make music. That is what we do and love.” In 2002 Phil K compiled his Balance 004 CD, one of the newest artists featured was Damon Fanooni, and in 2005 the two had success with their single, Cloudbrake. Asking about the circumstances under which they met Phil recounts how during the compilation stage of Balance 004 he had been sent around 50 songs from various artists to consider for the CD. “I went home and started listening to all this music which sounded very generic and uninspiring” he admits, “As I'm thinking this I get a package from a guy named Damon in Atlanta with a letter saying that he’s 20 and just started producing and with his phone number attached… so I called him and told him that his submission was the best out of about 50 CDRs and 12” I received that day and whatever he’s doing to keep doing it.”
His forthcoming CD compilation, ‘Hi-Fi’ is Phil K’s 7th compilation, “as with all of my albums I try to capture the here and now...what I am playing and have been playing for the last few months.” He adds that the sounds on the CD are what inspire him at the moment and for any who are yet to hear Phil K live; it’s an example of what they may expect to hear. The result of this new CD is a smooth and harmonic mix, although it never gets any easier to compile a new CD admits Phil, “my process is to email all my favourite producers to send me new music and then try to balance the mix out with my favourite tracks from the last year.” But for any of those who are yet to have their first Phil K experience, you can expect to hear a set overlain with funky elements blended with a twisted, dirty and dark atmosphere. And what is the most important thing for Phil whilst Djing to an audience? “To make them rock as hard as I can…” In the DJ realm Phil K is one of the most well respected names when it comes to skill and innovation, on the topic of his renowned skills he says “…I just think what I do and how I do it is a product of “Repetitive Strain Injury” and boredom. I get bored really easily so I feel as if I have to do more when I play i.e. remix and re-edit music.”
Many will know Phil has also been a big fan of Breaks in previous years, “Over the years I’ve been a big fan of everything” he says. In the last 20 years sounds have come and gone, to progress musically one can’t hold onto individual genres, instead they need to always be looking for a new sound to inspire. Governed by the changes in technology, music is constantly evolving, “I also believe most people are conditioned to always go more for what is familiar to them rather than foreign and new.” For the fans to follow in any DJs musical journey, they need to have an open mind to new sounds, but unfortunately often people believe you have lost it explains Phil, “you can only be true to yourself I guess.” Just like any other sound, Breaks was fresh as it was a weird sound for most people, but when it because normal and accepted the DJ has done their job, bringing this new style to the people. “You have to be proud of that but your job is to find the next thing and make that popular... Then move on from there” says Phil, music trends go around in circles and that’s why its certain for him that Breaks will be fresh again some day, “we cannot reinvent the wheel but we can change its colour and flavour.”
Living away from home, Phil like many others becomes homesick, the choice of living overseas was due to the short distance required to travel from there, “I am not bothered by the distances any more and I just want to live in Australia as this is where my home is and this is where I’ve done my best work recording and performing.” With 2007 well underway and his tour in full flight, Phil Krokidis finishes by saying how much he looks forward to living in Australia again and working on solo productions once more, “You will definitely be hearing a lot more music from me despite the alias.”
Taken from WorldDJ.com |
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| Dj_Es-Dva |
One question that didnt make its way into the article was:
At the end of the day what would you most like to be remebered for?
Being a nice guy.
Which he really is, shame i couldnt get to see him. |
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| charlee |
| quote: | Originally posted by Dj_Es-Dva
One question that didnt make its way into the article was:
At the end of the day what would you most like to be remebered for?
Being a nice guy.
Which he really is, shame i couldnt get to see him. |
Sunny?? |
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| tonydanza |
horrible interview
horrible interviewer
die in a chemical fire richo |
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