507projex on iPad Today

507projex was featured on Episode 72 of iPad Today (with Sarah Lane and Leo Laporte) during an ad for Squarespace.  The original air date was November 17th, 2011.

---

Tweet

Q&A with Mochipet

We were slated to interview everyone's favorite breakcore Dinosaur, Mochipet (David Wang), last month when he returned to the Loft above Barfly.  However, due to a wealth of travel industry failures, David arrived late to Minneapolis with just enough time to throw down his raucous set.  Being as rad or radder than 1980s skateboarding, Mochipet agreed to conduct our Q&A, including two fan questions generated on our Facebook page, via email.

507: What was the first electronic music instrument that you got to create music with?

Mochipet: Alesis HR-16 drum machine.  My friend in school had one and I saw it and had to have one.  I saved up for months to get it.  That with my four track tape recorder and guitar and bass let me make full, recorded songs all on my own.  It was amazing for me at the time.

507: I've read that you took the name "Mochipet" from little creatures your grandmother would form out of mochi...Do you ever make mochipets anymore?

Mochipet: I haven't since my grandmother passed away; maybe I should on her birthday.  =)

507: If "Mochipet: The Videogame" was ever created, would it be a music-based game, or something else entirely?

Mochipet: It would be the 5th dimension.  Probably a cross between Katamari, Tamagotchi, Tetris and Super Meat Boy, with a dash of Chess Boxing Thrown in.

Check out Mochipet's latest remix, a dino version of Black Sabbath's "Sweet Leaf."

Mochipet-Black Sabbath Sweat Leaf Remix (For NikkiLeeGemelli My 7000 fan) FREE After 6666 Plays! by Mochipet

507: Love Katamari!  Have you ever talked to Twitter about getting the @mochipet handle?  Or are you content with being @mochipetmobile?

Mochipet: I haven't really thought about it.  Actually I didn't really even pay attention to twitter until now.  Didn't even know I had 4000+ followers.  But I guess I should?  How do I even do that? 

507: Twitter has an Impersonation page for such a reason!  Have you considered making smart-phone apps for your music?

Mochipet: No I haven't but I just saw the new South Park episode with the iPad and it makes me very afraid.  I don't want to become a human caterpillar!!

507: Lots of producers and DJs are turning to multi-touch devices, like the iPad, for live performances.  What do you think of multi-touch devices in live DJing?

Mochipet: Funny you ask that cause my Akai APC40 has been so beat up from the road that none of the faders really work right anymore.  So I just got an iPad and designed my own TouchOSC interface!  It works awesome so far!  The only grip I have is the small surface space and the fact there is no actual knobs or buttons so you can't really do any movement by feel you have to really look at the screen.  Other then that it works awesome.  Connect via wifi osc, so no need for cables.

507: Ahh, a cableless world...sounds fantastic.  Our homies, Sovereign Sect from Fargo, were recently featured on Daly City's "Drop Bombs Remixes," which you also were featured on...does Daly have any future plans to work with Sovereign?

Mochipet: Yes, love them, have met and hung out with them several times, and hope to do a release on Daly City with them.

Check out the video for Mochipet's "Whomp-a-saurus Sex" and grab it on Beatport or iTunes!

"Whomp-a-saurus Sex" - Mochipet [2011] from Dylan Freitas-D'Louhy on Vimeo.

 
507: I know you're going to Fargo next, what's it like playing shows in a barn?

Mochipet: The Barn was awesome!  I had the best time there.  I love how it was actually a barn before they converted it into a venue.  There literally were pigs on the first floor before, and I guess they just removed them recently because of the smell.

507: We are going to be at The Blastoff Festival in Ohio this year and are stoked that you are performing there along with the other great artists.  Is there a difference between playing brand new festivals compared to well-established ones?

Mochipet: Sometimes older festivals are more organized and prepared for things, but honestly it's usually just a Sh*%T show.  Cause no one really knows what to expect.  It's just a mess.  But a beautiful fun mess that leaves everyone walking away with a smile on their face if they do their job right.  =)

507: What can our readers expect from Daly City in 2011, any big things coming up?

Mochipet: We have so many things in the works.  Tons of releases from great, upcoming artists and we are also starting a new series with Grassroots Hat Company to do limited edition Hats with every release.  Look for them soon.  I'm sure you will love it!

507: Are there any special projects you are working on that excites you?

Mochipet: I just finished a project with MC Zulu from Chicago which I'm pretty excited about.  Look for it out soon.  I am also working on some new stuff with Z-Trip that should be out soon on my website that is really cool.  But yes, I pretty much want to work with Prince that would be the most amazing project for me I think.  I hope I will be able to convince him to do it before he or I die.  Actually, he'll probably never die so before I die.  Prince, are you listening?

507 Fan Question 1: Aside from San Francisco, what is your favorite city to play and explore?

Mochipet: In Asia I like Beijing a lot it has the perfect mix of arts and city along with great food and chaos!  Something you can't always find together in one place.  And in Europe I liked Greece and Czech Republic.  Really old school.  I'm into castles and old medieval things like that.  I loved playing in a Castle!

507 Fan Question 2: How often are you traveling, or, how often are you at home?

Mochipet: I'm pretty much only home Monday-Wednesday and gone the rest of the time.  It's crazy sometimes I feel like I'm on airplanes more then anything else.  I really can't wait until they develop a teleportation machine so I can be asleep while I'm traveling.

