Satoshi Tomiie interview

[lucky13]

For a little over 15 years, Satoshi Tomiie has been an integral member of New York City’s prestigious Def Mix crew. The Japan-born DJ/Producer is known across the globe for his amazing productions and remixes.

He is one of electronic dance music’s most respected and beloved DJs and his pioneering record label, SAW Recordings is a haven for sure-fire dance floor bombs. This year marked the release of the highly anticipated mixed cds ES and ES-B and in January 2006, Tomiie will be featured on the new series from Renaissance “3D†– a triple album that will highlight key aspects of Tomiie’s work.

When he’s not touring the globe, he’s making beats and when he’s not making beats, he’s taking a time out to talk to us here at Cooljunkie.

DO: You’ve been touring constantly over the past couple of months, including three dates in Japan. Describe the scene in Japan and the support you receive.

ST: The Japanese crowd especially in Tokyo is very lucky, as so many international DJ’s are stopping by all the time and they have loads of choices of places to go. November alone, Sasha played 3 times, once with James Zabiela and the other time with Digweed.

There was a festival with 25,000 people in Tokyo and Osaka, and a lot of DJ’s (Including me!) played at the clubs like Yellow, Air, Womb, Core and Ageha. This all happened in just 2 weeks time. All kinds of dance/electronic music is played in Tokyo, the crowds there are spoiled! Japan, especially Tokyo is one of the best places in the world for me to dj not just because I am from there but also because people there are so into Dance / Electronic Music.

DO: Among the many dates in your near future is a rare non-conference gig in Miami. You and Hector Romero will be playing at Shine on the 23rd of this month. I know the party people of Miami are looking forward to this date. How excited are you about this upcoming party?

ST: I am really excited about the party. I have been told that the room is fantastic and sound system is rocking. Playing with Hec is a lot of fun. He is an amazing DJ and a great guy! Will be a good one.

DO: In addition to being a DJ/Producer you also run your own label, SAW Recordings. How difficult is it to wear so many different hats in this industry? How are you able to juggle everything successfully?

ST: I have 3 faces (DJ / Beat Maker / Label owner) and if I were doing just 1 of them it would be extremely busy and hard. Because of the people I am working with it’s possible. Thank you Hector, Judy and Dennis!

DO: Some incredible producers are on the SAW roster, yourself, Chab, Echomen, Gabriel & Dresden, Matthias Heilbronn, and many more. Will any others be added to the mix in the near future? What new releases can we expect from SAW?

ST: I don’t know if you could call it a roster in the traditional sense, as some of them, did one record and then moved on to their own labels, or working with others which is the nature of our business.

Right now we are working with Tiny Stikz, my remix of Slok, Sean Miller remix of Fishead, Audiofly X, Guy Gerber, Dan Berkson, my remix of Chab who is making a name for himself as a remixer since we released his album and we have more! I am really happy with what we have lined up!

DO: This year you released ES and ES-B. ES is vintage Satoshi during your peak, while ES-B seemed to possess a more laid back, sexier groove. What were your thoughts going into these albums?

ST: ES-B is something I wanted to do for a long time. I am extremely happy with the result and a lot people opinions being different for each album. ES-B also was heavily inspired by the set I have been doing at Café Mambo in Ibiza for years.

DO: The Def Mix/SAW party at Pacha Ibiza is one of the most popular parties of the season on the island. For those that have not experienced it first hand, how would you put that party into words?

ST: Very hard to describe in words. Pacha definitely represents Ibiza nightlife and one of the best clubs on the island. Our party on Saturday are very international, fun, sexy and all about good music and people having a good time.

DO: Since 1989, you’ve become a major part of the Def Mix family. How incredible has it been to work with such pioneers like Frankie Knuckles and David Morales on regular basis?

ST: It was like I was in the ‘School of House’. An amazing experience and I learned a lot about the dance music. Without them I wouldn’t be here or be doing what I am doing now.

DO: You’ve remixed and worked with the likes of U2, David Bowie, Simply Red and many, many more. Any one remix in particular that you are really proud of or that sticks out in your mind?

ST: Photek ‘Mine to Giveâ€. Original is already fantastic, it was not very hard to come up with the direction of the remix.

DO: A major achievement in your career was the release of your debut album “Full Lick†in 2000. How was that experience?

ST: It took about 3 years to complete, it was a lot of fun working with amazing people like Kelli, Diane, Danny and the other musicians and engineers I worked with for that project. They are truly talented people. I made a lot of different styled songs for that album, and many tunes were not used.

DO: Do you anticipate doing another artist album in the near future?

ST: Yeah I have been trying! I will have to work sooo hard and focus to complete it.

DO: You began your music career playing the piano and were really influenced by jazz music. What other genres, besides EDM, are you influenced by? What artists?

ST: Miles Davis, Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Lonnie Liston Smith, Dexter Wansel, Philly International Stuff, Yellow Magic Orchestra, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Caetano Velozo and so on and on and on...

DO: Any other musical instrument that you would like to learn how to play?

ST: Bass Guitar

DO: Top 5 tracks of the moment?

ST: Audiofly vs. Paul Harris “Miscelateâ€

Fishead “Inescapable†[sean Miller Dub]

Only Freak “Viper Vapourâ€

Digweed and Muir “Santiago†[Gerber's Remix]

Dino Lenny “Call_Me†[Rob_Aker-Re-edit]

DO: Three records that most likely will never leave your bag?

ST: Laurent Garnier “The Man With The Red Faceâ€

Rob Dougan “Clubbed To Death†[Tom Middleton]

Greed “Strange Worldâ€

DO: Three words that best describe Satoshi Tomiie?

ST: Feed me now.

For more info on Satoshi Tomiie please visit:

www.satoshitomiie.com

www.sawrecordings.com

[crobaralex]