DJ Benzi Interview: SXSW 2010

Posted on Mar 15th 2010 8:30PM by Kevin Chen
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As a consummate artist, DJ Benzi is never willing to settle for second best. Blending the musical creations from the rock, rap and hip-hop worlds, he uses his own musical genius and takes an amazing work of art and makes it even better. Spinner speaks with Ben (DJ Benzi) about his music and influences ahead of his stint at SXSW.

How did you come up with your name?

My first name's Ben. Also, my parents gave me my first car in high school, a 1972 bright yellow Mercedes that was real old school. The name came from the car mixed with my real name.

When did you start DJing and what got you into it?

I started in ninth grade. I bought a starter pack and worked my way up. By the end of high school I wasn't going to prom, I was DJing the prom. I went on to college and did all the frat parties and the bars there, and the rest is history.

I got into it because I was obsessed with rap music and music in general. I used to drive down to Detroit and hang out to the record stores. I met my mentor, one of Dilla's friends, and went from there. Just started collecting vinyl. It was something I was into from the start.

What are some of your musical influences?

My parents were obsessed with Stevie Wonder and that kind of Motown stuff so I was definitely was into that. Then coming up Outkast's first album and the Wu-Tang stuff was a crazy influence for me. Then shifting to high school I was way into the indie stuff but also the commercial stuff, the Alice DeeJay stuff, the '90s dance stuff. Almost every type of thing you can imagine.

How would you describe your sound?

I take hip-hop and make it dance-friendly, club-friendly. I always tell people I play club music. It's kind of like Baltimore club meets hip-hop. I'm not a trance DJ or a house DJ but I play some house tracks. I try to give every song I play that bounce, that Chicago house bounce. I try to go for that same format and I'm not sick of it yet.

I like to do a lot of rock, a lot of '90s, a lot of popular stuff, but every song I play has my own spin on it.

What's the most memorable experience you've had on tour?

There was one experience in Melbourne, this massive club where AC/DC started. It held maybe 2,000 people and that was one of my first days on the Australian tour. I was struck by the open-mindedness of the crowd. Overseas the agenda for the crowd is to go out and dance. That's the crowd I'm looking for, and the scale, the amount of people. That was crazy. But there's so many. Panama City last year, every time I do Toronto -- I've kind of been on a roll now but really everything has been great.

What's the craziest experience you've had on tour?

On my second European tour, on my first show I show up and do sound check just great -- then I go to play and my computer completely broke. I had all my songs backed up but the way it happened I had ten minutes to spare. So I threw all my songs on another guy's computer and that was real frantic. But it turns out before I even got to start someone got stabbed on my side of the dance floor. So I didn't have to play after all, but that was really frantic. My advice is, travel with two computers!

What's in your festival survival kit?

The Stanton laptop stand I love, it's real portable. Obviously Serrato records, I have way too many of them. I love Ortofon needles and bring my own slip mats. Also tons of Benzi stickers and CDs, I love to give them out. I also bring a lot of rubber bands for some reason -- always wear a blue rubber band on my wrist. I bring 100 of them with me these days. The rubber band started in high school basketball and I just can't live without wearing one on my left wrist. Just a good luck thing I guess.

Who was your first celeb crush?

Jessica Alba way back in the 'Idle Hands' days, back when nobody was hip on her. When she blew up I was kind of past it. I guess that was 2001 or 2002.

What's your musical guilty pleasure?

My hero music-wise is the Neptunes. As far as the R&B stuff or pop stuff they do, I kinda get flack for listening to. I'm real into Zero 7, too. I'm obsessed with their first two albums.

What's a piece of influential advice you've picked up along the way?

I kind of went against the grain and did my own thing, but I do have some advice for the cats now. When I go places and see people open for me, there's a lot of cats who just go and buy the big tracks and big remixes and just play those. I'm like, just make your own stuff. Make your own remixes. Be original. Differentiate yourself. You gotta keep working on the new thing and never rest on your laurels.

If you were to create a meal inspired by your music, what would you be eating?

It would definitely be KFC. It would be a two-piece, crispy, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes and gravy, and cornbread.

Kevin Chen is a contributor from Seed.com. Learn how you can contribute here.