Interview with End: The DJ

Eclectomatic Ezine talks to End: The DJ about his origins, signing to CrunchPod and the future.

JimZombie: Tell us a bit about your career as a club and remix DJ. Where did it all begin and where has it taken you?

End: The DJ: This DJ career originated from my love of all progressive & alternative electronic music and the cultures that surround them. I’ve always been supportive in promoting and pushing it. It was in 2005 that the name END: the DJ took shape, in the mid-U.S. at Industrial and dark music. Immediately after other clubs and event producers showed interest. I went on a mini-tour and ever since, I’ve been honoured enough to be all over the States and parts of Canada. I’m hoping that continues this year; there have been interested clubs in other parts of the world I would very much like to see and meet the faces that have contacted me online in person.

JZ: Having been involved in many projects, events and tours, how did it feel when record labels began approaching you?

ETD: It was a complete turnaround from the previous year, when all EBM/Industrial labels (especially in the U.S.) seemed to think that a DJ mix album was just not marketable, not a “good idea” to quote a couple of them. Then a couple of European labels started to think otherwise such as Alfa Matrix (Komor Kommando’s label), and it was nice to see things take a turn.

JZ: Out of all the record labels that began showing interest in your work what was it that made you want to work with Crunch Pod?

ETD: As much as I loved the idea of working with one of the European labels that were the first to show interest, I started thinking that perhaps I should start with a label in North America first; I am based there so of course I managed to build a certain listening base which would help get the album pushed out there a bit more. I am trying to focus on getting the music from the artists I love out there as much as possible so this would be the best way to do so initially. I have great respect for the labels out in Europe & the rest of the world- I would want to bring ‘more to the table’ before having something released.
So in the States, Crunch Pod was definitely the way to go. It’s such a fantastic independent label with a great roster of artists (Alter Der Ruine, Uberbyte, C/A/T among others) that I just knew I would be working with a label with the same focus and passion for the music as I. I just didn’t think I would be accepted, being that the DJ mix album concept is still a rarity in this music. I was pleasantly surprised when it all happened!

JZ: Obviously signing to Crunch Pod has influenced the way you approach doing a remix album, as hinted at in your recent press release. What are the reasons for these changes and what should we expect in your upcoming album ENDTROVERT?

ETD: My first mix album [The Chrome Elememtal] was self-released and the next mix album I had in mind was being made with the same kind of release in mind- a sort of continuation in a series. But since being accepted by a label, I felt I had to go back & rebuild my idea for the next mix album from a new foundation. I thought that the next mix album should be something different, stronger out the gate. So Endtrovert is going to be an album that packs more of a punch. I have been a bit more harder & aggressive in my live club sets and I hope this will translate well into the new album.

JZ: Has anything from the album you were working on pre Crunch Pod carried over to ENDTROVERT, or is it all fresh work?

ETD: Certain tracks are indeed being carried over, tracks that I felt could not be passed over. A track that I collaborated on with this great band Soulless Affection will be on the album, as well an exclusive mix from Neikka RPM. I will also have two remixes of a Komor Kommando track that everyone is familiar with, but have never heard quite like this before. Anyone who has caught me live out on the club floors these recent months may remember hearing me play them out live, so they will finally be available for them to listen to anywhere they want! E.I.D from Germany and Erektor from L.A. produced each remix. Fantastic work. The rest of the album is all either recent or brand new material from some amazing artists & remix producers: Alien Vampires, Uberbyte, Stahlnebel & Black Selket and C-Lekktor as well as some great up-and-coming artists that I think others will really enjoy.

JZ: You seem very excited about David Mack doing the artwork for your upcoming album. How did this come to be and what does his work mean to you?

ETD: I had been a fan of David’s “Kabuki” work for some time. Not only do I love David’s look into certain aspects of Asian culture & philosophy (my mother was into Zen for many years and I am an avid student of Taoism), I also love David’s style that seems to really resonate with me as much as music does. About two years ago at a genre arts convention in Atlanta (Dragon*Con), I managed to have enough courage to come up and thank him for his works and from there, we managed to keep in touch online. When I was accepted to the Crunch Pod label, I told David the news and he was open to submitting a piece for the album. I was shocked and am very honored by everything’s that happened.

JZ: For readers unaware, Crunch Pod was founded by Ben Arp, the mastermind of C/A/T among other projects. What are your feelings on supporting C/A/T during their last US tour scheduled for late July/August?

ETD: From what I was told, this will indeed be the last tour for the C/A/T project as we know it. Afterwards, the project will be re-imagined under the long form ‘Chaos And Terror’ name only. As much as I am personally looking forward to how that next body of work will sound, I am equally as excited about this benchmark of a tour. People should certainly come out and check out this tour while they can!

JZ: Thanks for taking the time out for this interview and best luck for the future. Do you have anything you would like to add before we wrap up?

ETD: 2010 is looking to be a solid year of music, tours and great special events. Can’t wait to meet everyone out there and I hope to collaborate with even more promoters & artists in the very near future. Thanks again for the interview!

Related posts:

1. END: The DJ Signs to Crunch Pod Music – new album February 2010
2. C/A/T and END: the DJ announce ‘END of LINE’ U.S. Tour
3. Interview: Pieter and Bram of NTSRN
4. Grave Concerns Issue 1 – Best of 2009

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