507: Thanks again for taking the time to chat with us!!

Mochipet: Thanks for having me.  I had a great time hanging out with you guys!  Dirty socks and all!  =)

Be sure to join 507projex and Mochipet at The Blastoff Music & Arts Festival!  Our video from Mochipet's recent show in Minneapolis is below, in case you missed it.

Mochipet in Minneapolis from Glitchard Nesbot on Vimeo.

Projexions #3: To iPad 2 or Not to iPad 2?

        

With the unveiling of Apple’s second iteration of their immensely popular tablet device, iPad 2, and with the increasing usage of the device amongst producers of electronic music, we thought a nice link post covering a brief round-up of iPad 2 stories is in order.  While the next generation is (reportedly nine times) faster, slimmer and is packed with more features (welcome to Apple Marketing 101), the price has not come down from its base starting point of $499.  While iPad 2 will most certainly continue to dominate the market for producers/DJs in the absence of the Lemur, does the refresh qualify a rush to replace last years’ model?  Here are a few links to help you make the decision. 

Hands-On with the iPad 2 (Update: Now with Video!) by TechCrunch

Apple Gets Into iPad Music with $5 GarageBand by Create Digital Music

Hands on: iPad 2 Review by TechRadar

Should iPad 1 owners upgrade to iPad 2? by TechBlog

Kraddy Returns!

Kraddy (Matthew Kratz) returns to Minneapolis on February 9th, 2011--which is quite a stretch since his last performance in the autumn of 2009--with Archnemsis supporting the evening.  More info on the Facebook event page.

Be sure to grab Kraddy's Labyrinth Remix Project (which is unabashedly bad ass), available exclusively on Beatport right now and everywhere else February 15th.

Kraddy was rad enough to throw down on a little Q&A with 507, check it:

507: We last talked toward the end of 2009…Since then you have been steadily affirming your name as one of the top heavyweight bass-blasting crunkstars in the business; touring and spreading your sound, you released the Labyrinth EP and the Labyrinth Remix Project is out on Beatport…do you still love slaying crowds?

Kraddy: Absolutely.  There's nothing like it!

507: We read that you are adding a live drummer to your show…has this happened yet?  If not, when can fans expect the addition?  What prompted you to add a live drummer?

Kraddy: It has happened.  I've had the drummer a few shows already and he will be playing with me at my show at The Fox Theater in Boulder.  I wanted to add the drummer because it makes a more interesting show.  Also, my new music is very heavy and includes a lot of live drum parts so I wanted to accentuate that in the music.

507: Last time you played in Minneapolis, you rocked the crowd with a computer, a mixer and an M-Audio Trigger Finger…has your setupchanged since then?

Kraddy: It has.  I've replaced the Trigger Finger with a iPad that I use to control Ableton live.

507: There is some great video from your performance in Red Rocks and it looks like you threw a total rager!  What was it like to play at Red Rocks?  Does any other venue compare (how about The Barn our homies in Fargo throw down in)?

Kraddy: Red Rocks is amazing.  It's a very special spot on the planet and you can feel that when you're there. That show was special to me because it was my first time playing Red Rocks and it was my birthday.  I can't say I've ever played a venue that was similar.  Not to take away from The Barn in Fargo.  I love that place too!  I'm down with honkey-tonk bars any day!

507: Is it still relevant to call your music “glitch” or “glitch-hop”?  If not, what would you term it?

Kraddy: I use glitchy elements in my music but I don't call it glitch hop.  I think the best description is bass music because it always has bass.

507: In Hunter S. Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (Random House, 1971), he writes about the peak of the hippie movement: “...[and with] the right kind of eyes you can almost see the high-water mark —that place where the wave finally broke and rolled back.”  Has dubstep reached its high-water mark?

Kraddy: That's cool you quoted H.S. Thompson!  I'm not sure if dubstep has reached it's "high water mark". In some ways it feels like it has because even very established dubstep artists are branching out into other genres and sounds.  But on the ground, playing shows for people around the country, people still love those dubstep bangers.  I guess time will tell.

Reader Q1: “Why are you so boss?  And what can one eat to be at least as half as boss as you?”  I think what he meant was, is there something inherent to your composition that lends itself to the amazing music you create?  A veritable breakfast of bass champions?

Kraddy: I'm not sure what to say. Thank you! All I want is to bring the music to the next level and create something that inspires me and other people.  I eat a mostly vegan diet so you may want to give that a shot ;)

Reader Q2: Was there ever an “anti-influence” that lead you to write the kind of music that you write, i.e. did you have an uncle that forced you to listen to country music, or something to that end?

Kraddy:  No uncle forced me to listen to country music. I really like country music, actually.  Country music clicked for me when I was Driving from NY to SF crusing across the Midwest in the middle of the night.

But I think an "anti-influence" is an accurate description of a feeling I get when I hear music that doesn't inspire me.  When I hear music that feels soul-less and empty it makes me want to make music that destroys that empty candy music.

507: Thanks again for the Q&A!  Minneapolis can't wait for your show.  (We're coming to Madison, too.)  Any shoutouts?

Kraddy: Check out www.kraddyodaddy.com for new tunes and the Labyrinth Remix Project.  I'm excited to head your way!