Mike Relm / Interview

Mike Relm is as badass as they come. He has won turtablism championships, plays live with completely original video DJ'ing mash-ups, and is just releasing his first album that features Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Mr. Lif, and Lateef the Truth Speaker. He is coming to Australia with Good Vibrations festival and we think he is the underdog of the lineup, but the one who will blow you away the most. 

Patrick Collins: Have you ever been to Australia?
Mike Relm: Yeah it's been a while, I did Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane with J5 a while ago.

PC: Are you excited to come and play again?
MR: YEAH, it's been a while and I'm really excited. There were a couple of times when I was supposed to do Big Day Out or Good Vibrations and it's just ended up not happening. This year with Good Vibrations I've just stuck to it, and been like "This time it's going to work" and now I get to come back.

PC: What's it like to be interviewed by Larry King on LARRY KING LIVE?
MR: That was...ehhhhhhh.
PC: We can just put in ‘ehhhhh' for an answer if you want.
MR: Yeah, let's just put down ehhhhhhhhhhhhh. (laughs)
PC: You should check out that Larry King and Janet Jackson dance clip, it's Larry up there in his suspenders and Janet is trying to teach him some choreography.
MR: Hah, Larry with his suspenders and dust everywhere.

PC: So you have a new album out called SPECTACLE, is it out down here in Australia?
MR: Not yet, it just got released in the States and is available online in December

PC: It's a completely different approach for you though isn't it?
MR: Yeah, it's sample free, and I'm working with vocalists. It's good.

PC: So what's going to happen to the video mixing at your shows?
MR: Well I'm going to be doing more original video mixing too. I have one video for the album made already and I'm going to make some more when I get home. For my live show it will just mean more original content overall. I think there is a lot to be done with the whole art form. I don't want it to be a completely different part of the show, I'm planning to blend it in with the existing show and clips that I really like.

PC: Yeah I saw you about three years ago down at SXSW, it was really impressive.
MR: Ah you were like one of 10 people that were there.
PC: (laughs) I wasn't going to say it, I'm glad you did though.
MR: (laughs) Yeah it was crazy, I was staying like 30 mins from town, and I get in and was like ‘Oh I am on early!' and then turned up and played to almost no one. But the next night it was packed. It's how it goes.

PC: You toured with the Blue Man Group a while back, is it weird hanging out with those guys when they...aren't blue?
MR: Yeah, it takes a certain character to do that job and when we're all just hanging out, it's really weird, they all share character traits even though they didn't grow up together or anything.

PC: How was touring with them?
MR: It was great, we were playing in the Midwest, and weird cities that don't even have DJs really, and so it was a great crowd. I mean the best compliment to me is when someone comes up after the show and is like ‘I don't even like hip hop. I don't like DJs, anything that happens to do with turntables, I don't like the sounds, I just don't like anything to do with it... but I love what you do. You changed my mind.' That is what that tour is all about, to get people to give it try. To open people's mind to this new art form that I fell in love with and tons of people have fallen in love with.

PC: Yeah, and I think your performance is one of those easier to swallow ones, rather than a battle scratch show-off set.
MR: Yeah I did that for years, and it was great to learn those skills, but when it comes to putting on a show and entertaining people, you can't just go in there and show people how fast you cut.

PC: What's the story with the tracks 'Everyday', 'You Break', and 'My Heart' on the new album?
MR: It was three different takes on it. I mean, I sent it out a lot of tracks to different people to hope that they would be able to make it into a song, and a lot of tracks didn't get used. But that particular beat was one that I sent to Del, and I sent it to Lif, and I sent it to Adeem, and some other people who didn't do it. I just needed someone to make it a song, because the beat was there, the hook was there, and so I sent it out in hopes that someone would be able to do it, and it turned out that all three of them came through. Which is great, I was just like, "Sure, okay, let's put them all on!" It's great, they have different approaches to the song.

PC: Do you have a favourite of them?
MR: No, it's like trying to pick your favourite kid.

PC: But you used the Del version in the video right?
MR: Yeah, but that one just lent itself to be a video. The imagery that Del comes up with, I mean, he's just a mad genius when it comes to that. The video was basically already there.

PC: I know you're an avid film fan, so what have you seen recently that you've either hated or loved?
MR: Well I just caught the Soulwax DVD. It was really amazing. Live they are great, and their documentary was amazing. I mean from a musicians standpoint, they did a lot of cool music and film tricks and transitions that was super interesting.

PC: You made a tour DVD yourself right?
MR: Yeah, so I know what the challenges are! I think that's why I appreciated it so much.

PC: Have you ever had a moustache? It's Movember down here.
MR: Yes, if you watch the DVD you can see it. Yeah, I've had a moustache from about when I could grow a moustache until about college. I don't know why I ever kept it that long.

By Patrick Collins

Release: Tour

To Cure: A quiet weekend

Keywords: Mike Realm, Interview