It’s not easy being a neo-existentialist. Nor is it easy being Tsuyoshi Suzuki. Tsuyoshi Suzuki manages to be both. Suzuki has pieced together a collage-world for himself, wherein he is the human-sequencer, the nu-shaman, the organic tech-head and el capitan del mar. You may or may not have heard of him, but rest assured, Suzuki has heard of you and he’s comin’ after you.

Raised on the streets of Tokyo, Suzuki ignited his career as DJ/producer extraordinaire with his move to London in the early 90’s after having become transfixed with the psy-trance and goa he found in Goa, India. A holiday to this ‘so-famous-it’s-infamous’ breeding ground for psychedelic, mystical and uplifting trance, infused the passion Suzuki would thrive off of to share it with the world over. It just so happened that DJs were bringing back music from Goa by the truckloads and the music that would fuse the ancient-eastern-organic with the new-world-electric took London by storm. The ‘right place at the right time’ stigma is more than appropriate and Suzuki catapulted himself into the heavens with his DJing and early ‘Prana’ releases. Today Suzuki holds legendary status.

With a fairly sizable amount of time having passed since the fateful holiday, which includes a homeward return to Tokyo in 2000, Suzuki still looks upon the early days as fuel for inspiration. “Goa had a huge influence on me from ‘90-’96; that experience will always stay with me because it moved me in such a big way. I think it also had to do with being there at that specific time. I’m sure Goa has changed a lot in the recent years.”

Alongside speculating change for Goa, Suzuki specifies changes in the trance scene in general. “For me, trance has been getting played out and even boring these days”, yawns Suzuki. “But I’ve discovered a few innovative tracks here and there in recent compilation albums. But while I was performing at Antiworld in London last week, I strongly felt that psy-trance is coming back in a big way. Since London is such a trend-setting city, in a few years trance should definitely be blowing up.”

Rather than making a grandiose prediction based on one successful show, Suzuki added that there are steps to take in order to shy away from a continuing spiral towards commercialism, conservatism and a whole lot of sameness in music. “So many people are doing the same old thing and it’s inevitable. What I’m doing is constantly looking for new styles while maintaining my originality, keeping an open mind and embracing a broad range of music. I think this is rather important if you don’t want to be stuck at a dead end.” The road towards trance “blowing up” will not be an easy one.

The embracing of a broad range of music is definitely stapled to Suzuki’s lapel. He describes his various incarnations as such: “When I play and produce under DJ Tsuyoshi, it’s basically trance and when it’s under Numanoid and Joujouka, it is electro/rock/house/punk. By this time in life I’ve heard and identified with so many different kinds of music that these are merely outlets of some of the ones I want to focus and develop on. It’s what excites me the most.”

Interestingly enough, the child of the electronique-organique is simultaneously a son fathered by Afrika Bambaataa and Cocteau Twins. Suzuki has established happenings with his Numanoid DJ sets and Joujouka live band concerts, explaining that they “are like electro-clash parties. They drive and draw artistic inspirations from VJs to fashion to art. It’s the complete experience that I love. They are not just music, they are full sensory events.” Neo-existentialist to the core.

In full complement of his tougher side, Suzuki established the electro label ‘Mad Skippers’. If ‘Mad Skippers’ were Suzuki’s left hand, then ‘Feedback Recordings’ is his right. ‘Feedback’ is the phoenix that rose from the ashes that once was ‘Matsuri Productions’. It was named after a Japanese ritual, on which can be found infinite bodies of literature. Generally this means that there are limitless variations to it. With such depth behind Suzuki’s former label, it seems surprising that his current label be named ‘Feedback’. Not so for Suzuki. “It basically signifies the interactivity of the events; so does Matsuri. Organizers get together with the people that go there. Just like the electro-clash parties. They provide a full experience.” Four months ago marked the latest release from Suzuki on his ‘Feedback’ label and it has been his most-selling track to date. The single is called Fire 1.

As a quick change of topic Suzuki was asked what it was he involved himself with when he was absolutely sick of music. Suzuki responded in a retro-chic, rebel-cum-cliché fashion: “Sex, drugs and movies!” The upcoming year holds big things for Suzuki. Two compilations from ‘Feedback Recordings’ are in the works, as well as an artist album under the guise of DJ Tsuyoshi. From the ‘Mad Skippers’ label, three compilations can be expected and an artist album under the guise of Joujouka. Of course the globe will be circled many times as Suzuki plans on continuing incessant travel and touring.

Most importantly, Suzuki will be playing the Summer Dreaming Festival in Sydney on December 28th, where he plans on unleashing full on psy-trance. When asked what the punters should expect, Suzuki dropped straight into description. “High quality, new and different. By high quality I want to say that I spend so much time and effort to select my tracks. I get disappointed when people do any less than that.” Go ahead and expect nothing but the best from Tsuyoshi Suzuki. Expect the best because you will receive only the best from this nu-shaman – el capitan del mar.

PS – Neo-existentialism is nothing other than a heightened form of hyper-postmodernism.

Be sure to check out Tsuyoshi Suzuki as he plays Byron Bay and Sydney this December:

Sun 26th Dec – C-Moog, Byron Bay
Tue 28th Dec – Summer Dreaming, Bondi Beach (BUY TICKETS)