DJ Yoda Interview 2012

The man that is DJ Yoda will be touching down in Sydney this Christmas Day to headline Sunburnt Festival.

DJ Yoda is regarded as one of Britain’s most innovative DJs, having built a reputation as the only DJ to single-handedly inject humour into UK Hip-Hop. Admired for his originality as well as his sense of fun, he is possibly the only DJ in the world who can fill a club cutting George Formby with Jurassic 5, or 80s Pop with New York Rap.

Amongst his many accolades DJ Yoda was also voted alongside DJ Premier as “One of the Top Three DJs in the World” in Hip Hop Connection magazine. Born in London, Yoda represents a new brand of mix-master who will play any kind of music to make people dance – with a Hip-Hop set that can take the audience from underground Rap to TV themes, to nursery rhymes, Country, Soul, Reggae, Drum and Bass, 80s Pop and back again, he truly is a musical chameleon.
Now’s your chance to catch DJ Yoda at Sunburnt 2012, where he will be playing alongside acts including Helena, Nukewood, Social Hooligans, Urby and many more.
Here we catch up with DJ Yoda to find out a little bit more…

Firstly for all those people that don’t not know much about you, what is your music style?
I describe it by saying I’m a Hip-Hop DJ, but I don’t necessarily play Rap music. So my style is right across the board – I’m as likely to play Country & Western as Drum & Bass. But the way I play it, it’s Hip-Hop.

What are you most looking forward to about playing at Sunburnt Festival on Bondi Beach this Christmas Day?
Being in one of my favourite places in the world on Christmas Day! I have spent a good deal of time in Bondi, and got to know and love it like nowhere else!

What sort of set can we expect from you?

It’s gonna be a mixed bag, as ever – but a party set, and I can guarantee there will be some Christmas classics thrown in the mix.

How long have you been DJ’ing for?
Since I was 15-years-old, so bloody ages.

Besides the wicked Australian audience where else in the would you love to DJ?
I’m lucky enough to have played everywhere from Brazil, South Africa and China to Kenya, California and Budapest. I’m blessed with this job! I think the major gap in my travels right now is Russia…

What is on repeat on your iPod right now?
The new Kendrick Lamar album.

Will it be a strange feeling being on a beach in over 30 degree heat pumping tunes on Christmas Day in comparison to Christmas back home in the UK?
It will be very surreal! I’m used to a cold, grey Christmas – this is gonna be the complete opposite.

What is your favourite venue in Sydney?
I love Oxford Arts Factory – I’m performing an AV show there in January too.

Any stand out gigs where you just thought ‘Wow’?
I once DJ’d for George Lucas, with the cast of the Star Wars movie there. That was pretty special, given my DJ name! And getting to play in Malawi was amazing too.

What are your future plans for 2013 and beyond?
I’m just releasing my new album “Chop Suey”, and making videos for every song on the album, so 2013 is shaping up to be very busy with everything associated with that.

If you weren’t a DJ what would you be doing now?
Probably be homeless.

Thanks Yoda… we think you’re awesome and simply cannot wait to hear your headline slot at Sunburnt Christmas 2012!

Catch Yoda live:

Tuesday 25 Dec 2012- Sunburnt Christmas, Sydney, Australia

Wednesday 26 Dec 2012- Breakfest 2012 atBelvoir Ampitheatre, Perth, Australia

Check out the BBM Dance Music Podcast Featuring So Called Scumbags.