Kid Koala Working on Soundtrack to His Graphic Novel, 'Space Cadet'

Ninja Tune

Kid Koala has been indulging his louder tendencies of late with the Slew, but he's not ready to dedicate himself to rock just yet. Finally finished work on his second graphic novel, 'Space Cadet,' the Montreal-based turntablist has also been putting the finishing touches on its accompanying soundtrack, a score that he calls "almost classical."

"I recorded a lot of it on baby grand piano," Kid Koala tells Spinner. "Then I've been scratching violin and woodwind counterpoints off of it with turntables, just really layering it. When you see the story, you'll see that it kind of asks for that kind of music."

This December, Koala (born Eric San) will hole up at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) to test and develop a multimedia live stage show. The DJ and his five-member team will live in the museum's artist housing as they complete a week-long creative residency dedicated to fully developing the project's live component. "If all goes well, we're looking at taking it on the road in autumn," he says.

'Space Cadet' tells the story of a young astronaut who goes on her first solo flight while her guardian, a robotic father-figure that has nurtured her since birth, goes through parallel experiences back on Earth. Given the heaviness of the concept, an exploration of interconnectivity and seclusion, the live show presents an interesting challenge.

"The music has this really isolated kind of feeling, which is something we want to get across in the show," San says. "But we also want to make it a communal experience for everybody."

To do so, San will subvert the regular concert-going experience by transmitting the music to each individual through headphones, rather than centralized amplifiers. "It's like there are a bunch of people in a room, but they're all just mellowing, having their own response."

As the score is performed, 3D models of images and characters from the graphic novel will be projected on custom-made screens and handmade sets, creating an immersive environment in which each spectator can have an isolated, individual reaction. Everything, including the projections, will be recreated live.

"The book's called 'Space Cadet,' so we had to find some way to present it in that context. But then for me, it's also really important to have it be organic. It'll be a tough balance, but it should be interesting."