inthemix | Features | Kazu Kimura: Techno internationalist

With a discography that spans labels like Chris Liebing’s CLR imprint as well as Ben Sim’s Theory Recordings, and a prolific career that stretches right back to the infancy of the Japanese club scene in the late 80s, Kazu Kimura is one of techno’s truly international figures. He was a pioneer for the scene in his home country, but his first tour of America took place way back at the beginning of the 90s and he was even based in Brisbane for several years. He’s now based in Spain, with a touring schedule that’s consolidated his reputation as a globetrotter who’s played clubs in every corner of the earth.

Kazu Kimura will be one of the techno scene’s main representatives when he returns to our shores for the start of the Global Gathering tour next weekend. ITM sits down with Kazu to find out where he thinks techno is headed, his new record label ventures, to offer some insight into his special relationship with Australian audiences as well as sharing what it’s like to be an international citizen.

Hey there Kazu. I was wondering what you have been up to since you last toured Australia?

I went back to Japan for a week after Australia in June and had a gig in Tokyo, also I have visited my family in Nagano for couple of days and did some family business. I think that’s very important, especially as I’m living so far away from them. After visiting home I returned to Spain, and since then I have been spending time at my home studio, finished a lot of new tracks now and I’ll be releasing my mix album from Tokyo around end of this year or early next year, just preparing for it at the moment. This is going be interesting album I think, because sounds will be carry across from minimal to proper techno, and every track is an unreleased effort form myself from 2002 to 2008.

With a career spanning three very difference cities, what strikes you about Australian audiences?

Audiences in Australia are totally cool, especially the Melbourne crowd, they know a lot about techno and more so than other cities in Australia, the reactions are really different and I can put such a wide selection of music in my sets, it’s always one of my favorite places to play. I also have to make mention Chinese Laundry in Sydney, they always make me feel like home and everything is really cool there. I love Brisbane, it’s another home for me! Sunny nice weather and clean. I’m really looking forward to play this festival in Brisbane to see people’s reactions, I’ve been pushing techno in Brisbane for long time but we never had good following in the local scene. I am just hoping that people still remember me and I feel like home again.

Are there any Australian artists or DJs that are your personal favourites?

There’ll be too many names. I know there’s a lot of good DJs in Australia, but I don’t have many chances to hear and see them too often, I also have many DJ friends here in Australia and I like what they play, I won’t say who because there are too many. But I have one particular producer always in mind who was producing some amazing stuff in the past, his name is DJ HMC from Adelaide.

With minimal being the buzzword at the moment, how do you see minimalism fitting into the techno genre?

Yes minimal has been popular for about 6 or 7 years now, it took a while for me to put minimal records in my record case, as you know a lot of techno DJs who used to playing proper techno, they are playing minimal these days. I think techno needed to be changed, and it was big change from the view of us who were really into the hard techno scene. Some assumed that minimal techno would take over proper techno, but I know that music always goes full circle. Things changes with the audience, as well as when there’s new technology to make the music.

It’s been a long while you are playing in a festival environment here in Australia. Should we expect something different from yourself?

The last time I played a festival was in Melbourne, I can’t remember the name of the event but it was 5 or 6 years ago I think. I was still playing proper techno at that time, time changes and music changes too, audiences are different and we have better technology that 5 or 6 years ago, we have a lot of new toys for the DJs these days and you can do a lot of different things with it. I think it’s important that DJs follow everything new that we’re seeing from music and technology, you don’t have use them all but you can just try it and decide you like it or not. So yeah I’m sure you will see and hear something new from my sets at this festival.

With the launch of your new project Conspira Records. What sounds can we expect?

Eveything from minimal tech to dub techno ‘Detroit’ style and hard groove. Any form of quality techno.

You have passion for industrial and new wave music (Joy Division, New Order, Nitzer Ebb, DAF, Depeche Mode, Front 242, Cabaret Voltaire). Name me a few recordings that influenced your love of electronic music.

I grew up with new wave music in 80s, I bought a first LP records when I was 13 years old, it was Yellow Magic Orchestra’s _Computer Music), I think this record changed my life. I listened to this record at my friend’s house and I went to the record shop next day after school, I remember I listen the LP all week. I don’t know how explain… I felt like I’d met someone very important in my life, you know?

Are there any up and coming DJ/producers who you can recommend for us to check out?

Marcel Dettmann is sort of a new up and coming producer and I really like what he is doing, I also like Red Shape from Germany, Phase from UK. Everybody has different taste, but I can say that they really grab me. I also big fan of Carl Craig from Detroit, Surgeon from Birmingham. They haven’t changed as my favorite artists.

With all your experiences as a seasoned traveler, name me one place that I should check out and why.

Probably Womb in Tokyo, because of the audiences are the best in the world. There’s no other clubs like that.

So what is on the cards for the rest of 2008 and into 2009 for yourself?*

I’m looking forward to going back to Australia and playing some festivals as well as the clubs, also as I mentioned my new mix album from Tokyo which will be an exciting thing for me. I want to just keep doing what I need to do, releasing as much as I can and playing as many as gigs that I can, just keep progressing myself. I wanna try some new things maybe live set. And I hope I can come back to Australia, because this is my second home.

Keep your eyes glued to ITM’s Global Gathering festival page for all the latest news, interviews, DJ mixes, videos and more – inthemix.com.au/globalgathering.

Sat Nov 22 – Global Gathering, Melbourne
Sat Nov 22 – Chinese Laundry, Sydney
Sun Nov 23 – Global Gathering, Perth
Sat Nov 29 – Global Gathering, Brisbane
Sat Nov 29 – Foreshore, Canberra
Sun Nov 30 – Global Gathering, Sydney
Sat Dec 6 – Ffour, Melbourne