Steve Aoki Talks Hardcore Roots, New Documentary

I met the great character that is Steve Aoki at The Roxy Hotel in Tribeca on August 22nd, 2016. He was in New York to do a handful of interviews about the new documentary film, Steve Aoki: I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead, that was released on Netflix last week.

I spoke to him briefly about the movie but, as both the main produced piece above as well as the bonus bits below attest to, we really got carried away talking about punk and hardcore bands. I asked him if he modeled Dim Mak Records on Ian MacKaye’s DC based Dischord and the answer was yes. He said that the models for his label were Dischord along with Revelation Records which is based much closer to Steve’s home base, in Huntington Beach. Even if Dim Mak, that he started as a 19 year old out of a dorm room, were his only accomplishment, one might applaud Aoki’s great success. The label’s twenty year anniversary will be celebrated at this year’s Electric Zoo Festival with its own stage featuring only its artists on Saturday, September 3rd. Steve Aoki will anchor the Dim Mak stage and play last.

His remarkable run with Dim Mak, of course, is just the tip of Aoki’s accomplishments’ iceberg. His drive, clearly, was inherited from his father Rocky Aoki who was an entrepreneur as well as a daredevil for the ages. The minutes spent introducing him and the relationship between father and son in I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead are among the flick’s most rewarding. Among the bonus bits of our conversation below are Steve’s reaction to the documentary and some comments about Rocky and New York City where he lived.

Also below, enjoy tidbits about the tremendous rock bands who turned up for Dim Mak Tuesdsays as well as details about Aoki’s record collection, his take on and experience with DIY culture, and first DJ gig…

Visually stimulating and musically diverse, the 3rd annual K-Pop Night Out at South by Southwest, showcasing musical artists from South Korea, was made memorable by Hitchhiker – the man in the spacesuit , EE – the husband and wife led total art experience, and Crayon Pop – the 5 member girl group who unveiled their warrior look in Austin.

Brazilian Girls traded making music for making babies for a while but they’re preparing to release their first new material since 2008.  They played some of it at Highline Ballroom and I spoke with lead singer Sabina Sciubba backstage at the venue while she was getting ready to go on stage.

Wax Poetic is about to head into the studio! Here’s a peek at their performance this past Saturday night (Sunday morning) and a chat with Ilhan Ersahin whose East Village club Nublu has been a magnet for creative musicians – spawning a record label, an orchestra, and a jazz festival.

Dave 1 & P Thugg of Chromeo talk their new line of threads and model them during a sold out show in Central Park.  The Canadian electro-funk duo‘s new musical release is entitled White Women.  Here is a Hollandude review of a Chromeo 2011 Terminal 5 Show.

One of Dub’s essential fiugres, Mad Professor visited The Bell House on Saturday.

Great new documentary about backing singers plus new albums from Kanye, Daft Punk, and Sabbath.

The Swedish House Mafia took over New York for a few days and even the Empire State Building gave the trio a nod. Plus…D’angelo plays Brooklyn Bowl and Prince Tribute show preview.